Posted: November 29th, 2022

HIST 102A Primary Source Analysis, AC Fall 2022

HIST 102A Primary Source Analysis, AC Fall 2022 1
HIST 102A: Primary Source Analysis (15%)
Alexander College, Fall 2022
Due Week #13 – 11:59pm, 4 Dec 2022
Abstract: Write a standard argumentative essay that analyses a primary source from Canada after
Confederation. The primary source should be a substantial passage (10 pages) from an important
text and the essay should present an argument for the historical significance of the document
using the relevant context and research. Explain why this particular source teaches us something
important about Modern European history.
LENGTH: 3-5 pages. It is the student’s responsibility (and judgment) to provide an appropriate
amount of content to support and develop the thesis statement.
OUTCOMES
 Problem-solve the research process and identify relevant and accessible sources (time
management) as the basis of independent research.
 Critically analyze and develop deep comprehension of historical primary and secondary
sources.
 Synthesize evidence from multiple sources to communicate clear original arguments
about the value and meaning of the source material.
VITAL INFORMATION: FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN ‘ZERO’
1. Only assignments submitted on Canvas as a Word or PDF file will be accepted.
2. Footnotes MUST be provided. Absence of footnotes results in an automatic zero grade
and will be considered for an Academic Alert.
3. Late assignments will be accepted with a penalty of 1/3 grade on day 1, 2/3 on day 2, 1
full grade on day 3 and zero after that. Late penalties will not lower a grade below 50%.
4. Assignments that only use encyclopedia or popular internet material will be given ‘zero’.
Submissions MUST follow the instructions for sources.
5. WLC Reports are ALWAYS recommended. Ask about citations, thesis statement and
topic sentences first. Upload the report when you submit assignments on Canvas (do not
email) and you may receive a bonus.
FORMATTING – STANDARD CMS STYLE
1. Times New Roman 12pt font. Double Spaced. Page numbers in top right of page.
2. CMS style footnotes and bibliography for ALL assignments. (does not count for paper
length).
3. SEPARATE Title Page, including the title of the essay, your name, student number,
instructor name, course and date of submission.
4. Refer to the Essential Essay Format outline, available on Canvas in the Writing and
Research Support Module, if you need help organizing your ideas and paragraphs.

HIST 102A Primary Source Analysis, AC Fall 2022 2
STEP ONE: Choosing a Primary Source:
 Primary sources are available online. Select a passage from a Modern European writer at
least 10 pages long (or 15 laptop screen-fuls) and analyze its historical significance.
Consider a ‘book’ or ‘chapter’ section that feels like it provides enough content.
o YOU MUST REFER TO THE COMPLETE TEXT, NOT EXCERPTS
o Watch the instructional video available on YouTube under the channel “Iain
Talks History” for more background on sources and research methods
 LIST OF POSSIBLE DATABASES:
o Review the YouTube video (on IainTalksHistory, https://youtu.be/hvS9wjAhaeU
) discussing primary and secondary sources. Mis-identifying the nature of the
source material can lead to failing grades on the assignment.
Alexander
College
Library
https://alexandercollege.ca/studentsuccess/library/
Published collections of
documents, academic articles and
books
JSTOR https://alexandercollege.ca/studentsuccess/library/articles-and-databases/
Late nineteenth and twentieth
century technical, scientific and
academic literature. Secondary
Sources.
Academic
Search
Complete
(EBSCO)
https://alexandercollege.ca/studentsuccess/library/articles-and-databases/
Academic secondary sources.
Published works.
Google Books https://books.google.com/ Primary Sources (all HIST).
Public domain works of literature,
philosophy and history. Not a
good choice for secondary
sources. Use with care.
Canadiana
Online
https://www.canadiana.ca/ Primary Sources (HIST 101 &
102). Canadian (and American)
books, pamphlets, government
documents, newspapers
Canadian
Letters and
Images
Project
https://www.canadianletters.ca/ Primary Sources (HIST 101 &
102). Personal letters, diaries and
papers of Canadians (only) during
Canada’s wars.
Internet
Archive
https://archive.org/ Primary & Secondary Sources
(all HIST). Public Domain works
of philosophy and literature from
a wide range of sources. Some are
accessible, some require
accounts. Use with care.
Project
Gutenberg
https://www.gutenberg.org/ Public Domain works of
philosophy and literature from a
wide range of sources.
YouTube Suggested Channels: Some channels provide excellent
HIST 102A Primary Source Analysis, AC Fall 2022 3
British Pathé
Associated Press Archive
video from the 20th century. Look
for newsreels, advertising or
television broadcasts. Beware of
documentaries or commentary
and only use the primary source
material.
Wikisource https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Main_Page Public domain works of literature,
philosophy, science etc.
Museum
websites and
collections
Ex. Canadian War Museum:

