Course Documents

Week I    Chapter 21:
28 September - 2 October (Weekend of 3-4 October):

Review Writing Skills:

• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Punctuations and Capitalizations
• Homonyms, Synonyms, Antonyms
• Apostrophes: "its" or "it's"

Filename Extension Format:

Some of you have Word 2003, some have Word 2007, and some of you do not have MS Word at all. Some of you are Mac users and will experience frustration because it seems as if documentation and platforms cater to PC users . . . and for the most part, this is true. Therefore, we must be clever about the file extension used to save and exchange documents. Filename extensions end in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf, .txt. Here are some tips:

• When in doubt, save the document as .rtf, which stands for "rich text format."
• Word 2003 users: install the converter to enable reading of Word 2007 documents (.docx).
• Word 2007 users: try to remember to save the documents in .doc extension.
• Those who have other applications such as Jarte or Open Office, save the documents as .rtf.
• The industry standard in both education and corporation is MS Word. This is not fair; this is inconvenient; this is expensive. This is also reality. If one can install MS Word on one's machine or manage to access MS Word reliably, it is strongly suggested one does so.

N.B.    Your citation exercise is due at the end of next week.

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Week II    Chapter 22:
5 - 9 October (Weekend of 10-11 October)

Learn to Cite:

• Full book citation
• Quote from book with footnote reference numbers
• Creating footnotes
• Paraphrase with note number and footnote citation

Assignment document: Chicago_CitationEx.doc

Formatting Citations Electronically

This is not a brick-and-mortar class where one can hand in a hard copy of one's assignment. The assignments are digital documents that are submitted electronically. Therefore, there is an added responsibility on the part of the student to work intelligently and competently. Understanding how to format documents digitally will definitely help you in the workplace, so please pay attention. You will need to resubmit your citation assignment continually until I tell you that it is perfect and you receive your 50 points per part. It is rare for a student to pass the assignment on the first try, however, if you can do it, nothing would please me more!

Do not use manual keystrokes to format your entries! You may want to maximize your browser to view clearly the graphic files from the links below.

• Use the formatting menu in your word processing application. Here is an example: Format Menu
• This example illustrates what I see when I open your document. I turn on the character display option which reveals the keystrokes used to create the document: Hanging Indent Format
• Using the formatting menu "cleans up" the document - e.g. less character marks such as , , and . Please pay close attention to the settings: indent type, spacing, etc. Click here to view Format Box.
• Here is another example for First Line Indent: First Line Indent Format. Do not press the [Enter] key or hit the space bar numerous times to start a new line!
• Here is how you format a First Line Indent entry: First Line Indent Format Box. Again, pay attention to the settings. Notice details!

I had a student who was offended when I made a statement that some people are more detail-oriented than others and therefore some people will have an easier time with the citation exercises than others. I do not mean to offend any student, however, I am the instructor and part of my duties is to state uncomfortable truths. The truth of the matter is that when it comes to electronic communications and digital documents, there is really no room for error and the more diligently each person works to acquire detail oriented skills, the more advantages he or she will have in school and in the workplace. Please do not be careless or lazy in your work.

N.B.    First citation exercise is due by week's end. Begin thinking about possible paper topics; topic selection/outline due 15-16 October.

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*Week III    Chapter23:
12 - 16 October (Weekend of 17-18 October)

Learn to Cite:

• Web site citation
• Journal article citation
• Newspaper article citation
• Online database citation

Assignment document: Make corrections to your Chicago_CitationEx.doc

N.B.    Your citation exercise is due continually until everything is correct. Also, EXAM I is COMING UP (18 - 20 Oct). Also, don't forget to work on your Citation Exercise corrections and hand in your topic selection.

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*Week IV     Chapter24:
19 - 23 October (Weekend of 24-25 October)

Paper Format:

The link below provides information about the exact format for papers including margins, fonts, source guides, and basic academic writing rules. Please use this guide and do not hesitate to contact me if you have pressing questions or if this document is in any way unclear.

