The goal of this assignment is to practice and develop the skill of locating and evaluating the argument of a work of scholarship in history. For each reading of article length (20-40 pages or so), you will prepare a brief report on the article or chapter’s arguments and evidence using a prepared form. Each student will select a pseudonym to use for this assignment, and you should not share this with anyone else in the class (but you must share it with the instructor).
Please bring a paper copy of the report with you to class, with your pseudonym written at the top instead of your real name.
At the end of our class discussion about the reading, we will circulate the reports and engage in peer grading according to a rubric. Students may make up any missed report within one week. The instructor will then review grades. Students may request a re-grade within one week of the reports being returned.
As noted on the syllabus, the best ten grades will count towards the final grade for the assignment.
Report Template
Rubric
| 4 | Report is both complete and accurate. The student has accurately summarized the article, included relevant details about the argument and evidence, and offered substantive critiques. |
| 3 | Report is largely complete and accurate. The student has summarized the article, has included details about the argument and evidence, and offered critiques, but may have made some errors of fact or left out relevant information. |
| 2 | Report contains relevant information but may be missing answers to one or more questions. The student has summarized the article, has included some information about the argument and evidence, and offered critiques, but made errors of fact or omitted relevant information. |
| 1 | Report does not meet the assignment standard. It is missing complete answers to multiple questions and/or contains significant inaccuracies. |
| 0 | No report submitted or answers not responsive to the assigned reading. |
Joseph M. Adelman 