answered: You will need to compose a 3-4 page essay that answers one o

  

You will need to compose a 3-4 page essay that answers one of the questions that appears in italics below. That essay must include a clearly identifiable thesis statement and use the relevant primary sources in order to support the argument.
For each option, you need to look at the primary source reader of the American Yawp (https://www.americanyawp.com/reader.html) and consider sources beyond those listed on the syllabus or posted on Blackboard.
Option 1: What was the significance of the American West in the late nineteenth century?
In your answer, you need to consider the various meanings of the American West. In arriving at its conclusion, the essay should examine a variety of groups who had a vested interest in the West: American Businessmen, settlers, workers, immigrants, the federal government, Native Americans, and entertainers. The essay need not include ALL of these groups, but should consider at least two, if not three of them. The key primary sources for this essay are “Turning Hawk and American Horse,” “Wounded Knee Editorials” and “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” Please also consider examining other sources on The American Yawp site.
Option 2: What motivated United States imperialism in the early 20th Century?
In your answer, you need to consider the ideology (i.e. the political philosophy) and the economic reasons why the United States decided to expand its holdings outside of its continental borders. You should assess what benefits the United States accumulated from the acquisition of foreign territories and the effect that acquisition had to the populations that came under the United States’ influence. Some territories you might consider are Cuba, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Your key primary sources for this question are “March of the Flag,” Willliam McKinley, William James, and “The White Man’s Burden.” Please also consider examining other sources on The American Yawp site.
Option 3: How, if at all, did the Great Depression and The New Deal change the United States?
In your answer, you need to consider both the devastating effects of the Great Depression and the New Deal’s attempt to alleviate the Depression. Not only should you consider the programs the New Deal proposed and implemented, but you should also evaluate the ways in which the philosophy of government changed in the United States under FDR. Do not make the mistake of getting too bogged down in to the causes of the Depression; focus on the effects. Your key primary sources for this question are “Herbert Hoover and FDR,” “Frank H Hill,” and “A Negro Nation within a Nation.”
Option 4: Why does World War 2 deserve or not deserve the nickname, “The Good War?”
In your answer, you need to consider the events outcomes of the Second World War and their effects on the United States, especially on the American homefront. You might examine the geopolitical outcomes for the United States, but the essay must consider some of the realities of what Americans faced back at home. Some examples of what you might include are Japanese internment, the development and use of the atomic bomb, the repurposing of factories for war production, and the roles that Mexican Americans played in the war and the effort at home. The key primary sources for this question are “Charles Lindbergh,” “Executive Order 9066,” “WW2 and Mexican Americans,” and “Truman on the Atomic Bomb.”
Some Advice
Before you start writing, re-read the suggested primary source documents and take good notes with the essay question you’ve chosen in mind. Think to yourself, how can these primary sources help me answer the question I’ve chosen? What specific pieces of evidence do they provide that lend themselves to answering this question?
Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to publish a thesis statement. A good thesis statement not only answers the question but gives the reader a sense of why you’ve chosen to answer the question in that way. In other words, it’s a guide for the organization of the paper. You’re making a contract with your reader about what’s going to appear in the essay and a sense of why you think that evidence is so important. To put it bluntly, an essay’s thesis is the most important aspect of the entire paper.
Next, ask yourself how can this historical context help me understand these sources a bit better? Remember: The historical context is what was going on at the time that these sources were written. Look over the chapters in the textbook that detail what was going on at the time that your source was written. Use the book to help you fill in the gaps.
publish an outline to your paper. Make sure you include the thesis statement, your main points of argumentation, and the relevant historical details that help support your argument.
Now you’re ready to write. Use the outline and the notes that you’ve created to help guide you. You’ve done the hard work already; now it’s taking all the evidence that you’ve collected and turning it into writing. Take your time. Don’t assume that the reader knows what you’re discussing.
Once you’ve completed your first publish, look it over a few times. Make sure you are explaining yourself clearly. Remember, revising does not just mean spelling and grammar check. It means making sure that your ideas are clear. Your grade depends on the clarity of your ideas, not how well you spell “Powhatan.”
Often, what happens is that your conclusion paragraph explains your main idea most clearly. So, what you should do if that’s the case is take the conclusion paragraph, copy it, and paste it at the top of your essay and revise accordingly.
Revise, revise, revise. But also remember to give yourself a break and walk away for a bit if you need to. And have someone else read over your paper to make sure it all makes sense. Reward yourself for getting it done on time!