HIS 117 Journal Guidelines and Rubric Beginning Research

Overview: Journals are private communication between you and the instructor. They are also an opportunity to get feedback on key components of your final project. Before submission, be sure to check your assignment against the rubric below.

Prompt: For this journal assignment, submit an assignment in which you begin your research for your final paper. You should include the following:

 Your Topic: Brainstorm reasons humans created societies, states, and empires in the premodern world. At this point, your topic should be a rough idea that you would like to explore and refine over the next few modules. Provide reasons for your choice. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Humans created societies, states, and empires in the late Neolithic period to 1500 CE in order to accomplish the following: o Maintain a common defense o Allow for the growth of individuals o Guarantee admission to heaven

 Your Research Focus: Identify three specific empires, states, or societies that you will research and analyze in your paper. Choose three societies, states, or empires from the following world regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Americas. You may want to glance through the textbook to get ideas. You will analyze these societies, states, and empires as examples to prove your thesis. In your journal assignment, provide the reasons you chose them.

 Sources: Consider the sources of primary and secondary information you can use to begin your research by exploring the links in the Research Guide document. Choose at least one primary and one secondary source and cite them in Turabian style. You can refer to the History webpage for the Shapiro Library as a guide, as well as this video on primary and secondary sources.

Guidelines for Submission: Your journal assignment should be 400 to 500 words in length with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Cite your sources using Turabian style.

Critical Elements

Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Topic Identifies a topic related to why humans created societies, states, and empires and provides reasons for selection

Identifies a topic but it does not directly relate to why humans created societies, states, and empires; does not provide reasons to support selection or they are incomplete, inaccurate, or not completely developed

Does not identify a topic or provide reasons 30

Research Focus Identifies three societies, states, and empires from Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Americas and provides reasons to support this selection

Identifies three societies, states, and empires from Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Americas but does not provide reasons to support this selection

Does not identify societies, states, and empires

30

Sources Lists at least one primary and one secondary source cited in Turabian style and sources are drawn from the links provided in the Research Guide document

Provides at least two resources drawn from the links provided in the Research Guide document but does not correctly identify them as primary or secondary and/or does not correctly use Turabian style

Does not provide resources 30

Writing Mechanics

Submission has no major errors related to grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission contains significant errors related to grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that do not impact readability or articulation of ideas

Submission has critical errors related to grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that impact readability or articulation of ideas

10

Total 100%