Strength To Love

Throughout this collection of sermons Martin Luther King, Jr. appeals to scripture to support his philosophy of non-violence. However, he also references history and natural laws to support his arguments about love and overcoming evil. Which arguments—meaning religious or non-religious—do you think we’re the most important for King in supporting his philosophy? Respond to this question by writing an essay by drawing upon Strength to Love. If you wish, you may argue that both perspectives were of equal importance for the development of King’s arguments.

Writing Your Essay: In your introduction, introduce your subject matter and pose a thesis about your topic. You must state your thesis in your first paragraph. In the body, develop your arguments proving the thesis. Organize each paragraph around a topic sentence (the first sentence in the paragraph). The sentences that follow flesh out the topic while supporting your claims with evidence. Paragraphs should be linked by transitions.
Essays must primarily focus on the primary source evidence in the book. If you write your essay based on something you found online you will earn a low score on the assignment. The arguments should lead to a conclusion that sums the logic of the arguments in the body and verifies that you have defended the validity of your thesis. 

Evaluation: Papers will be judged on the following criteria: your thesis, the strength of your arguments in the body paragraphs, your usage of the primary source material(very important), your conclusion, spelling and grammar, syntax,paragraph structure (topic sentences, development evidence, transitions) and sentence structure, and citations.

Source Directions: To write this paper you must draw upon the primary source materials found in the book. You are NOT writing an essay based on Wikipedia or any other online sources. The purpose of the assignment is to formulate an argument based upon the reading of primary source evidence. Failing to focus your essay on the primary source evidence will result in a severe reduction of your grade. 

Citation Method: You may use MLA or Chicago style citations.
You must use citations when you provide quotes and when you summarize or paraphrase your sources.

Guidelines for the Essay

1. I will enforce the following page margins/font/page number requirements STRICTLY. Make sure your computer margins are all set at 1”. You MUST use Times New Roman 12 point font, and the paper MUST be numbered (either bottom center or top right hand corner). Also, include your name in the numbering system (i.e.: Jones 2, Jones 3, etc.) 

2. Do not “stuff” your first page with unnecessary information (your student ID number, meeting times of the class,my office number,etc.). 
Your first page should begin thusly:
Your Name (Left adjusted, first line)
History 110(left adjusted, second line)
Fall 2019(left adjusted, third line)
Dr. Robert Miller (left adjusted, fourth line)
One blank space Title of the paper (Centered)
One blank space Your first paragraph (From this point forward, the paper should be double-spaced)

3.Reminder on Heading: Please note that my formatting instructions require you to single space your heading. You will also note that there is no extra spacing between each line. In order to achieve this, follow these instructions if you are using Word:
A. Highlight your heading
B. Click on “HOME” at the top of the screen.
C. Near the center of the screen, you will see the word “Paragraph.” To the right of this word, you will see an arrow pointing down and to the right. Click on this arrow.
D. A box will pop up on the screen. Under spacing set “Before” and “After” to 0 pt. If you have not done so already, set “Line spacing” to “single.” 

4. Please do not insert extra space between paragraphs. This is a page stretching technique and will cost you points.

5.Reminder on Margins: If you are using a Mac, be warned that your program may automatically set the left and right margins to 1.25 inches rather than 1 inch. If you forget to change this, you may end up with a paper that is shorter than the required five pages.

6. Use proper formal English. Do not use abbreviations or contractions. For example,do not use shouldn’t, isn’t, etc. Spell out all words. 

7. Invent a title. Do not title your essay“Term Paper” or “Assignment,” for example. Part of the writing process involves creating a title that will make someone want to read the paper. You can be clever, incorporate a theme from the book, or create any other relevant title for your paper.

8. Do not rely on the spell-check feature on your computer to catch all mistakes. Misused words/awkward grammar often escape the spell-check feature. Repeated grammatical mistakes will cost you points. Read and re-read your paper several times to find mistakes.

9. Though your essay may draw upon other course materials, I am primarily interested in your usage of primary documents from the book. Historical writing focuses on the author’s interpretation of primary sources. The purpose of this assignment is for you to develop an interpretation and support it using primary source evidence. Limit your usage of quotation to shorter phrases that you can link to your own sentences. Using lengthy quotations in a paper of this length can severely restrict your analysis. Do not overuse quotations by including them in a substantial number of your sentences.

10.LENGTH: the guidelines state that the paper should be five pages long. To be considered five pages long, the fifth page MUST be a full page. Any papers under five full pages will be reduced proportionally (example: a four-page paper will lose 20% of its grade). Using narrow margins or larger fonts to make your essay appear to meet the minimum length requirement will result in penalties to your grade.

