Week 3 Assignment 1

 

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Assignment 1: “America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains”  

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper on the period from Reconstruction through widespread industrialization in the Western United States (approximate time period: 1865-1900.)

Your paper should cover the following:

• Identify at least (2) two major historical turning points in the period under discussion.

 

• Analyze the impact of the two (2) or more major historical turning points selected on America’s 1) current society, 2) economy, 3) politics, and 4) culture.

Student note: The requirements for the points listed above are separate from the rest of the assignment.

• Describe at least two (2) ways the Reconstruction period may have been different if President Lincoln had not been assassinated.

 

• Explain how industrialization and urbanization affected the life of the average working American during the period.

 

• Give at least two (2) examples of how the federal and/or state courts and legislatures handed down decisions or passed laws during the period that served to discriminate against non-white citizens and immigrants.

 

• Include at least two (2) references (sources) other than the textbook. At least one (1) of your sources must be obtained from the collection of databases accessible from the Learning Resources Center Web page. Generic encyclopedic Internet resources such as Wikipedia or Answers.com will not be considered acceptable.

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and effectively organized writing:

• The paper is well organized, and every explanation is both complete and easy to understand.

 

• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph for the paper.

 

• Main ideas should be addressed in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.

 

• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

 

• The paper should be checked for spelling and grammatical errors.

The format of the paper is to be as follows:

• Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one-inch margins on all sides, APA format.

 

• In addition to the three to four (3-4) pages assigned, a title page with the title of the assignment, your name, the instructor’s name, the course title, and the date is to be included, as well as a Reference Page.

 

• Sources documented using APA style for in-text citations and listed on the References Page using APA style format.

The assignment will be graded using the following rubric:

Outcomes Assessed

Recognize the major turning points in American history since the Civil War. Analyze how historical events shape America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture. Recognize and discuss the different ways that the heritage of slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and segregation have shaped America’s history—even to the present day. Identify how changes in social and economic conditions and technology can cause corresponding changes in the attitudes of the people and policies of the government. Recognize and discuss the ways that formal policies of government have influenced the direction of historical and social development in the United States. Utilize critical thinking skills, and write clearly, coherently, and persuasively on a topic or topics related to American history since the Civil War. Use technology and information resources to research issues in the field of American history since the Civil War.

Grading Rubric for Assignment 1 – America’s Post Civil War Growing Pains

 

Criteria	0 Unacceptable	20 Developing	30 Competent	40 Exemplary
1. Identify two (2) major historical turning points in the period under discussion.	Did not complete the assignment or identified no major historical turning points.	Identified one (1) major historical turning point during the period under discussion.	Identified two (2) major historical turning points during the period under discussion.	Identified three (3) or more major historical turning points during the period under discussion.
2. Analyze the impact of the two (2) major historical turning points selected on America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture.	Did not complete the assignment or analyzed the impact of neither of the two (2) major historical turning points selected on America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture.	Analyzed the impact of one (1) of the two (2) major historical turning points selected on America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture.	Analyzed the impact of two (2) major historical turning points selected on America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture.	Fully analyzed the steps described above, explained which is the most likely to cause problems and why. Completed with 90-100% accuracy, thoroughness, and logic.
3. Describe at least two (2) ways the Reconstruction period may have been different if President Lincoln had not been assassinated.	Did not complete the assignment or did not describe any ways the Reconstruction period may have been different if President Lincoln had not been assassinated. Completed with less than 60% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Described one (1) way the Reconstruction period may have been different if President Lincoln had not been assassinated. Completed with 60-79% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Described two (2) ways the Reconstruction period may have been different if President Lincoln had not been assassinated. Completed with 80-89% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Described three (3) or more ways the Reconstruction period may have been different if President Lincoln had not been assassinated. Completed with 90-100% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.
4. Explain how industrialization and urbanization affected the life of the average working American during the period.	Did not complete the assignment or did not explain how industrialization and urbanization affected the life of the average working American during the period. Completed with less than 60% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Partially explained how industrialization and urbanization affected the life of the average working American during the period. Completed with 60-79% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Sufficiently explained how industrialization and urbanization affected the life of the average working American during the period. Completed with 80-89% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Fully explained how industrialization and urbanization affected the life of the average working American during the period. Completed with 90-100% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.
5. Give at least two (2) examples of how the federal and/or state courts and legislatures handed down decisions or passed laws during the period that served to discriminate against non-white residents of the country and immigrants.	Did not complete the assignment or did not give any examples of how the federal and/or state courts and legislatures handed down decisions or passed laws during the period that served to discriminate against non-white residents of the country and immigrants. Completed with less than 60% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Gave one (1) example of how the federal and/or state courts and legislatures handed down decisions or passed laws during the period that served to discriminate against non-white residents of the country and immigrants. Completed with 60-79% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Gave two (2) examples of how the federal and/or state courts and legislatures handed down decisions or passed laws during the period that served to discriminate against non-white residents of the country and immigrants. Completed with 80-89% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.	Gave three (3) or more examples of how the federal and/or state courts and legislatures handed down decisions or passed laws during the period that served to discriminate against non-white residents of the country and immigrants. Completed with 90-100% accuracy, logic, and thoroughness.
6. Organization and clarity in writing, including grammar, spelling, punctuation; and application of APA style.	Did not complete the assignment or had 8+ different errors in sentence structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and APA style. Explanations are unclear and not organized. (Major issues)	Had 6–7 different errors in sentence structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and APA style. (Many issues) Explanations generally unclear and not well organized.	Had 4–5 different errors in sentence structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and APA style.  Explanations generally clear and/or organized. (Minor issues)	Had 0–3 different errors in sentence structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and APA style.  Explanations very clear and well organized. (Added helpful details)

 

7. Include at least two (2) appropriate and relevant outside references.

Did not complete the assignment or included no appropriate and relevant outside references.

Included one (1) appropriate and relevant outside references.

Included two (2) appropriate and relevant outside references.

Included three (3) or more appropriate and relevant outside references.