Paper Requirements

Preliminary Outline/Draft:

• Submit your topic selection.
• Compile a list of your sources following correct citation/documentation.
• Start with an outline.
• Determine a "thesis statement"for your paper. Think about why you chose your topic and what interests you about it . . .
• . . . For instance, one might choose a subject from the Crimean War because one is majoring in nursing, specializing in emergency room procedures and has an interest in the history of treating battlefield injuries (beyond the scope of this class, by the way).
• Write a preliminary draft; check writing mechanics, i.e. misspellings, subject-verb agreement, complete sentences, etc.
• Submit source list, outline, and draft.

Research Paper Template: Research_Template.dot Paper Topic Selecton - Due 19 October

In addition, for those who have Word 2003, I have made available an instruction sheet demonstrating how to format footnotes in Word, using the Reveal Formatting menu that pops up along the right side of the application.

Formatting Footnotes in Word 2003

For your perusal, I have provided links to four exemplary papers submitted by my former students. They have each kindly granted me permission to post their research papers. Please respect their intellecutal property rights.

• Leadership Without Boundaries: An analysis of the collapse of the Roman Republic
  Joseph Facilla - World History to 1500
• Modern Day Influence of Zoroastrianism
  Linda Spain - World History to 1500
• American Revolutionary Naval Actions Against the British
  Lloyd Hensrude - US History to 1877
• The 1876 Presidential Election and Its Relevance to the Republican Party's Abandonment of Reconstruction
  Ben Luria - US History to 1877

N.B.    Your topic selection/outline was due last weekend. If you were granted an extension, get it in with your rough draft by this weekend.

*Week V     Chapters 25:
26 - 30 October (Weekend of 31 October - 1 November - Happy Halloween!)

Do Not Procrastinate!    Begin writing the first draft based on my feedback ASAP.

• Be meticulous about your documentation from the very beginning.
• Do not be a perfectionist (other than documentation) - just write.
• Keep writing - then edit before you take a break and then again when you return to writing.
• Ready to edit? Check writing mechanics, PLEASE!
• Yes, you will rewrite! Often. We must get used to it.

N.B.    First rough draft is due no later than Monday, 26 October.

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*Week VI     Chapters 26:
2 - 6 November (Weekend of 7-8 November)

Restructure:
This is the week to really get work done on your paper. For those of you who are relatively comfortable with Microsoft Word but need help with toolbars and the formatting task pane, I can also help.

N.B.    EXAM II COMING UP (5 - 7 Nov). Be prepared. Don't forget to hand in Rough Draft II by Sunday, 8 November.

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*Week VII     Chapters 27-28:
9 - 13 November (Weekend of 14-15 November)

Second Draft: Again, please do not procrastinate. Take a deep breath after the exam and continue your paper.
Again, check your sources and make sure you have complete and correct documentation/citations:

• Read your paper aloud - slowly and deliberately.
• Please check for mechanical errors. Have someone else proofread your draft.
• A fresh pair of eyes is extremely useful.

Questions? Your instructor has flexible hours and makes herself available.

N.B.    Are you keeping up on your Discussion Board postings? Don't fall behind.

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*Week VIII     Chapters 28 - 29:
10-14 November (Weekend of 15-16 November)

Restructure:
Keep working on the paper. A reminder: for those of you who are relatively comfortable with Microsoft Word but need help with toolbars and the formatting task pane, I can also help.

N.B.     Don't neglect your research paper. Keep working.

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*Week IX     Chapters 29-30:
23 - 25 November (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Restructure:
Yet another opportunity to get more work done on your paper. Become familiar with the formatting pane in Word or other word processing applications.

N.B.    EXAM III COMING UP (23-25 Nov). Your rough draft III is also due.

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*Week X     Chapters 30-31:
30 November - 4 December (5-6 December)

Finishing touches: Ideally, you should be putting the finishing touches on your paper. You cannot afford the luxury of putting your paper off. Next week is Review and Exam Prep Week.

N.B.     We're getting close to the end of the quarter! Be sure you are caught up on all your work, including the DB.

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*Week XI     Chapter 31 and REVIEW:
7 - 11 December

Restructure: This is the week to put finalize your paper. Double, then triple check your citations. Mind the mechanics of grammar.

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