The introduction clearly states the thesis and outlines key arguments with precise language; clearly addresses the prompt while drawing upon the assigned text.

Well-chosen examples; persuasive reasoning used to develop and support thesis consistently while clearly addressing the prompt; uses primary source evidence proficiently.

Conclusion clearly sums up the major arguments of the paper with clear, precise language. It is clearly not a last-minute addition to the essay.

Ideas are supported effectively and sources are clearly attributed; quotes are used effectively.

The essay follows all formatting requirements and has few if any, writing errors. Writing demonstrates a sophisticated clarity, conciseness, and correctness; appropriate, clear and smooth transitions; the arrangement of paragraphs seems particularly apt; follows all formatting requirements.

Preparing for the Essay: Prudent students will take notes as they read their selected books. Whether you write in the margins of the book, write your ideas on a pad of paper, or type the notes on an electronic device is your decision. If you are an active reader, you will already have a substantial amount of material to work with when you start to read your essay. If you just read the book without making note of relevant passages, key quotes, or your thoughts as you read through the book, you will ultimately end up reading much of the book a second time. Do not trust yourself to remember all of the material you plan to include in the essay.

Use the past tense: History papers should use the past tense. This may seem counter-intuitive as papers for other classes, such as English courses, require students to write in the present tense. However, as the course explores events that have happened in the past, you should proofread your papers to make sure that you are not using the present tense.

Using dates correctly: You will often see decades mentioned as the 1950s, but this is incorrect. Do not use an apostrophe in these cases. Instead, write the dates like this: 1950s.

Do not turn the paper into a discussion of current events: When writing your term paper for this class, you may notice certain parallels with current events. While you may briefly point out such connections in your conclusion, the papers are not about what is taking place in 2019.

Stay focused on your discussion of the sources within their historical context: When you analyze primary sources, focus on how your interpretation of the document relates to your thesis. You are not writing about what the documents make you feel emotional. Instead, consider why particular authors took particular stances or how they drew their conclusions. Remember that these individuals created these sources within a specific historical context. The authors did not have the same world view as someone looking back at them from the twenty-first century. However, you may certainly point out the consequences of particular viewpoints and how these arguments justified courses of action that had serious consequences.

Answer all parts of the prompt: Essay prompts usually require you to address several different issues. A paper that only discusses some of the questions will be marked down. You may give greater attention to parts of the prompt that you find the most relevant but you must still provide a solid discussion of the other parts of the question.

Specify who is talking about: When starting a new paragraph, do not use vague identifications such as “they,” “she,” or “he.” Even if you are continuing the discussion of a particular group or individual from the previous paragraph, this lack of precision can make your meaning unclear.

Do not use page stretching techniques: This includes adding additional spaces between paragraphs, expanding the margins, trying to pad the paper with an inflated heading, or using larger fonts. Most word programs use Times New Roman as the default font when installed.

Do not feel obligated to start with the introduction: Though we typically read articles from beginning to end, you do not have to write your essay the same way. If you cannot decide on your overall thesis/argument, it might help you to write your body paragraphs first in order to see what material you actually have. You will ultimately order your essay correctly but, if it helps you to write the body paragraphs first, feel free to do so. It is better to write a thesis that reflects your evidence than to try to force the evidence to back an argument it does not support.

Analyze Quotations: When you discuss your source material, you should quote from the book in order to back up your arguments. However, when you use a quotation, you must explain how it supports your argument. The meaning of a quotation might seem self-evident to you but it will not necessarily be readily apparent to your reader. This does not mean that you merely summarize what the quotation said; instead, analyze it and connect it to your overall argument.

DO NOT LEAVE QUOTES AS STANDALONE SENTENCES: Quoted material should not be in a sentence by itself. Dropping in quotes as stand-alone sentences inhibit your analysis by preventing you from demonstrating how the quote furthers your argument. Instead, select a key phrase from the quote and connect it with one of your own sentences.

Examples: William Eubanks labeled the agreement with the federal government as the “death warrant” of the Cherokee Nation and voiced his opposition as he believed it would transfer Cherokee lands to railroad corporations.

In another editorial, the Advocate lamented that though “nothing would please [the editors] better than to be able to hold [Cherokee] lands in common,” the continuation of such an arrangement would lead to the complete alienation of tribal holdings.

The two examples above show how you should use quotes. The following example is how you should not use a quote.

