HIST1101 AN INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY, PART TWO

HIST1100 DOCUMENT ANALYSIS SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDELINES 1 

HIST1101 AN INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY, PART TWO 

Winter 2009 

Additional Guidelines for the Document Analysis 

(please use these guidelines in conjunction with the guidelines that I gave in the 

course outline) 

The Role of this Assignment in This Course 

This course is intended not only to introduce you to the history of Western 

Civilization and to impart a love of the subject of history and the historian’s craft, but 

also to develop a specific skills set: 

i) verbal communication (through the designated class discussions, so that eventually 

you’ll be able to think on your feet and talk on your feet, in front of others); 

ii) analyzing historical documents; 

ii) critical analysis (the document analysis does not involve just research, but also the 

application of secondary sources to primary historical sources); 

iii) writing skills (no matter what program you are in, the ability to write cogently and 

persuasively is important to acquire). 

The document analysis is intended to fulfill the last three goals. 

N.B.: you could choose a source from chapter 20 in the Lualdi book, as well as chapters 

21-29. 

Finding and Citing Sources 

Keep in mind that the focus is on analyzing the document. You need consult only 

two or three secondary sources in order to obtain some information on historical context. 

Secondary research will help you anchor the document in its proper context and will help 

avoid the application of anachronistic comments. Again, remember to focus on the 

document. 

For secondary sources, you could start with the bibliography in the Winks and 

Neuberger book. I recommend the use of the three following databases (in addition to the 

MUN library catalog): Historical Abstracts (which is now run by EBSCO), JSTOR, and 

Academic Search Premier (of course, there are other databases that you could consult). 

Please follow these instructions to access the databases: 

i) Go to the SWGC home page; 

ii) Under the library option, choose “Article Indexes”; 

iv) On the list “Indexes by Subject,” choose “History.” 

That will take you to the databases themselves (from there, you can merely click 

on the appropriate database). You can perform searches by subject and keyword and then 

“hopscotch” onto other potential articles (through author searches, etc.).


You will notice that, often, EBSCO does not tell you exactly where the materials 

are located in the MUN Library system. If there is no direct link to the scanned article 

itself, you will need to determine if the MUN library carries the journal in which the 

article is cited. JSTOR and Academic Search Premier have links to the scanned versions 

of the articles themselves (particularly JSTOR). 

Be sure to avoid the excessive use of encyclopedias and general-level textbooks, 

and be very careful with material found on websites (those websites associated with 

universities or museums are usually reliable; but stay clear of “wacko websites” like 

those that have a swastika next to the title). Please do not use more than one website in 

your assignment. 

Please use an accepted method of citing sources in Historical Studies when drafting 

the bibliography, as opposed to the format used in the bibliographical aid (for more 

details, consult the Chicago Style Manual, available in the Ferriss Hodgett Library). 

Note the following example of correct bibliographical references for an article, 

using the Chicago Style Manual format: 

i) For an article: 

Peterson, David S. “Out of the Margins: Religion and the Church in Renaissance Italy.” 

Renaissance Quarterly 53, no. 3 (2000): 835-879. 

ii) For a book: 

King, Margaret. The Death of the Child Valerio Marcello. Chicago: University of 

Chicago Press, 1994. 

Remember as well that the databases may have different ways of presenting 

bibliographical references. Be sure to adapt the references accordingly to the format 

required for this assignment. 

The Introduction 

The introduction should be about three-quarters of a page in length. The 

introduction will indicate the documents chosen, outline the essay’s orientation and 

approach, and provide a thesis statement as well as a clear idea of the essay’s structure. 

Don’t forget to include the annotated bibliography! 

Paragraph Construction 

The body of the essay should be composed of a number of separate ideas––one 

idea per paragraph––that are linked to the thesis statement in the introduction. Each 

paragraph typically is linked to the preceding paragraph and to the one following it 

through the use of linking words and phrases like “however,” “in addition,” 

“furthermore,” and so on. Each paragraph should not be more than three-quarters of a 

page in length (otherwise, the effectiveness of your point is lost in a sea of indigestible 

information).


Treat each paragraph as a kind of miniature essay. The first sentence is the 

introductory statement that conveys what the paragraph will address. The following 

sentences expand and develop that statement. The final sentence makes a final point and 

anticipates the next paragraph. It is important to link each sentence carefully within each 

paragraph, so that the argument flows from one sentence to the next. 

Before writing a paragraph, quickly jot down on paper what the paragraph should 

contain. That will help you organize your thoughts more carefully and will make the 

process of writing more enjoyable (like painting!). Then, after you have written that 

paragraph, give it a quick read to ensure that it makes sense. More detailed editing can 

come later. 

Finally, vary the length of your sentences for greater effect. Use short concise 

statements to hammer home a point, and longer statements for descriptive detail. 

Excessive strings of long sentences that are overloaded with subordinate and relative 

clauses tend to exhaust the reader. 

Editing 

Please do not rely on MS Word to edit your paper. Bill Gates cannot express 

what you need to say and how you want to say it (and the grammar checking function on 

that program is not foolproof). In fact, a good paper will emerge only after having been 

edited several times. Even a sharp eye cannot catch all the grammar mistakes or 

problems with just one reading. That means reading over every paragraph to look not 

only for spelling errors and minor grammar mistakes, but also for faulty paragraph 

construction, punctuation problems, poor development of an argument, and awkward 

phrasing. 

Plagiarism 

Please be careful when citing and using sources. Remember that unless you are 

putting a phrase or sentence in quotation marks, you must put the author’s words into 

your own words (even if you insert a footnote for the sentence). By showing that you can 

paraphrase, you convey the idea that you understand what the author is saying well 

enough to explain it to someone else. Besides, perhaps you could explain it even better! 

Other Points to Remember 

i) Be sure that the introduction has a thesis statement, one that is clear, specific, relevant, 

and cohesive; this statement also must accurately reflects the message and argument of 

your paper; 

ii) The essay must contain documentation (footnotes or endnotes); 

iii) Please remember to make backup copies as you type the paper (only morons do not 

back up their work); likewise, hold onto that backup copy after you submit the paper; and 

iv) Please (what the hey! I must’ve said “please” about a hundred times in this handout!) 

; where was I? Oh yes, please do not slip the essay underneath my door. 

Let me stress that if you have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail or 

come to see me during my office hours. I would be more than happy to look at your 

paper’s introduction, parts of the body of the paper, and its overall argument. Good luck!

HIST1101 AN INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY, PART TWO

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