Essay 1 Discussion Board
Your First Essay Question:
How did Spain create its empire in the West (e.g., Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America), and what were the costs of Spanish conquest for native peoples?
How to Write This Essay:
To get the TEN points possible for this assignment you need to explain HOW the Spanish conquered others and created its empire. [Think about it: You have decided to take over Brentwood. How, exactly, would you go about it?] What factors--strategies, accidents, lucky breaks--underlay Spain's success in creating its empire in the West? That is Part 1. Then you must explain what the arrival of the Spanish meant to native peoples--look at it from the native perspective, and describe what happened to them. Be sure to give equal attention to both parts of the question.
Use examples from the text and course website to support your analysis. You must cite these sources in your essay. For example, "Blah blah blah. (Hine, p. 16)." Refer to this guide for acceptable methods of citing sources. Refer only to your textbook and assigned links on the course website (no cut and paste of random Internet sources, please).
Brief quotes from the text are acceptable, but extensive quoting will result in a failing grade for the assignment.
Use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
How to Write Essays, Generally:
The trick to getting full value on essays is not in the writing but in preparing to write. Use the question as a map: What terms need to be defined? What are your "tasks" in answering the question? Are there multiple parts to the question? Is there a "Yes/No" question? What are the "action" verbs -- do you have to "explain" or "describe" or "compare"?
Before you begin writing, make an outline of your answer--that is, a list of the information you think your essay should include (you will need this list for your Essay Evaluation #1).
Generally speaking, the best essays start by defining terms (e.g., what is "Spain," what time period are we talking about here, who--exactly--was doing the conquering, what is meant by "Spanish conquest" and "colonization," etc.).
Make explicit statements in answer to the essay questions. For example, keep going back to the question to phrase your answer: "Spain did the following to create its empire: ____, _____, ____ etc... " and "The costs to the native peoples were ____, and ____, and ____" etc.
I Repeat: Refer only to your textbook and assigned links on the Schedule to prepare your essay. Cite appropriate links and/or page numbers to support your answer.
Write your essay on a word processor and then "cut and paste" it into a post to your classmates. Please DO NOT send attachments--many of your classmates will have trouble opening them.
For practical purposes, the length of your essay should be roughly 650-750 words, or a page to a page and a half of typed, single-spaced text.
Instructions for submitting your essay to the Essay 1 Discussion Board:
Please post your essay to the Essay 1 Discussion Board via WEBCT (do NOT send it to me via the_Irwinator mailbox). To access WEBCT, go to
http://webct.dvc.edu/webct/public/home.pl
Log in using your 7-digit Datatel School ID (including leading zeros). Your password is your 6-digit date of birth (e.g. Feb. 15, 1982 would be 021582).
On the Course Menu on the left, click on the link "Discussion Board" and find the board labeled "Essay 1 Discussion Board." You can also access the Essay 1 Discussion Board via the link in the Assignment folder for Week 2
Click on the link "Essay 1 Discussion Board." When it opens, you will see any messages that may have been posted by your classmates. To read other people's messages, click on the links under the "Subject" column.
Select "Compose." A blank post will open up. PLEASE PUT "YOUR LAST NAME ESSAY #1" IN THE RE: LINE OF YOUR POST.
Please DO NOT send attachments to your classmates--many will have trouble opening them. Compose your work on a word-processor then "cut and paste" it into the body of your post.
When you are done, click "post" to send your essay to the Essay 1 Discussion Board.
Your essay must be posted to the WEBCT Essay 1 Discussion Board by the deadline indicated on your Schedule.
Late essays will not be accepted.
How I Grade Your Essay:
I grade the essays as follows: First I figure out what the question is about (see above). Then I decide what information is required for a correct answer. I create a list of that information. I grade everyone's essay against that list. Each piece of information I am looking for is worth points. If it isn't there, no points.
After I have read and graded your essays, I will post them to you via the Essay 1 Discussion Board. My comments will be in ALL CAPS. Please use my comments to help you prepare your remaining essays.