Final Paper: Write an essay arguing the point of view of a border state (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri)—on the eve of the Civil War—advocating for either union or secession. You can select another state, but will need to discuss with me beforehand. The assignment should be at least 750 words. (Sourcing required; footnotes and bibliography)
Write a persuasive essay arguing for your selected border state to either secede or remain in the union. Assume that this might be printed in a newspaper or given as a speech in 1860 or 1861, before the war starts. (Evidence doesn’t need to come from these two specific years, however. Evidence in this general timeframe of late 1840s up until the war is likely to be relevant. You might find earlier relevant evidence if the argument uses that, but this will depend on what your research uncovers. Be prepared to explain the relevance of any evidence you use though, especially if it comes from an earlier time period. Remember, evidence is not always “self evident.”)
Because this is a persuasive essay, feel free to use some rhetorical devices and strong or emotive language that would not normally be appropriate in a research paper. However, while appealing to your selected state’s citizens to either secede or stay within the union, you must remain historically accurate. In order to demonstrate this accuracy and relevance, citations and reliable sources, as with all other papers, must be in evidence. Arguments that are generic–not associated to the particular state–or cursory–not involving thorough research that turns to contemporaneous (primary) sources–will not be considered fulfilling the assignment requirements.
This is still a research paper, so all elements that go into such writing must be present:
– clear argument with thesis (question); an introduction contextualizes your thesis, not all of history…
– organization and body paragraphs that tie back to the thesis; at all times, the evidence in the arguments is driving the thesis forward
– spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence construction; the paper must be proofread before submitting
– quality evidence that is specific and relevant to the arguments being made
– research, into primary, scholarly, academic, sources that demonstrates deep engagement with the topic
– accurate and comprehensive citations, with footnotes and bibliography following Chicago Style guidelines
If any of these things are not included in the final paper I will not accept the submission.
In order to make specific arguments you will need to turn to scholarly works and primary sources–this is a requirement. Popular, “study,” and “tutor” sites are very unlikely to provide the very specific evidence needed to make your case. Primary sources will be absolutely essential to this research and writing. Especially ones specific to your locality.
I expect arguments that would appeal to citizens of the time, based on the interests of the state, individuals, leading publications, or other influential voices of the time, in deciding to stay with the union or secede. This is where your original research will come in to play: finding pieces of evidence in your research to support the argument.
However, while the sourcing will be done to academic standards, we can write this as a piece of persuasion, that might appear in a format other than a research paper–think a newspaper article or public speech. Some tips for making persuasive arguments can be found at the Purdue Online Writing Lab and the National Speech & Debate Association. Failure to cite–at this point in the course–may result in a paper that cannot be accepted.
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