The goal of course assignments is to encourage you to explore the topic more deeply, to develop historical thinking and analysis skills, and assess your progress through course material.
Timeline Project (15%)
Each student will contribute one entry to a group timeline that chronicles the major people and events of the American Revolutionary era. Details will be distributed during the second week of classes.
Reading Reflections (20% each, 60% total)
After we finish reading each of the three books, you will write a reflection based on your understanding of the material and responding to the argument of the author based on our discussions and course material. Each reflection will be due one week after the final assigned reading for the book.
Final Examination (25%)
The final examination will be a take-home essay of 3,000-3,500 words (excluding footnotes) on an assigned question. Full details will be distributed in late April; the essay will be due during the final examination time assigned by the Registrar’s office.
Required Texts
- Fenn, Elizabeth A. Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82. 1st ed. New York: Hill and Wang, 2001. ISBN: 978-0809078219
- Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. ISBN: 978-0679779087
- Zabin, Serena R. The Boston Massacre: A Family History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. ISBN: 978-0544911154
Grading Scale
Each assignment is weighted as noted above, which will be used to calculate a final average.
| A | 94-100 |
| A- | 90-93.9 |
| B+ | 87-89.9 |
| B | 83-86.9 |
| B- | 80-82.9 |
| C+ | 77-79.9 |
| C | 73-76.9 |
| C- | 70-72.9 |
| D+ | 67-69.9 |
| D | 63-66.9 |
| D- | 60.0-62.9 |
| F | 0-59.9 |
Joseph M. Adelman 