Following independence, Mexican authorities began to consider the secularization of the missions. “The principal motive for requesting their secularization might have been the improvement of the spiritual care of the gente de razón.” It is not clear to the reader how you are using this material, who said it, or how it supports your thesis. By combining the quote into a sentence of your own, you are already working with it to show what it means.

Do not use sentences similar to the following: “On page 17, paragraph 2 of the book, the author says “Blah, blah, blah.” This method is just a means of filling space and is rather awkward sounding. Use a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence.

Do Not Overuse Quotations: While using quotations to bolster your arguments is necessary, quotations should not make up the majority of your paragraphs. I am interested in your interpretation of the source material. Providing me with a series of quotes does not reveal sufficient analysis. I would not recommend using block quotations for a paper of this length. If you must use a blockquote, limit yourself to one blockquote for the entire essay and write it using single space.

Altering Quotations: If you need to add or change a word in a quotation for clarity, place square brackets [ ] around the changed or added word. Indicate any deletions with three ellipsis points … but be sure that the changes you make to the quote do not alter its meaning.

Remember to Cite the Book: Even when you paraphrase or summarize a primary document or a secondary source, you must cite where you found the material. If you are summarizing more than one page, you can indicate this by including the page range in your citation (Miller 164-171). Consequently, writing a paper without quotations does not excuse you from the need to cite the book.

Citing Quotations: Be sure to provide a citation at the end of any sentence containing quoted material as this will show the reader precisely where the quote originates. Even if you quoted from the same page in the previous sentence you should still provide another citation to the same page.

Citing Class Lectures: You are welcome to cite class lectures if they are relevant to the point you are making. The following format will be sufficient (Miller “Lecture Title”). Some classes require you to recall the specific day or slide the notes came from but this will be fine for my class.

Reminder on Heading: Please note that my formatting instructions require you to single space your heading. You will also note that there is no extra spacing between each line. In order to achieve this, follow these instructions if you are using Word:

Highlight your heading
Click on “HOME” at the top of the screen.
Near the center of the screen, you will see the word “Paragraph.” To the right of this word you will see an arrow pointing down and to the right. Click on this arrow.
A box will pop up on the screen. Under spacing set “Before” and “After” to 0 pt. If you have not done so already, set “Line spacing” to “single.”

Reminder on Margins: If you are using a Mac, be warned that your program may automatically set the left and right margins to 1.25 inches rather than 1 inch. If you forget to change this, you may end up with a paper that is shorter than the required five pages.

Avoid the 1st Person: Using the first person may be helpful in some assignments, but for the purposes of this class, the first person can lead to tangents that have nothing to do with what you need to discuss. Even though your thesis presents your interpretation of the evidence, you should not write it in the first person. If you need help rewriting sentences in the first person, please see me.

Avoid “Super” Paragraphs: If your paper has paragraphs that are one-paged double spaced or longer, the paragraphs are too long. Look for a place to divide this long paragraph into two or more paragraphs.

Do Your Best to Avoid Imprecise Phrases. Your papers should not use phrases such as “in olden times” or “back in the day.” Such phrases do not identify which decade or period of time you are discussing. Similarly, you should avoid sweeping generalizations such as “since the dawn of time,” or “throughout all of human history.” These statements require a very high level of proof that you cannot provide.

Some Common Grammatical/Writing Errors
Watch the usage of prepositions (to, on, over, with, through, under, by, etc.) Consult a dictionary when in doubt. Do not end a sentence with a preposition.
The English language forms the possessive with an apostrophe and an “s” or with an “s” and an apostrophe. It’s is a contraction of “it is.” The possessive form of “it” is “its.”
Book titles should be placed in italics, not quotes.
Please do not refer to the book you selected as a novel. I know you are used to using this word but it refers to a work of fiction so it is not appropriate in this case.
You do not need to include an apostrophe when discussing a plural noun unless you are using it to indicate possession.
Correct: The students visited the library to locate books for the review assignment.

Wrong: The student’s visited the library to locate books for the review assignment.

Avoid run on sentences. Two independent clauses should be linked by and, but, or, or be placed in separate sentences.
Eliminate all exclamation points!!!!
Should you include rhetorical questions? No, you should avoid them.
Know the difference between there, their, and they’re.
Avoid wordy, awkward, and indirect sentences. Make an effort to keep your writing simple and direct.

Submission Directions:You will submit the essay electronically. Please note that electronic submissions will be checked with UniCheck, an anti-plagiarism program.

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