Instructions: There are no multiple choice questions on this assignment. After you submit your essay it will be read by your instructor and a grade will be posted. When you are finished with the assignment it would be a good idea to print yourself a copy for your own records (using Ctrl-p).

Please make sure that you enter the above information correctly. If you do not, the assignment will not be submitted and you will have to do it again to get a score for the multiple choice.

Essay Question

For this assignment you must write a 2500 to 3000-word essay. This essay is not closed book, but any ideas you draw from the text or elsewhere must be expressed in your own words. Please see the statement on plagiarism under "Course Organization" at the beginning of this syllabus.

Choose one of the following topics:

A. America-the year you were born: Discuss how the important issues and events of that time period have affected America and you.

or

B. Your family in America: Discuss the way major political and economic issues have affected your family history in America. (Though your family history will no doubt be the most substantive part of your essay, it is important that you also discuss, in some detail, the broader American historical setting that may have affected your family in particular periods. For example, just saying that family members participated in the Civil War does not really discuss the issues involved - it only sets them in the time period. In this case you might briefly mention that causes of the war and where members of your family stood with respect to those issues. You may want to limit your discussion to two or three generations, in order to deal more fully with the larger picture.)

or

C. America and you today: Discuss one of today's most pressing political and/or Constitutional issues, how it is related to the Founding and its fulfillment, and how it affects you. Since this may be a controversial issue, it is important that you show your familiarity with ALL SIDES, though you are certainly at liberty also to express your own opinion and give your reasons for it.

or

D. A non-American's perspective on the American Founding and its fulfillment. (On this one, be sure to consider the American Constitution very carefully.)
(PLEASE NOTE: THIS QUESTION IS ONLY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS. IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN, YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE OF THE OTHER THREE QUESTIONS.)

This is not necessarily an easy assignment, because it will take considerable study and thought. As you deal with these questions, you need to discuss them with many people, study the history of the times in which you and your family have lived, and think deeply about some of the principles and ideas you have studied. There are many sources you can go to as you look for the events of the period of time you are writing about. One of them is simply a good American history textbook (a recent edition, of course). Other sources include the newspapers and news magazines of the times; a publication called Facts on File, which provides some historical insights; and a variety of books on the major issues of the period you are concerned with. You should be resourceful enough to find them in your library. Have a great time writing this essay! I think you will enjoy it. I look forward to receiving it, for I know I will enjoy it, and, at the same time, get better acquainted with you!

Essay Instructions: Prepare an answer to one of the questions with your word processor. Save your answer. Now copy the entire answer to your clipboard (Ctrl-C on a windows machine) and paste it into the input box below (Ctrl-V on a windows machine). Submit your assignment.

Number of words: