{"id":511,"date":"2021-01-18T17:06:07","date_gmt":"2021-01-18T17:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/?page_id=511"},"modified":"2021-04-11T20:42:00","modified_gmt":"2021-04-11T20:42:00","slug":"second-battle-essay","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/assignments\/second-battle-essay\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Battle Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Due April 12, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Annotated Guidelines<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>By\u00a0<strong>Monday, April 12 [UPDATED]<\/strong>, students will submit a 6 to 8 page essay that analyzes a significant battle from modern American military history (1877 to 2009).\u00a0 Battles may include EITHER traditional military engagements (land, sea or air) OR sociopolitical confrontations (such as the confrontation over the Don\u2019t Ask \/ Don\u2019t Tell policy regarding gay service members in the 1990s).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Students don\u2019t need prior approval for their subjects, but they should consult with Prof. Pinsker voluntarily over email.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Make sure to address a question and devise a thesis statement that can be effectively argued in a short paper.\u00a0 Consult the Methods Center handouts on\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-117pinsker\/files\/2011\/08\/HANDOUT-How-to-Write-a-Thesis-Statement1.pdf\">How to Write a Thesis Statement<\/a><\/em><em>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-117pinsker\/files\/2011\/08\/HANDOUT-How-to-Frame-a-Question.pdf\">How to Frame a Research Question<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each essay should provide thoughtful historical context combined with strong narrative description.\u00a0 <strong>All essays should employ a wide-ranging combination of high quality primary and secondary sources (including at least one of the relevant chapters from the\u00a0<em>At War\u00a0<\/em>collection).<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Researching widely for historical context is critical for the success of these essays, so please make sure that\u00a0<\/em>At War<em>\u00a0is your starting point, and not your research end point.\u00a0 Try to deepen your understanding of the period or topic with high quality reference sources, like\u00a0<strong>American National Biography Online<\/strong>\u00a0or various\u00a0<strong>encyclopedias<\/strong>.\u00a0 Then take advantage of both the online library catalog (including the clickable subject links from the catalog record) and the full text search capabilities of\u00a0<strong>Google Books<\/strong>\u00a0[just remember to always identify in your footnotes if you only read a text through Google Books].\u00a0 Also, make sure to use specialized journal databases like\u00a0<strong>JSTOR<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>America: History &amp; Life<\/strong>\u00a0(both via library database finder) to help find relevant secondary source material on your subject.\u00a0 Finally, to help organize your research effort, please consult the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/libguides.dickinson.edu\/history\">History Research Guide<\/a>\u00a0from the Dickinson library.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Take to care to evaluate your sources as you deploy them in your essay.\u00a0 See this methods post on\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-404pinsker\/2015\/11\/05\/evaluating-sources\/\">Evaluating Sources<\/a>\u00a0for a helpful overall framework.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of integrating your quoted evidence with some degree of fluidity.\u00a0 Awkwardly inserting quotations is one of the hallmarks of mediocre undergraduate essays.\u00a0 Consult\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-117pinsker\/files\/2011\/08\/HANDOUT-How-to-Use-Quotations.pdf\">this handout<\/a>\u00a0from the methods center for a range of good tips.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All essays should be typed and double-spaced as a Word or PDF document with title page and Chicago-style footnotes (no bibliography required).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>As always, make sure you are formatting your footnotes correctly for a history paper.\u00a0 See this methods handout on\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-117pinsker\/files\/2011\/08\/HANDOUT-How-to-Use-Footnotes2.pdf\">How to Use Footnotes<\/a><\/em><em>\u00a0and consult as needed with the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/libguides.dickinson.edu\/c.php?g=56073&amp;p=360110\">library\u2019s Chicago-style guide<\/a>, but make sure to use sample footnote models for formatting and NOT bibliography examples.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Student models<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>See how Maria Villotti went from battle paper to web project<\/em>\n<ul>\n<li><em><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/files\/2021\/03\/Villotti-My-Lai-Paper.pdf\">Villotti My Lai Paper<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/mylaimassacre3161968.weebly.com\/\">Weebly site on My Lai<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><em>Aidan McDonald,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-288pinsker\/files\/2020\/08\/McDonald-Paper-on-Ackerman.pdf\">Amos T. Ackerman and Reconstruction<\/a>\u00a0(paper)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Tom Forte,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/30jul1864.weebly.com\/the-crater.html\">July 30, 