Primary Source Analysis Paper

Paper Requirements:
1)
Your Primary Source Analysis Paper must be between 500 and 700 words
(Write the
Word Count in
parentheses
at th
e
bottom
of the essay)
.
2)
It must
use a
r
eadable
font.
3)
The paper will be exactly four paragraphs and should include the following elements.
a.
Paragraph one:
i.
introduce paper topic
ii.
briefly mention the sources (by title and author)
iii.
include a clear interpretive thesis as
the final sentence of the first
paragraph.
b.
Paragraph two:
i.
Introduce the context in which
source one
was written
ii.
Summarize the topic of
source one
iii.
Use quotes from
source one
to support your thesis
c.
Paragraph three:
i.
Introduce the context in which
source two
was written
ii.
Summarize the topic
of
source two
iii.
Use quotes from
source two
to support your thesis
d.
Paragraph four:
i.
Compare the two sources to prove your thesis
:
1.
Explain why looking at only one of the sources alone would be
insufficient to demonstrate your thesis.
2.
Demonstrate conne
ction to a wider theme in world history
How to write a Primary Source Analysis Paper:
1) Choose your due date.
2) Choose two primary sources to compare from MyHistoryLab or
W
orld History in
Documents
(on reserve in the library)
. The s
ources should be from the same era, but
different world regions; or from the same world region but different eras.
3) In the first paragraph, introduce both sources in your own words.
4) In the second paragraph, analyze
specific quotes
to demonstrate how
your first source
reflects the historical contexts in which it was created.
5) In the third paragraph, analyze
specific quotes
to demonstrate how your second source
reflects the historical contexts in which it was created.
6) In the fourth paragraph, co
mpare the two sources and explain what looking at them
together reveals about a larger pattern or theme in world history.
7) Rewrite the entire paper using your insights from paragraph four as a thesis to reorganize
the paper.
8) Proofread; read it aloud to your roommates; proofread; print it out; read aloud the hard
copy to yourself; proofread.
9) Submit the Primary Source Analysis Paper on Canvas.
The
professor
or a
Graduate Teaching Assistant will grade your paper using t
he
rubric
on the
following page.