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DUE DATE: This is a take home exam and it is due in class on May 1. Unexcused late papers will be marked as such and will receive a full grade deduction for every 24 hour period late. Your paper is late if I don't have it in my hand when I ask for it in class. Papers placed under my office door will receive an additional grade deduction. The simplest thing is to have your essay ready to hand in on the day it is due.

ESSAY LENGTH: This essay is worth 25% of your overall grade and will be evaluated as such. The length of your essay will be six to eight double-spaced, typed pages (approximately 1500-2000 words). Although there is not a direct connection between the number of pages you write and the grade you earn, the more you write the more chances you give yourself to answer the question you have chosen. Below is a rough guideline to keep in mind as you are writing.

You are expected to utilize all of your class material to develop and support the points in your essay. The more references you make to class readings, lectures, discussions, & videos the better your essay will be documented.

CITING MATERIALS: Various disciplines (History, English, Sociology, Anthropology etc...) have different ways of documenting where information comes from. In this class we will use a variation of Turabian/Chicago style, which is what historians use & we will use footnotes. See the following link for a basic Turabian Style Guide. For Microsoft Word users footnotes is as simple as selecting -- insert, footnote. If you use another word processor we may need to chat.

Be carefully with the Northrup book, as it is an edited work. Northrup is the author of the introductions to each document. Your citations from the Northrup book will look something like this:

Only, insert footnotes after the period at the end of a sentence. You are expected to include a bibliography (does not count as a page). Treat each document in The Atlantic Slave Trade as a separate bibliographic entry (source). If you utilize material on the web, cite it according to the Turabian Style Guide.

MAPS: I expect to see at least one map that you have created to illustrate the locations discussed in your essay. This needn't be more that customizing one of the blank African maps I gave you on the fist day of class. Those who do not include a meaningful map with their essay can expect a full letter grade deduction. Maps and Bibliographies do not count as pages.

OTHER MATERIALS: Meaningful images, illustrations, graphs, charts etc… are excellent ways to demonstrate your points visually and show extra effort on your part. They do not count as pages and are not required.

DRAFTING ESSAYS: This is a formal essay and I do not expect to see first or second drafts that have been hastily written the night before.

Select one of the questions below.

1.Write a recommendation to the Social Science Program Coordinator at LCSC making an argument for the inclusion of HIST 333: Africa and the World as a requirement for Social Science Majors w/ a History emphasis. Why is understanding some basic African history important enough that it should be mandatory for students of history at LCSC? [You can refine this question further if you would like, focusing on why HIST 33 should be required for those planning to teach High School or Junior High School History in the State of Idaho]

2. Compare The Epic of Sundiata, The Atlanic Slave Trade, and Nervous Conditions, as devices for learning about African history. Address the strengths and weaknesses of each type of source and make some conclusions concerning the role each type of source should play in an African history course. [ Be sure to address the material in Africans and Their History as you go]

3. What is the most significant (or the three most significant) contribution(s) of Africa to the history of the world?

4. Describe and analyze the interaction between traditional African religious systems, Christianity and Islam from the Medieval period to the present.

5. Select three important historical debates in African history. Describe the debates, explain why they are important, and state what you think about them. (Only one of your debates may be from sources in The Atlantic Slave Trade)

6. A Examine the colonial legacy in Africa. What were the positive impacts of colonialism in Africa? What were the negative impacts of colonialism in Africa? On the whole, how would you rate the impact of colonialism on Africa?

6.B. Examine the colonial legacy in Africa. In what ways colonization a was in a political, social, cultural and economic phenomenon? Which aspects have been the easiest for new African states to address? Which have been the most difficult? What do your conclusions tell you about 21st century Africa?

7. What new struggles did the decolonialization and the return of African power bring to the continent? How were these issues addressed? By what measure would your describe decolonization as a success? by what measure would you describe it as a failure? What do your conclusions tell you about African history?

8. Who is the most significant (or three most significant) individual in African history?

9. Pick two regions in Africa (North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Central Africa) and compare some of the major characteristics of their histories from the Medieval period to the present. What do your conclusions tell you about the history of Africa.

10. Through examination of the class readings (Sundiata, The Atlantic Slave Trade, Nervous Conditions, Africa and the World), what were some internal factors within Africa that led up to the slave trade, and what kind of effect has the slave trade had on Africa all the way up into post-colonial era.

11. We have discussed engaged much evidence related to various gender roles in the course materials (readings, videos, guest speaker). Compare gender roles in these different sources. How and why are they different? How and why are they similar? And what do your conclusions tell you about African History?

The "Before you get started, we should talk" questions

12. What have you learned this semester? 1. Africa 2. History 3. Yourself

13. Design your own question about some aspect of African history, but do not surprise me.

14. Same as above, but Creative Writing centered

Your essays will be graded in accordance with the following rubric.

Content (Approximately 50%)

Addressed question
Strong thesis
Thoughtful introduction
Creative and strong conclusion
Topic sentences linked to thesis
Balance of descriptive content (what happened) and analytical content (why it is important)
Sufficient evidence to prove points
Adequate number of citations from:
- Africa in World History
- Sundiata
- The Atlantic Slave Trade
- Nervous Conditions
- Other course readings

Class Videos
Class Notes

Demonstrate an understanding of chronology
Use of terminology introduced in class
Demonstrate a command of the material covered in class

Writing (Approximately 40%)

Use of topic sentences
Sentences flow together smoothly
Transitions effectively connect sentences and paragraphs
Fragments and run-ons do not mar work
Paragraphs used appropriately
Limited misspellings.
Proper citation system
Evidence of "essay drafting" (Peer Review)

Miscellaneous (Approximately 10%)