| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 30 pts | 100% |
| 29 pts | 97% |
| 28 pts | 93% |
| 27 pts | 90% |
| 26 pts | 87% |
| 25 pts | 83% |
| 24 pts | 80% |
| 23 pts | 77% |
| 22 pts | 73% |
| 21 pts | 70% |
| 20 pts | 67% |
| 19 pts | 63% |
| 18 pts | 60% |
| 17 pts | 57% |
| 16 pts | 53% |
| 15 pts | 50% |
| 14 pts | 47% |
Essay Overview
Essays should be turned in on Canvas. In order to meet the minimum criteria for this essay, it should do the following. It should be formatted as a proper essay with proper citations. The essay should cite at least four sources from the unit (two must be a primary source). Each paragraph (other than the introduction and conclusion) should cite at least one source. For more information on formatting, organizing, and writing essays, please see my page on writing essays. You can also find information on citing sources on [page on citing source]{../../../student-resources/citing-sources.qmd} or on the Chicago Manual of Style quick guide{target=“_blank”, rel=“noopener noreferrer”} I strongly recommend you use it as a reference source.
This essay is an evaluation of your ability to understand, analyze, and synthesize the information presented in the class. You have been provided ample amounts of information to do this task. No information or sources not presented during this class are permitted in the essay. History is a discipline that asks you to evaluate information available and organize it into a coherent argument. This class is not a research class, so do not use outside sources. You may cite information from class lectures in the following format: Nathan Michalewicz, Lecture, Week #, url address of the lecture.
This essay expects you to make an argument based on all the information you have learned in class up until this point. It should demonstrate two things: (1) your ability to form an argument and defend it with evidence; and (2) your understanding of the material presented in class. It is your opportunity to show what you know. Having said that, that knowledge should be employed to make the argument. How does all of this information fit together? Your argument should show me what you think.
Finally, generative AI is not permitted in this essay. You may not use AI to generate content, citations, or any part of the essay.
Essay Question
In an essay (750-word minimum), explain how the relationship between state and society changed during the early modern period (from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment). Make sure to make an argument (thesis statement) that you will prove throughout the essay. Use evidence from the readings and videos provided in the course content folder. Ensure to cite any direct quotations or paraphrases from these sources footnotes.
You will have an opportunity to revise this essay after it is graded. The date of revisions will be announced it class. As a rule, they are due one week after all essays have been graded. Late revisions will NOT be accepted.
Essay Rubric
| Criteria | 5 pts. | 4 pts. | 3 pts | 2 pts | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Essay demonstrates a mastery of the class content | Essay demonstrates a good understanding of the class content | Essay demonstrates a basic understanding of the content | Essay demonstrates a limited understanding of the content | Essay demonstrates little to no understanding of the content |
| Organization | Essay is well organized and clearly planned out. Contains strong topic sentences that align closely with the content. | Essay is mostly organized and easy to follow. Topic sentences and content mostly align | Essay is somewhat organized and/or somewhat difficult to follow | Essay is poorly organized and difficult to follow | Essay is not organized and very difficult to follow |
| Writing | Essay is written exceptionally well and clearly articulated. No errors in grammar or spelling. | Essay is written well. It is fairly clear. Contains very few errors in grammar or spelling | Essay is written with a few errors in grammar and spelling. There are times when clarity is an issue. | Essay is written with several errors in grammar and spelling. Clarity of the message is an issue. | Essay is written with many errors in grammar and spelling and the message is lost frequently. |
| Citations and Use of Evidence | Essay contains proper citations and references. Each body paragraph contains at least one citation. Use of evidence is compelling toward the argument. | Essay contains proper citations and references, but not all body paragraphs contain citations, or vice versa. Or the evidence is not compelling for every paragraph. | Essay contains citations, but they follow an inconsistent pattern. Not all body paragraphs contain citations and/or evidence is consistently not compelling. | Essay contains very few citations and references. They do not follow discernible pattern | Essay does not include any citations or references. |
| Argument & Persuasion | Essay contains a strong and substantive argument in the introduction that synthesizes class material and is persuasively substantiated. | Essay contains a strong and substantive argument in the introduction that synthesized the class material, but it is not persuasively substantiated throughout the essay. | Essay contains a weak argument in the introduction or the argument is primarily summary, but it is substantiated throughout the essay | Essay contains a weak argument and is not substantiated throughout the essay. | Essay lacks a discernible argument |
| Meets Requirements | Essay meets all requirements of the assignment | N/A | N/A | N/A | Essay does not meet all requirements of the assignment. |