Exhibitions

nline-exhibitions
Useful for art or architecture
studies. If you are looking at
photographs please discuss it with
the instructor before proceeding
too far.
HIST 102: Democracy at War
archive on CWM is excellent
Frenchlanguage
media
Le Monde Newspaper
https://www.lemonde.fr/archives-dumonde/
This provides access to Frenchlanguage sources from 1944-2000
and can be used for a Frenchfocused history project.
Advertising will be less
demanding for French language
expertise.
STEP TWO: Read and Analyze the 10-15 page selected passage.
 Gather AT LEAST TWO secondary sources to support your analysis of the primary
source.
 The focus of the paper should be on understanding the content and historical significance
of the chosen passage, rather than summarizing or describing what the author said.
 FOOTNOTE as you write to record any quotes/paraphrases, or where important
information and ideas are incorporated into your paper. When in doubt, footnote!
o Key Questions to ask about a Primary Source:
 What type of document is it? (legal, legislative, diplomatic, polemic, public
article).
 What is the passage describing/discussing? Why is this topic important to
historians?
 Who wrote the passage? What was their relationship to the subject matter?
Are they a credible source?
 When was it written? How does this affect the meaning or significance of the
document?
 Who was it written for – the intended audience? Why would the author write
for this group?
 What is the historical significance of this document? Why should a historian
read this?
 How does this document fit into the historical narrative?
HIST 102A Primary Source Analysis, AC Fall 2022 4
 Group your notes into coherent ideas. This will become the basis of your paragraphs. If
you have too many for the scope of your paper, then select the best set that shows your
strongest points.
o Try to focus on areas where a specific text seems to reflect something important
in the broader society. As historians we are trying to understand the complexity of
the past, so explain how your particular research relates to the broader historical
context and the conversation among historians.
STEP THREE: Write a Standard Essay
 FOCUS QUESTION: Answer this in your thesis statement:
o Why is this document a valuable source for adding complexity to our
understanding of important themes in Canadian history?
 Make sure that each paragraph presents a single coherent idea with a topic sentence and
specific references to the text and to any other research that supports your points.
o Footnotes are essential, and academic research will make a stronger and more
credible paper.

VALUABLE WRITING ADVICE (FAQ)
1. Refer to the Essential Essay Guidelines and the Diagnostic Chart on the Writing
Helpance Canvas Module.
2. Use the WLC to develop your writing and argument. Grammar is not important, as long
as your ideas are clearly expressed.
3. Carefully select quotes and only use them when the author’s SPECIFIC words are
necessary to prove your point. ALL QUOTES REQUIRE EXPLANATION.
a. TIP: use separate sentences for evidence and explanation, to clearly distinguish
what your sources say and what you are arguing.
4. Contextualize the document: what type of source is it, who created it and what does it
say? Explain how this context affects the content of the document.
5. Consider the motivations and priorities of the creator. What in the document can prove
your theory about the motives?
6. IMPORTANT: Think about the chronological context (dates) and how this influences the
document/creator. Why is it important for the creator to express these ideas at this
particular time?
7. DO NOT DESCRIBE EVERYTHING. History is about choices and priorities. Use only
the evidence that is necessary to defend your thesis statement. No more. No less.
Organizing a Paper:
 Introduction: The article you are reviewing and the subject explored in the article.
o THESIS STATEMENT: the thesis should be the last sentence of the first
paragraph. It must clearly state your position (what is your answer to the
question?) and explain why this is your position.
 Body Paragraphs: What are the most important ideas you need to explain for the reader to
understand your argument (why you have taken your position). Use citations to show
where the reader can find the evidence that supports your position.
HIST 102A Primary Source Analysis, AC Fall 2022 5
o TIP: keep quotations to a minimum; use paraphrasing throughout, and only quote
where the SPECIFIC wording of the author is REQUIRED to make your point.
Make sure to CITE paraphrasing.
 Conclusion: ? Say something big.
HIST 102A: Primary Source Analysis (15%)
Alexander College, Fall 2022

