The written assignment requires you to select a physical object related to this class and write an essay arguing why you believe this object is important to the narrative of American history. The object can be a museum, museum exhibit, artifact in a museum, historic house, etc. Its your choice but the object must be related to class AND you must actually go to see the object. Length of the paper must be 3 to 5 double spaced pages. See the Pages tab in Canvas for more information about this paper.
Format and Requirements for the Written Assignment
Object Analysis Proposal.docx
Written Assignment
Format and Other Requirements for the Written Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to help you: 1) develop analytical and research skills; 2) develop writing skills; 3) obtain an understanding of how historians interpret the past and write history; 4) get you “close” to history and the past.
So, taking advantage of what the Washington, DC, area has to offer in the way of American History, you are to select one physical objects related to American and describe what this object is and argue why it is important to the narrative of American History. The object could be a museum, museum exhibit, artifact in a museum, historic house, etc. You are to write a 3 to 5 page essay. The assignment requires you to: 1) first build a foundation of knowledge on your objects through researching related primary and secondary sources before you conduct your visit; 2) actually visit where your objects are located in order to see and experience them firsthand (no virtual visits or past visits).
It’s also important to note that you must actually visit the location where your object is located – visits to Mt. Vernon in second grade or to the Museum of American History when your uncle Charlie was in town in July do not count, nor do “virtual” visits on the internet. In order to show me you actually went to the sites, you must attach to your paper a time dated photo of you at the site.
Structure and Format
You must have a thesis statement in the beginning paragraph of your paper that poses your argument. Such as statement might read: This boat is important to American history because it showed the English that Americans were now a naval power¦ Your paper must then prove your argument by using primary and secondary sources. More about writing a thesis statement can be found at History Professor.Org (Links to an external site.) .
You must use the following types and minimum number of sources, and you must cite them in the body of your paper, using footnotes, as well as in your bibliography: 3 primary source documents, 4 secondary source documents (NOT your text book or lecture material), and 2 websites (NOT Wikipedia and NO .coms, ie. History.com, etc.).
The font must be 12 point, Times New Roman. You must use footnotes (not end notes or parenthetical citations) and follow the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) form of footnoting (NOT the MLA style or parenthetical references). The essay must have a cover page stating your name, date, class, professor (my name), and title of your paper. The paper itself must have 1 inch margins on all four sides (top, bottom, right, left) and be double spaced. You must have a bibliography (not a “Works Cited” page) identifying the sources you used. The bibliography must be properly formatted. With the exception of the cover page, the first page of actual text, and bibliography, all pages must have page numbers (while the first page of actual text is considered “page 1,” it is not numbered. Instead, page numbering begins on the second page of actual text, which is, of course, page 2). The cover page, the bibliography, and any photos you include at the end of your paper do NOT count as “pages.” All photos must be related to text in your paper and not included as “filler.” The paper is to have one staple in the upper left-hand corner of the page. I will not accept a paper that is not stapled. Absolutely NO plastic binders, folders, etc.
Clarity in writing, proper sentence structure, grammar, spelling, etc. is important for a good grade. A good rule of thumb in every course that requires a written assignment is: your professor should NEVER be the first person to read your paper. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to have someone with a substantial knowledge of English grammar, etc., to read your paper before you hand it in (maybe NOVA’s Writing Center?). Unfortunately, the volume of papers I have prevents me from proof reading drafts.
When submitting your paper to me, you must submit both a paper and an electronic version by the due date in the syllabus. Both versions are due before the start of class. The electronic version must be sent from your NOVA account to my NOVA account: Jweir@NVCC.edu. I will not accept papers from a Gmail, Hotmail, or any other email account other than YOUR NOVA account. The electronic version must be in WORD format, not PDF, and be an attachment to your email, not some Google file something-or-other which requires me to log-on in order to read the paper. I will not grade your paper unless/until I receive both a hard copy and an electronic version. Your paper is considered late until I receive both versions. Ten points are deducted each day a paper is late. If, by the last day of class, I still do not have an electronic version in an acceptable format, you will fail the assignment.
Breakdown of the Grade is as follows:
Proposal 5%: Was a proposal submitted? Was it submitted on time? Did it address all the questions?
 Final Paper Turned in on time 5%: As noted, papers received after the due dates will have 10 points deducted for each day the paper is late (both electronic and paper).
Formatting 10%: Did you follow the formatting instructions? Is your paper in 12 point, Times New Roman? Margins correct? One staple in the upper left hand corner? Pictures included at the back of the paper? Proper length (3-5 pages)? Etc.
Grammar 20%: Are your paragraphs properly formed? Sentences properly structured? Proper word use (did you use to and too correctly)? Words spelled correctly, etc.?
Sources 10%: Did you use the correct number of sources as noted above? Did you cite them properly in your paper and in the bibliography?
Defense of your thesis  50%: How well did you defend your thesis statement? Did you make a convincing argument?
NOTE: You must give me an a proposal on the attached form before you can begin the assignment.
On-Line Primary and Secondary Sources
On Line Primary and Secondary Sources
On Line Primary and Secondary Sources
!=Free
$=Pay/Need a subscription
*=Primary Sources
@=Secondary Sources
%=Free by going to NOVAs library or remotely with your NOVA log on
&=Must go in person
#=Library Card needed
+= Links to other libraries and online sources
American History
Adams, John and Abigail
Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive (Links to an external site.)*!
African American/Slavery
Accessible Archives (Links to an external site.) *$%
Documenting the American South: North American Slave Narratives*! (Links to an external site.)
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience (Links to an external site.) *!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Library of Congress*! (Links to an external site.)
Voices from the Days of Slavery: Slave Narratives at the LOC (Links to an external site.)*!
The Georgetown Slavery Archive (Links to an external site.)*!
Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database (Links to an external site.)*!
American Civil War
Accessible Archives (Links to an external site.) *$%
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War (Links to an external site.)*!
American Revolution
Accessible Archives (Links to an external site.) *$%
American Archives: Documents of the American Revolution, 1774-1776 (Links to an external site.)*!
Boston Public Library (Links to an external site.)*!#
Daughters of the American Revolution (Links to an external site.)&@
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
Presidential Papers (Letters, diaries, etc.)
Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive (Links to an external site.)*!
State Archives (PA, NJ, NY, etc.)
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
Books.google.com (Links to an external site.)*! (type in papers of or archives of and then the states name)
Washington, George 
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
Papers of George Washington
World War 1
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
World War 2
Fold3.com (Links to an external site.)$*!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
Newspapers and Periodicals
Accessible Archives (Links to an external site.) *$%
Boston Public Library (Links to an external site.)*!#
Genealogybank.com (Links to an external site.)$*
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers at the Library of Congress (Links to an external site.)*!
Goggle News (Links to an external site.)*!
General On-line Archives that cover all of American History
Accessible Archives (Links to an external site.) *$%
The Avalon Project: Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy (Links to an external site.)*!
Internet Archive (Links to an external site.)*!
JSTOR (Links to an external site.) @% (must scroll down to JSTOR)
Pro-Quest (Links to an external site.)*@% (must scroll down to Proquest)
The library database at NOVA (Links to an external site.) *!@%+
Fordham University Internet Modern History Sourcebook (Links to an external site.) *!
Benjamin Franklin
The Franklin Papers at Yale (Links to an external site.) *!
Andrew Jackson
The Papers of Andrew Jackson (Lin