1864<\/a>\u00a0(website)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Sample Outline<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><em>Introduction (1-2 pps)<\/em>\n<ol>\n<li><em>Striking quotation or narrative vignette + clear thesis statement<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Engage readers and provide analytical framework<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><em>Background &amp; Context (2-3 pps)<\/em>\n<ol>\n<li><em>Biographical and chronological insights<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Rely on secondary sources here<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><em>Narrative Contribution (2-3 pps)<\/em>\n<ol>\n<li><em>Focus on decision-making and range of perspectives<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Show primary source research effort here<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><em>Conclusion (1-2 pps)<\/em>\n<ol>\n<li><em>Return to (and refine) opening analysis<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Explain significance<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Extra Credit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In addition to the essay, students\u00a0<u>are required to submit<\/u> a short companion video (2-3 minutes) on their assigned topic.\u00a0 Well-produced videos may receive up to 5 extra-credit points.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>STUDENT MODEL:\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bS1S4apQhww\">Slave Stampede<\/a>\u00a0(Narrated by Liz McCreary)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>STUDENT MODEL:\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/NApFlFD4Xxs\">Roger Taney<\/a>\u00a0(Narrated by Sarah Goldberg)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>STUDENT MODEL:\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/NDMtmw82orU\">Moncure Conway<\/a>\u00a0(Narrated by Sam Weisman)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Students may chose to convert part of their paper (such as the opening paragraphs) into a video narration, or they may craft an original script<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Consider using the free version of the online platform\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wevideo.com\/\">WeVideo<\/a>, but you may also consider relying on software such as iMovie or Windows Moviemaker \u2013but just remember that sharing those videos will require you to post them first at an online platform like YouTube (they must be either public or unlisted with link).\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Remember to provide CLEAR audio narration.\u00a0 Usually, you can achieve good sound quality simply by recording into your cell phone in a quiet room.\u00a0 Just speak close to the phone, vary your tone and pacing, and try to sound natural.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Also critical for the success of your video will be images. \u00a0Make sure they are high resolution, and be creative in cropping, framing and using tools such as pan &amp; zoom, in order to create a sense of engagement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Finally, make sure any images, music or sound effects are in the <a href=\"http:\/\/housedivided.dickinson.edu\/sites\/2011\/03\/27\/faq-public-domain-civil-war-era-music\/\">public domain<\/a> and properly credited at the end of your video.\u00a0 You can find lots of examples of compelling short documentary videos at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hdivided\">House Divided Project YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-YqFO2wMPP4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-nXXTuxfbbM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7GREeD2icUo\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<strong>Final Reminders<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Both essay and video link should be submitted by email to Prof. Pinsker by 5pm on the due date.\u00a0 Student work will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and prose quality. Late essays will be penalized up to 5 points per day.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Also, please guard against plagiarism.\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/files\/2010\/09\/Handout-Plagiarism-2.pdf\">Remember our discussion from the very first day of the semester<\/a>.\u00a0 Never write your own words while looking directly at your sources, especially secondary sources \u2013unless you are quoting them.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>And finally, always remember to proofread your work by printing it out and reading it aloud, slowly. See our methods handout on\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-117pinsker\/files\/2011\/08\/HANDOUT-How-to-Proofreed.pdf\">How to Proofreed<\/a><\/em>\u00a0<em>[sic]<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Due April 12, 2021 Annotated Guidelines By\u00a0Monday, April 12 [UPDATED], students will submit a 6 to 8 page essay that analyzes a significant battle from modern American military history (1877 to 2009).\u00a0 Battles may include EITHER traditional military engagements (land, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/assignments\/second-battle-essay\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":373,"featured_media":0,"parent":506,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-511","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/373"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=511"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/511\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-military\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}