Assignment #1 Due: April 24 Task: Choose one of the following options and answer it with a formal essay of about three (no more than four) double-spaced pages. Be sure that your essay has a thesis...

Assignment #1 Due: April 24 Task: Choose one of the following options and answer it with a formal essay of about three (no more than four) double-spaced pages. Be sure that your essay has a thesis statement and effective topic sentences starting each body paragraph – you should think of these as sub theses. You must use examples to support your ideas. This is not a test of right and wrong answers. Stronger and weaker answers depend on how well they are argued and supported with specific evidence from the readings. DO NOT pursue any outside research or try to Google an answer. Option 1: To what extent are Sundiata/History and Description of Africa (depending on which one you read), The Conquest of New Spain, and Tears of the Indies, teleological narratives? Do any of these narratives seem more or less teleological than the others? You must consider all three readings. By answering this question you are practicing the skill of assessing whether an explanatory narrative’s logic is driven more by the outcome the author expects than by the evidence. Option 2: Our primary source readings in Weeks 2 and 3 are historical narratives. Which of the explanations for why things happen in history that we have used in this class (religious, racial, environmental, cultural, or great individual) do the authors use? Consider at least three different explanations for why things happen. You must use one primary source reading from week 2 and one from week 3 (Robert Marks is not a primary source). Remember, do not argue why you think the events happened -- the question is about how the Griots/Leo Africanus and Diaz/de las Casas explain why things happen. By answering this question you are practicing the skill of seeing the assumptions behind causal explanations. Citing: You must refer directly to the readings, use page numbers for ALL evidence and quotations, provide a reference list (if using parenthetical referencing) or footnotes. PLAGIARISM INCLUDES PARAPHRASING (putting other people’s ideas or information into your own words without citations). Plagiarism will result in a zero on the assignment and your case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Your TA will work with you on how to cite properly. Learning how to cite properly is an important part of this course. Citations provide prove that you are not making up, misusing, or stealing material from your sources. Citations thereby give your voice authority – citations make you look smarter, not dumber. Submitting Your Work: Follow the formatting requirements on the syllabus. Be sure to include you TA’s name and your section. Submit your paper via the iLearn website Safe Assignment function for your section.