Using primary sources and citation format

As a requirement of the essays assignments, you are required to quote 2 primary sources readings.

What is a primary source?

A primary source is a source that comes directly from the time period/place of historical inquiry.

In terms of formatting style, history uses something called the Chicago Style (not MLA and not APA). Luckily for you - because you are not using any online or outside sources - you will not be required to know the Chicago Style of citation. That means:

NO footnotes

NO endnotes

NO works cited page

NO bibliography

Instead, we will be utilizing a simple in-text citation method. Put your quote in ".....", then follow it up with (author name) The citation will go right inside your paper, examples for the primary sources are below:

“Weapons, they have none” (Christopher Columbus)

"inalienable rights" (Thomas Jefferson)

In the case that no author is listed, use the title of the document or source

"we demand christianity" (United Colonies)

Rules and tips for using primary sources:

- Make sure that when you cite the primary sources, you are using the actual primary source - not the background information listed at the top.

- Give your sources context, let the reader know who the source is, where/when they are, what is going on, and why their perspective might be significant.

- Use sources when relevant. Each source/perspective is tied to a specific historical event(s)

- Sources/quotes should never appear before your thesis statements.

- As a general rule, never start a new paragraph with the source quote, you want to use them to support what you are writing.

- The value of primary sources is a unique and direct look into the past, don't quote information form the sources that you could otherwise just get from the textbook.

If you need to cite the textbook, use in-text citations with the author's last name and page number, example below:

"Lincoln and his men arrived" (Brinkley, 295)

As per the directions:

You are required to quote 2 different primary sources.

Keep your sources to less than 3 lines of text.

No more than 4 total citations in the paper.

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What is the minimum amount of pages your essay needs to be for full credit?
2.5 pages

What size font is required on the essay assignments?
12

Which online or outside sources are permitted on the essay assignments?
None

What type of files types can you submit your essay as?
.word or .pdf only

How many total citations maximum can you have on the essay assignments?
4
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Which of the following are you required to include at the end of your essay assignment?
None of these


What formatting style does History as an academic field use? (though you are not required to use it)
Chicago

the below is an example of a paper with a primary source citation, what needs to be changed to make it a proper use/citation of a source? check all that apply

Both the English and French settlers arrived in North America following the Spanish. Though their approaches to colonization differed, both had a difficult time adapting to their new respective environments. For example, the English settler of Jamestown, Sebastian Brandt said "by reason of my sicknesse & weaknesse I was not able to travell up and downe the hill" (Sebastian Brandt, The Gilder Lehrman Institution of American History, (The Gilder Lehrman Collection, GLC00708) pg. 2, 2011)

The citation contains too much information.
Good! only the author - or in the case no author is given, the title - is necessary

All of the following are true when quoting primary sources EXCEPT for what?
Primary sources are a good substitute for information found in the textbook
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Writing a thesis statement
All essays require a thesis statement.

A thesis statement is a brief (1-2) sentence(s) that provides a clear and direct answer to the question/essay prompt.

A good thesis does a few things...

1. A thesis statement is always an argument and NOT a simple statement of fact

A thesis makes a claim that other people can potentially dispute, in other words, can someone argue with you about it?

A thesis statement is NEVER a statement of historical fact

2. A thesis statement provides a "roadmap" or "outline" for what the rest of the paper will include

The reader should have an idea of what to expect in the rest of the essay from reading the thesis statement alone

Re-wording the question to answer it is not enough, the writer must bring their answer to the question

3. A thesis statement appears in the BEGINNING of the paper, it is the last 1-2 sentences in the first paragraph

 

Tips for writing a good thesis statement

- Use the language of the question so that the question is being addressed in a direct manner

- For some, it is easier to write the thesis statement after you start working on the paper, or even after you finish. Don't get stuck at the start trying to get the perfect 1-2 sentences.

- Answer all parts of the question, some prompts have more than one question
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Using proper evidence
It is important that specific historical evidence make it into the essays. In general, the more relevant evidence that is included the better - there is no minimum/maximum requirements what it comes to the incorporation of evidence.

Even though a statement/sentence is true, that does not necessarily mean that it is evidence.

What is evidence?

Evidence is the things that happened

Evidence cannot be disputed by others, it is the historical facts

Evidence is very specific

What constitutes proper evidence?

Events (Battle of Cajamarca)

People (Christopher Columbus)

Places (The island of Hispaniola)

Statistics (Spanish king took 20% tax from silver)

Documents (Journal of Columbus)

What are some examples of good and bad evidence?

Here is an example using the Spanish conquest of the New World, though factual, the below is not evidence:

The Spanish treated the Native American population very poorly, many of them were killed and forced to work for the Spanish.

Instead, incorporate the specifics. Below is a better use of evidence:

The Spanish implemented a labor system called encomienda, which allowed Spanish landowners to use Indians as slave labor. In 1495, the Spanish rounded up 500 Arawak Indians and sent them to Spain as slaves, 200 died on the voyage. In 1519, an army of 400 men led by Hernan Cortez ravaged the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.
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Using proper analysis
In addition to a proper thesis, and historical evidence, all papers require analysis.

What is analysis?

Analysis explains how the evidence answers the question and relates to the thesis.

- Ties things that happened (evidence) to the argument (thesis)

- Listing evidence is not enough to stand alone

- Explains what the evidence means

Analysis transforms an informational essay - one designed to inform - into an argumentative essay - one designed to prove a point.

Analysis (in addition to the thesis) is your unique contribution to the paper - the textbook, videos, or primary sources do not give you the analysis, it is for you to figure out and contribute.

Analysis is not necessarily right or wrong, but there is good analysis, bad analysis, and no analysis.
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Writing rules and tips
Writing tips (rules)

When writing formal academic essays there as tips and rules that need to be followed.

1. No first or second person

First person includes (I, me, my, our, we) Second person is "you".

2. No contractions

Didn't = did not, couldn't = could not, wouldn't = would not

Contractions are for speaking, never for formal writing

3. Use active voice

Use fewer word to effectively communicate your point. Get rid of unnecessary words.

Examples:

"A man that goes by the name of John Smith"

Instead...

"John Smith"

 

"Indians started to fight back against..."

Instead...

"Indians fought back against..."

4. Do not include questions, be direct with the reader, tell them...

5. The essay should stay within the historical time period in question, avoid using modern day examples/references