Historical Experiences

Writing Assignment
HISTORY IS EVERYWHERE. It does not begin nor end at the classroom door. It can be found on TV,
movies, on the internet, in newspapers, on billboards or advertisements, and in conversations. Over
the next couple of weeks find 4 (four) items/examples where you’ve encountered an historical
event or personality other than in class. (Think of the examples I gave you in our Zoom meeting.) You
are certainly not limited, however, to only the types of sources/media listed above. When you come
across an example, note it, including when and where you encountered it.
You will then write about what you have found. Here are questions you may use (though these are
not required) as starting points for your writing:
–– Do your topics cover events of a local, national, or international nature?
–– Do you feel that others would/would not consider your topics historically significant as well? What
does that say about how things are remembered?
THE RULES. This is a very open-ended assignment. But there are a few rules:
1. Your 4 items should come from at least 2 different types of sources/media. (ex.: not all from the
internet; not all from TV, etc.)
2. The definition of historical is related to the past. Make sure your items are historical in some way.
A “current events” paper will not satisfy this assignment. Also, you cannot use any of the specific
examples that I have given you.
3. You must submit a one-page ‘report’ (handwritten OK) that briefly names your items and sources.
No additional analysis is due at that time. Submit this report to bwaltersubmit@protonmail.com no
later than Saturday, November 20 at 12 noon CST. (**PLEASE NOTE DATE AND TIME**)
4. Your FINAL PAPER needs to be typed and at least 1700 words, but no more than 2000 words.
Submit this report to bwaltersubmit@protonmail.com no later than Friday, December 10 at 12
noon CST. (**PLEASE NOTE DATE AND TIME**)
Any assignments not turned in by the assigned date/time will receive a grade of zero. You may of
course hand in the assignment early, but I will not review for editing & revision.
DETERMINATION OF GRADE. Your grade on this assignment will be based on:
25 Points = Depth of thinking and analysis regarding your items;
15 Points = Fulfillment of the requirements listed above;
10 Points = accuracy of your writing (clarity-please PROOFREAD.)
50 Points total
This assignment will be worth 50 Points. It represents 20% of your final grade. Its score will not be
dropped!