Due Week #13 – 11:59pm, 4 Dec 2022

Abstract: Write a standard argumentative essay that analyses a primary source from Canada after Confederation. The primary source should be a substantial passage (10 pages) from an important text and the essay should present an argument for the historical significance of the document using the relevant context and research. Explain why this particular source teaches us something important about Modern European history.

LENGTH: 3-5 pages. It is the student’s responsibility (and judgment) to provide an appropriate amount of content to support and develop the thesis statement.

OUTCOMES
• Problem-solve the research process and identify relevant and accessible sources (time management) as the basis of independent research.
• Critically analyze and develop deep comprehension of historical primary and secondary sources.
• Synthesize evidence from multiple sources to communicate clear original arguments about the value and meaning of the source material.

VITAL INFORMATION: FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN ‘ZERO’
1. Only assignments submitted on Canvas as a Word or PDF file will be accepted.
2. Footnotes MUST be provided. Absence of footnotes results in an automatic zero grade and will be considered for an Academic Alert.
3. Late assignments will be accepted with a penalty of 1/3 grade on day 1, 2/3 on day 2, 1 full grade on day 3 and zero after that. Late penalties will not lower a grade below 50%.
4. Assignments that only use encyclopedia or popular internet material will be given ‘zero’. Submissions MUST follow the instructions for sources.
5. WLC Reports are ALWAYS recommended. Ask about citations, thesis statement and topic sentences first. Upload the report when you submit assignments on Canvas (do not email) and you may receive a bonus.

FORMATTING – STANDARD CMS STYLE
1. Times New Roman 12pt font. Double Spaced. Page numbers in top right of page.
2. CMS style footnotes and bibliography for ALL assignments. (does not count for paper length).
3. SEPARATE Title Page, including the title of the essay, your name, student number, instructor name, course and date of submission.
4. Refer to the Essential Essay Format outline, available on Canvas in the Writing and Research Support Module, if you need help organizing your ideas and paragraphs.

STEP ONE: Choosing a Primary Source:
• Primary sources are available online. Select a passage from a Modern European writer at least 10 pages long (or 15 laptop screen-fuls) and analyze its historical significance. Consider a ‘book’ or ‘chapter’ section that feels like it provides enough content. o YOU MUST REFER TO THE COMPLETE TEXT, NOT EXCERPTS
o Watch the instructional video available on YouTube under the channel “Iain Talks History” for more background on sources and research methods
• LIST OF POSSIBLE DATABASES:
o Review the YouTube video (on IainTalksHistory, https://youtu.be/hvS9wjAhaeU ) discussing primary and secondary sources. Mis-identifying the nature of the source material can lead to failing grades on the assignment.
Alexander
College
Library https://alexandercollege.ca/studentsuccess/library/ Published collections of documents, academic articles and books
JSTOR https://alexandercollege.ca/studentsuccess/library/articles-and-databases/ Late nineteenth and twentieth century technical, scientific and academic literature. Secondary Sources.
Academic
Search
Complete (EBSCO) https://alexandercollege.ca/studentsuccess/library/articles-and-databases/ Academic secondary sources. Published works.
Google Books https://books.google.com/ Primary Sources (all HIST). Public domain works of literature, philosophy and history. Not a good choice for secondary sources. Use with care.
Canadiana Online https://www.canadiana.ca/ Primary Sources (HIST 101 & 102). Canadian (and American) books, pamphlets, government documents, newspapers
Canadian
Letters and
Images Project https://www.canadianletters.ca/ Primary Sources (HIST 101 &
102). Personal letters, diaries and papers of Canadians (only) during Canada’s wars.
Internet Archive https://archive.org/ Primary & Secondary Sources (all HIST). Public Domain works of philosophy and literature from a wide range of sources. Some are accessible, some require accounts. Use with care.
Project
Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/ Public Domain works of philosophy and literature from a wide range of sources.
YouTube Suggested Channels: Some channels provide excellent
British Pathé
Associated Press Archive
video from the 20th century. Look for newsreels, advertising or television broadcasts. Beware of documentaries or commentary and only use the primary source material.
Wikisource https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Main_Page Public domain works of literature, philosophy, science etc.
Museum
websites and collections Ex. Canadian War Museum: https://www.warmuseum.ca/exhibitions/#o nline-exhibitions
Useful for art or architecture studies. If you are looking at photographs please discuss it with the instructor before proceeding too far.
HIST 102: Democracy at War archive on CWM is excellent
Frenchlanguage media Le Monde Newspaper
https://www.lemonde.fr/archives-dumonde/ This provides access to Frenchlanguage sources from 1944-2000 and can be used for a Frenchfocused history project. Advertising will be less demanding for French language expertise.

