Written Assignment Instructions – Each student will be required to write a two or three page paper that will be worth 100 points. Late papers will not be accepted but early papers are encouraged. Papers turned in at any time before the end of the sixth week of class will be graded and allowed to be corrected for full credit. Always turn in assignments via Blackboard.
Students must choose a biography of not less than two hundred pages on a person who is related to the period of American history that we are studying. No novels, autobiographies, comic books, or coffee table books are allowed. Books must be approved by the instructor by the end of the second week of class. There is a sample paper on Blackboard to give you an idea what this paper should consist of. BE WARNED: this assignment is not a typical book report.
The format of the paper MUST be as follows:
?A.?Use a standard 12 point font with a 1 inch margin and double-space your text. DO NOT add extra spaces between paragraphs. The paper must be a minimum of two pages and a maximum of three.
?B.?Use a cover sheet containing the student’s name, title of the book, author of the book, date submitted, course name, and course time slot. Center and double-space.
?C.?The first sentence of the first paragraph MUST read, “The main idea of the book was…” followed by your ONE WORD explanation. The main idea is the thesis, the one idea that holds the book together. It is NOT the same as the purpose of the book or the subject of the book. Be sure you understand the difference. If not, ASK!
?D.?The body of the paper MUST consist of the proof for the main idea. Give and explain three examples or reasons that the author uses to support the main idea. See sample outline below and the sample paper on Blackboard in the documents section.
?E.?The final paragraph MUST be your critique of the book. Summarize your paper. Did you enjoy reading it or not? Explain your decision.
?F.? Helpful hints:
?1.?Do not use contractions.
?2.?Do not use ANY quotations from the book. Use only your own words.
?3.?Write everything in past tense.
?4.?Spell out numbers except dates (day of the month, year of the century, etc.)
?5.?Develop the main idea with specifics, not generalizations.
?6.?The first time you mention a person’s name, use their full name, after that, use only their last name.
?7.?Double check your spelling and grammar.
?8.?Find a book about something you are interested in.
?G.?If you follow the instructions for this assignment you should get an A. Read your book, think carefully, and write clearly. Failure to follow any of these instructions WILL result in a loss of points.
?H.?If you have any questions, ASK! ASK! ASK!
This outline may be used to help form your thoughts. DO NOT turn in an outline. Your paper must resemble the sample paper posted to Blackboard.
Introduction
1.?The main idea of the book was ______________.
?a.?Reason 1
?b.?Reason 2
?c.?Reason 3
2.?Conclude introduction
Body
I.?Reason 1
?A.?Support for reason 1
?B.?Support for reason 1
?C.?Support for reason 1
?D.?Conclude reason 1
II.?Reason 2
?A.?Support for reason 2
?B.?Support for reason 2
?C.?Support for reason 2
?D.?Conclude reason 2
III.?Reason 3
?A.?Support for reason 3
?B.?Support for reason 3
?C.?Support for reason 3
?D.?Conclude reason 3
Conclusion
1.?Summarize introductory paragraph in one or two sentences
2.?Discuss whether or not you liked the book in two or three sentences
THE PAPER IS ON THE **THEME OF THE BOOK** ex
The main idea of the book was obsession. It was an obsession that spanned many lives and many decades, and wore many names. In South Dakota, it was Doane Robinson, an historian and avid promoter of the state’s many virtues, along with Peter Norbeck, a native of the state who rose through the ranks of state government to the United States Senate, who wanted to bring the bountiful fruits of the tourism industry home. Then, there was the general obsession by the American people, or at least the wealthy and influential ones, to memorialize every great person or important event in American history. Finally, there was Gutzon Borglum himself, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. His was a life of obsession from beginning to end.
South Dakota was a beautiful place, but out of the way. It also had a seriously flagging economy. Robinson and Norbeck felt that by exploiting the natural beauty and history of South Dakota they could draw tourists from all over the country, and perhaps the world, into their backyard thus breathing new life into the economy. The problem was getting them there. They concluded that the Black Hills should be the centerpiece of their plan, with some sort of monument to the important figures of the region such as General George Custer, killed at Little Big Horn, along with Sioux heroes such as Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse. As the automobile began to weave itself into the fabric of American culture, roads began to criss-cross the countryside. Robinson and Norbeck wanted some of those roads to lead into South Dakota.
On a national scale, the politicians and those that backed them became interested in building memorials and monuments to the great deeds that had been done in America. Many Civil War monuments were built during this period; shrines to Abraham Lincoln in the North, Robert E. Lee in the South. Washington D.C. had been left largely unfinished and now it was time to finish it as the originators had intended. Many great works were commissioned, with architecture and sculpture being predominant. Monuments were made to George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln and many others. Federal buildings were ornate and often reminiscent of ancient Greek structures. Cities across America wanted to memorialize something; battles, important historical figures, even contemporary heroes who still lived. Thousands upon thousands of dollars were appropriated by the government or spent by wealthy patrons every year to make these memorials possible, many of which Borglum was a part of.
Now we must look at Borglum himself. He was obsessed with greatness, particularly the greatness of art. Borglum never let little things like money (or a lack thereof), friendship, propriety, or common sense get in the way of his art. He often spent his own money on his projects and actually lost money on some of his best work. He constantly railed against (and ultimately alienated) the art establishment as being inferior. Borglum was also obsessed with great men, and wanted to be one himself. He was fascinated by Lincoln in particular, but had a deep appreciation for the Founding Fathers as well. He was a personal friend and fervent supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, and throughout his life he campaigned for many different political candidates and causes, even becoming associated with the Ku Klux Klan for a time.
One must put all of these factors together with the national sentiment toward monuments and the invitation by Norbeck to carve a monument in the Black Hills in order to fully appreciate Mount Rushmore. The author put it best describing this colossal monument as “Great Men carved by a Great Man”. It had never been done before, and nothing like it will ever be done again. Only Borglum could have conceived it, and only he could have finished it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mount Rushmore is a marvel of art, engineering, and perseverance. The book also tells the many streams of history that converge there: the Sioux, the bikers of Sturgis, Custer, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, simple miners, Rodin, and the millions of tourists who visit each year. Definitely a must read.
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