Why Sample Papers? (back to top)

This page links to four sample papers that students wrote for my Spring 2008 offering of "World History, 1700-present." To provide future students with models of good papers, I held a prize competition for the best papers, as nominated by the TAs, with prizes of bookstore gift certificates as an incentive.
The procedure: Each of the ten TAs submitted 2-4 of the best papers they received (from about 475 total), and I selected these four as best in realizing my goals for the assignment. What are those goals?

• Goal 1: Use history to better understand current events. Since History 2c ("World History, 1700-present") satisfies the UC Santa Barbara General Education "Culture and Thought" requirement and may thus be one of only two history courses many students will take at UCSB, I think that it is important that students relate what they learn in the course to ongoing events and discussion in the world around us. I think that basing this paper assignment on campus events occurring during the quarter is a good way to ensure this.
• Goal 2: How to conduct research. At the core of most scholarship is the need to gather information (conduct research), and then analyze and interpret it. Students must thus go beyond merely recapitulating the arguments of the event, and also assess the validity or biases of the evidence presented there. This is a key skill not only for historians, but for all informed citizens.
• Goal 3: How to present one's results in writing. A core skill to be learned in college is how to present one's research results to others. In this course the first paper assignment (an examination of the arguments in Olaudah Equiano's anti-slavery autobiography) is an examination of someone else's attempt to inform his audience of his analysis and insights. For this second paper students must conduct research about some campus event, and present their own results. The submission of a corrected version after the ones included here offers the opportunity to learn from instructor comments.

The 2008 Assignment (from the 2008 syllabus) (back to top)

1. Research essay . (1000-1200 words, ca. 4 pages)
   Attend some of the outside events listed on the course web site (or others approved by your TA). Write a paragraph or two summarizing one of them, including what the author’s intention(s) and arguments were. Do some background research on the author or topic, so that you can put it into (a historical) context. Depending on their detail and quality, 2-4 outside sources will be necessary. Use concepts and arguments from this course to analyze the film or presentation, and try to relate it to one or more of the topics of the course. What insights have you gained by applying what you have learned in this course? You should address counterarguments; however, this is not an editorial, but a balanced assessment.
   • Research Essay: 20%; due Tuesday May 20, 12:30pm in lecture.
   • Revised version: 5%; due Thursday June 5, 12:30pm. In this version you will incorporate suggestions made by your TA on your draft. In order to receive credit, you must submit the commented original as well (possible electronic submission of revision). You should be able to present and discuss your essay in section.