STEP TWO: Read and Analyze the 10-15 page selected passage.
• Gather AT LEAST TWO secondary sources to support your analysis of the primary source.
• The focus of the paper should be on understanding the content and historical significance of the chosen passage, rather than summarizing or describing what the author said.
• FOOTNOTE as you write to record any quotes/paraphrases, or where important information and ideas are incorporated into your paper. When in doubt, footnote!
o Key Questions to ask about a Primary Source:
• What type of document is it? (legal, legislative, diplomatic, polemic, public article).
• What is the passage describing/discussing? Why is this topic important to historians?
• Who wrote the passage? What was their relationship to the subject matter? Are they a credible source?
• When was it written? How does this affect the meaning or significance of the document?
• Who was it written for – the intended audience? Why would the author write for this group?
• What is the historical significance of this document? Why should a historian read this?
• How does this document fit into the historical narrative?
• Group your notes into coherent ideas. This will become the basis of your paragraphs. If you have too many for the scope of your paper, then select the best set that shows your strongest points.
o Try to focus on areas where a specific text seems to reflect something important in the broader society. As historians we are trying to understand the complexity of the past, so explain how your particular research relates to the broader historical context and the conversation among historians.

STEP THREE: Write a Standard Essay
• FOCUS QUESTION: Answer this in your thesis statement:
o Why is this document a valuable source for adding complexity to our understanding of important themes in Canadian history?
• Make sure that each paragraph presents a single coherent idea with a topic sentence and specific references to the text and to any other research that supports your points. o Footnotes are essential, and academic research will make a stronger and more credible paper.

VALUABLE WRITING ADVICE (FAQ)
1. Refer to the Essential Essay Guidelines and the Diagnostic Chart on the Writing Helpance Canvas Module.
2. Use the WLC to develop your writing and argument. Grammar is not important, as long as your ideas are clearly expressed.
3. Carefully select quotes and only use them when the author’s SPECIFIC words are necessary to prove your point. ALL QUOTES REQUIRE EXPLANATION.
a. TIP: use separate sentences for evidence and explanation, to clearly distinguish what your sources say and what you are arguing.
4. Contextualize the document: what type of source is it, who created it and what does it say? Explain how this context affects the content of the document.
5. Consider the motivations and priorities of the creator. What in the document can prove your theory about the motives?
6. IMPORTANT: Think about the chronological context (dates) and how this influences the document/creator. Why is it important for the creator to express these ideas at this particular time?
7. DO NOT DESCRIBE EVERYTHING. History is about choices and priorities. Use only the evidence that is necessary to defend your thesis statement. No more. No less.

Organizing a Paper:
• Introduction: The article you are reviewing and the subject explored in the article.
o THESIS STATEMENT: the thesis should be the last sentence of the first paragraph. It must clearly state your position (what is your answer to the question?) and explain why this is your position.
• Body Paragraphs: What are the most important ideas you need to explain for the reader to understand your argument (why you have taken your position). Use citations to show where the reader can find the evidence that supports your position.

o TIP: keep quotations to a minimum; use paraphrasing throughout, and only quote where the SPECIFIC wording of the author is REQUIRED to make your point. Make sure to CITE paraphrasing.
• Conclusion: ? Say something big.

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