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History of the American West Fall 2003 |
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History
228 Terrence
Delaney, professor Do one of the
following: |
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Take-home Final Exam |
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The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with a
chance to draw together the great amounts of material we have looked at over the
course of the semester, and develop your own argument as to what you see
happening. The essay will be evaluated
on your ability to draw together specific data from the readings,
discussions, videos, and lectures |
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Choose a date or event that you believe marks a watershed,
a point dividing two separate epochs, in the history of the American
West. Explain why you chose what you
did, the differences that lay on either side of this event, and the
significance of the event in terms of the actual nature and the
myth(s) of the West. |
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In a general sense I am looking for a clear, well-written
essay. Another way to put that is that
it “reads well.” What does that mean? 1.
Essays
that “read well” are those that have been developed over time as opposed to
being written in one (usually rushed) session. 2.
If
I cannot understand what it is you are saying, I will have a hard time
assessing how well you are doing. 3.
Writing
in complete sentences and well-organized paragraphs is important. 4.
It
is essential to state your argument clearly in the beginning of the essay. 5.
Using
specific materials from the readings and the Internet sites posted to support
it are essential; in this regard, the judicious use of quotes is
encouraged. A statement without
support is an unsubstantiated opinion; one with support is an argument. 6.
In
historical writing the use of the word “I,” or any other type of
personalization, is to be avoided at all costs. A more objective tone is the standard the
writer should follow. Each of the above is an important component in writing a
successful essay. Using specific materials from the readings and the Internet
sites posted to support it are essential; in this regard, the judicious use
of quotes is encouraged. A statement
without support is an unsubstantiated opinion; one with support is an
argument. |
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In-class Final Exam |
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Possible essays: 1.
In
1893, Frederick Jackson Turner claimed the West was closed, its history
completed as the frontier had vanished.
In what ways did the West continue its growth? If we look at the West of the individual
would it be fair to say that Turner was correct, the West had closed? 2.
Define
both cattleman and cowboy, explaining how each may have been used and perceived. Your answer should take into account the
different phases and facets of the range cattle industry. 3.
Define
the difference between preservation and conservation. How do you see this playing out in the American
West? What regional distinctions make
the West an area where the differences between the two words are so
contentious? To what extent do native
peoples participate in this? Short essays/identifications: Custer; bison robe trade; Baron
von Richthofen; Buffalo Bill; The Wild
Bunch; Chinese labor; Hetch Hetchy;
Berkeley Pit; Union Pacific; John Muir; Sitting Bull; The Shootist. |
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