Syllabus: HSTY2034

Tutorial Paper Assignment

Assess the way two different historians explain the timing of EITHER the Salem Witchcraft trials OR the American Revolution.   (n.b. you must choose your two historians from the list of tutorial or further readings on this syllabus).

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:

• Pick your two historians carefully so that you have selected interpretations that contrast well.   This may require skimming more than two accounts of either the witchcraft trials or the Revolution.   Please note that not all of the books listed in the syllabus under these topics will be appropriate for answering this question. It is up to you to decide whether a particular book or article is a good choice.
  
• Read the question carefully.   You're being asked to look at how two historians differ in their explanations of why an event took place at a particular moment in time (rather than at some other point in time).   When you select and read your two sources, keep this question constantly in mind.
  
• Once you've selected your two historians ask yourself the following further questions: What is this historian's main concern or focus? What evidence and methodology does this historian employ? How does the use of a particular kind of evidence or methodology affect this historian's account?   Which historian's account do you find the most plausible and why?
  
• When you sit down to begin writing, bear in mind one last crucial detail.   The most common flaw in students' papers is the lack of an argument.   This automatically leads to a much lower grade because one of the main purposes of academic writing is to advance a convincing, well-supported argument (while hopefully captivating your reader with sparkling prose).   What is an argument?   In the case of this paper, an argument will consist not only of a description of how your two historians differ but also your assessment of which historical account is more plausible and why .   It's this last part that's the most challenging.   You will spend the remainder of your essay trying to convince your reader of the merits of your argument.
  
• If any of the above is unclear, please just ask.   You're not supposed to know everything already and there's no such thing as a stupid question.