HIST 214 — CRITICAL ESSAY GUIDELINES — DUE MONDAY, MAY 9. 2022
{1} This is a critical essay, not a research paper requiring additional materials. The Essay is DUE ON MONDAY, 5/9, in class. (The due dates associated with the essay are found on the syllabus.) Before that date you also must complete a related task: a 250-300 word (1-page) preliminary Abstract, containing your essay thesis and some further detail on its overall content and conclusions. This is listed on the syllabus as Thesis/Abstract, and is DUE ON MONDAY 4/25. When turning in the essay you must also include your Abstract, with my comments and the grade, and the Essay Grading Checklist (on Blackboard). Together these make up the CRITICAL ESSAY PACKET (announcement to follow).
For this assignment you need only 2 required books:
<> Jill Ker Conway ed, Written By Herself, Vol. 2
<> Robert Strayer & Eric Nelson, Ways of the World, Vol. 2
The assigned chapters from Conway are by Vera Brittain (pp. 66-116), Emma Mashinini (352-388) Vijaya Pandit (438-488) and Gloria Wade-Gayles (569-619), also listed on the course syllabus. Your Essay must discuss ALL 4 of these authors. Just as important, students also must make full use of Strayer & Nelson, Ways of the World, which explores major processes in world history experienced by the women writers. (also cf. syllabus, p.1).
An essay is a specific literary genre, in which the writer formulates a THESIS or central argument, supports it with EVIDENCE in the MAIN BODY, and offers final insights in the CONCLUSION. Your essay must be 1500-1750 WORDS (6-7 PAGES) in length. You may write some more if you wish, but not much more; part of the assignment is to stay within length limits. It must have a DISTINCT TITLE which serves as a brief summary or description of the actual thesis or content (not e.g. “Critical Essay” or “World History”). You must also include the Bibliography found at the end on the Guidelines. The following requirements comprise two further parts: {2} the questions and issues to be discussed, and {3} specifications for citations and paper format.
{2} In developing a thesis based on the readings, you must address the following questions. Your answer to these questions constitutes your thesis.
— What do these women’s lives and writings tell us about major developments in modern world history?
— What do they have in common, and how did their varied backgrounds and circumstances result in different experiences?
{3} Your essay must have AT LEAST 16 SEPARATE CITATIONS with SPECIFIC PAGE REFERENCES, an average of MORE THAN 2 PER PAGE. Footnotes (preferred) or endnotes are acceptable, but not in-text citations; notes do not count as part of the word total. You must cite each of the 4 female authors AT LEAST 3 TIMES in separate notes, though you may cite more than one in particular notes. Strayer must be cited AT LEAST 3 TIMES and only once from the sections on the women’s movement. Direct quotations are permitted in support of your thesis, but they should be minimal and brief. It is your voice that matters, and your views developed through careful attention to the sources. You may refer to other course materials, but only to SUPPLEMENT the minimum total of required references, NOT to SUPPLANT them; they are best cited along with the page references to readings. Use of Internet materials is not PROHIBITED but is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED; the point is to analyze the assigned readings. One further suggestion: you can write a stronger paper by integrating your analysis of all four authors around key themes, rather than discussing them separately and in succession.
Essays must be typed in 14 or 12-point type, and double-spaced with 1.5-inch margins at the top, bottom and sides; pages must be individually numbered at top or bottom. Please include your name, email address and course number, along with the word count. NOTE: unlike the Map Test which allowed you to work together, you must WORK INDEPENDENTLY (apart from discussing the assignment) and SUBMIT SEPARATE ESSAYS. Finally, be sure to include the Bibliography found below at the end of the Critical Essay packet.
*** THESIS/ABSTRACT DUE MONDAY 4/25 ***
*** CRITICAL ESSAY DUE IN CLASS MONDAY 5/9 ***
*** LATE PAPERS WILL BE PENALIZED ***
*** YOU MUST OBEY UMB RULES ON ACADEMIC HONESTY ***
*** DO NOT use ANY INTERNET MATERIAL without a full, verifiable SOURCE (not just URL) ***
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jill Ker Conway ed, Written By Herself, Vol. 2: Women’s Memoirs from Britain, Africa, Asia and the United States (Vintage Books, 1996)
Includes excerpts from:
— Vera Brittain, “Testament of Youth,” 66-116
— Emma Mashinini, “Strikes have Followed Me all my Life,” 352-388
— Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, “The Scope of Happiness,” 438-488
— Gloria Wade-Gayles, “Pushed Back to Strength,” 569-619
Robert W. Strayer & Eric W. Nelson, Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources, Vol. 2 (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2015)
