HIST 411 colonial north american history

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to improve critical thinking and paper- writing skills by strategically interacting with the texts covered thus far in the course. Skills & Knowledge: Students will be able to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and give personal critiques of major issues in colonial North American history using information they have gained in the course readings along with class lectures and discussions. Task: In thinking about themes surrounding the Marcus Rediker and Fred Anderson readings (along with other course material that you are welcome to use), choose a theme that you can form into the basis of a guiding paper topic question, which you will answer. This topic or focal point might concern power relationships, historical methodologies, or another area of your own choosing. You may select a pertinent question that you have grappled with in past weeks that may have originated in notes you have taken on class readings or during discussions on the texts. Anything may form the basis of a question. You may write your question directly into the preliminary Intro assignment and your preliminary thesis argument will answer this question. Or you may think of your Intro paragraph as being more of a proposal for the paper. Either is fine to start your paper. Just make sure to consider the reading thus far and discuss themes or a single topic where you find these two (or more) texts intersect and are most relevant when discussing or thinking about colonial history in the English Americas and/or Atlantic World. Please support your argument with the most salient events and information from the readings covered in the books. Rediker and Anderson texts should form the bulk of this paper. Criteria for Success: A successful paper will have a solid thesis argument in the Intro paragraph, followed by Body paragraphs that provide evidence and analysis for support. In your body paragraphs, make sure that you examine the issue from multiple angles or perspectives so your argument is supported. The Conclusion or Outro should not be a simple summary of the paper, yet should also address or discuss further implications, points that were tangential to your main argument, or to make present-day connections. Simply summarizing the course material is not an option, though you may have to quickly sum up some relevant information in places in order to make your argument. Make sure that your discussion reflects the surrounding issues going on during the time period. In other words, place your discussion in historical context by showing the significance of your topic in the broader context of colonial North American history. Format: 5-7 full double-spaced pages, 12pt Times New Roman font w/default 1” margins Title Page: You must have a title page and title (not included in your 5-7 page count) Works Cited: You must have a Works Cited page (not included in your 5-7 page count) Page Numbers: Number your pages (starting on the Intro paragraph page