Minor Essay 1117LHS 2020 PDF

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Download Minor Essay 1117LHS 2020 PDF

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WORLD HISTORY (1117LHS)

MINOR ESSAY: Eurasia

Due Date:

Friday 28 August (Wk 6)

Weighting:

30%

Length:

1200 words

Task This essay assesses your ability to undertake historical synthesis, drawing on secondary sources to produce a coherent, focussed and structured piece of writing. It is based on the lectures, tutorial discussions and readings from Weeks 2-5.

You must write an essay in response to ONE of the following questions: 1. Focussing on the period from the death of Muhammad to the fall of the Abbasid caliphate (632-1258 CE), what were the key characteristics of the early Islamic world? - In your answer, you might like to discuss the rapid spread of Islam as well as the cultural, intellectual and scientific activity, which Islam fostered in various parts of Eurasia. OR 2. What were the main factors in the formation and expansion of the Mongol empire in Eurasia (c. 1200-1400 CE)? - In your answer, you might like to discuss the unification of the nomadic Mongol tribes under Chinggis Khan; the effectiveness of the Mongol army; and some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Mongol empire. OR 3. Focussing on Europe but referring also to Asia, what were the key causes and effects of the pandemic of bubonic plague, which ravaged both continents during the fourteenth century? - In your answer, you might like to discuss the influence of trade and cross-cultural activity on the spread of the bubonic plague; and the social, political and economic impacts of the plague, especially in Europe.

List of Requirements 1. The essay must be no more than 1200 words in length (excluding bibliography). 2. Your name and student number as well as your tutor’s name and tutorial time must be written clearly on the cover sheet. 3. The question you choose to answer must be listed clearly and in full at the top of the first page of your essay. 4. The essay must consist of an introduction, main body, and conclusion, and it must also have a coherent structure. 5. All sources used in your response must be cited appropriately and listed IN FULL in a bibliography (as outlined in the Referencing Guide on the course website). 6. In-text references regarding printed sources must include page numbers, even when citations are not direct quotations. 7. You must use a minimum of 6 sources. You may use sources from the online Reading List, but only 2 of these sources can count towards your total number of sources. 8. Unacceptable sources include lecture notes, encyclopaedias, and unverifiable internet sources (e.g. Wikipedia). 9. You must submit your essay online using Turnitin. There is a link to Turnitin on the course website, just below this assessment item. 10. Each essay must be written in at least 12 point font, with appropriate margins and at least 1½ spacing.

PLAGIARISM will result in an AUTOMATIC FAIL for this assessment item

Marking Criteria In assessing this essay, academic staff will be looking for demonstrated effort, skills and ability in the following areas: 1. CONTENT: Is the information accurate? Is it relevant to the question? Is there evidence of breadth of reading? Have at least 6 sources been used? 2. UNDERSTANDING: Is there a coherent response to the question? Have the sources used been well understood? Is there evidence of judgement of the significance of material? 3. STRUCTURE and ORGANISATION: Is there a coherent structure? Is there a logical sequence of ideas? 4. EXPRESSION: Is the essay well written? Does the writing display fluency, clarity and grammatical correctness? 5. REFERENCING: Are the sources scholarly? Have the sources been cited according to appropriate academic conventions? Is the bibliography correctly formatted?

PASS – GRADE 4: This level will be reached if the essay adequately responds to the question by providing sufficient and accurate information. There will be a satisfactory level of fluency to the writing, and the piece as a whole will have a structure. The sources used must be cited appropriately and appear in a bibliography. CREDIT – GRADE 5: To obtain this level, the essay must convey good understanding by considering the question thoughtfully and displaying a judicious selection of information. The writing will possess a coherent structure and a greater degree of fluency. The sources used must be cited appropriately and appear in a bibliography.

DISTINCTION – GRADE 6: This level will be reached if the essay demonstrates a clear and thorough understanding of the material. It will display a skilful synthesis of historical information, supported by relevant evidence or examples. It will also have a clear, coherent and effective structure. The prose will demonstrate a high level of fluency and grammatical accuracy. The sources used must be cited appropriately and appear in a bibliography. HIGH DISTINCTION – GRADE 7: To achieve this level, the essay must meet all of the criteria for a DISTINCTION, plus demonstrate a breadth of reading. It may also critically evaluate the sources used. The essay will have a superior, cogent structure, which builds up to a substantive conclusion. Fluency will be excellent: the prose will be precise and lucid. The sources used must be cited appropriately and appear in a bibliography....