Essay 1 Discussion Board

Your First Essay Question:

How did Spain create its empire in the Western Hemisphere, and what were the costs of Spanish conquest and colonization for the peoples they found there?

How to Write Your Essay: 

Please observe that there are two parts to this question. To get the five points possible for this assignment you need to explain HOW the Spanish conquered the native peoples they encountered in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America (as in actual steps taken by Spain, plus any incidental help Spain might have gotten) AND THEN you must explain what Spanish colonization meant to the native peoples. Start with an outline. Divide the question into its component parts. Create a thesis statement for each section. Select examples from the text and course website that support those thesis statements. Once you have worked through these steps, you may begin to write your thoughtful, intelligent, and well-organized essay.

Use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

You must cite the sources you used in writing your essay. For example, "Blah blah blah (Hine, p. 16)." This applies to direct quotes as well as information you paraphrase (or put into your own words). Cite appropriate links from the Schedule/Syllabus and page numbers from Hine to support the arguments you make in your essay. Refer to this guide for acceptable methods of citing sources. Brief quotes from the text are acceptable, but extensive quoting will result in a failing grade for the assignment. 

Refer only to your textbook and links on the course website to prepare your essay. Other students will be evaluating your essay and they have not read the random sources you found on the internet. You cannot reasonably ask them to evaluate your essay based on random materials that were not included in the assigned readings.

Please keep in mind that each essay is worth 5 points, which means that I am looking for at least five specific points of information.

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 items 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 questions. For example, keep going back to the question to phrase your answer: "Spain did the following to create its empire... " 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 words, or a page 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/Eval 1 Discussion Board." You can also access the Essay 1 Discussion Board via the link in the Assignment folder for Week 1 

Click on the link "Essay 1/Eval 1 Discussion Board." To submit your essay, select "Compose." A blank post will open up. PLEASE PUT "YOUR LAST NAME ESSAY #1" IN THE RE: LINE OF YOUR POST.

When the Essay 1/Eval 1 Discussion Board link opens, you will see any essays that may have been posted by your classmates under the "Subject" column. To read other people's essays, click on those links.

Please DO NOT send your essay as an attachment to your post --many students will have trouble opening your attachments. Compose your work on a word-processor then "cut and paste" it into the body of your Discussion post. 

When you are done with your essay, click "post" to send your essay to the Essay 1 Discussion Board. 

Your essay must be posted to the WEBCT Essay 1/Eval 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 elements make up a correct answer. I create a list of those elements. I grade everyone's essay against that list. Each piece of information I am looking for is worth a point. If it isn't there, no point. Usually there are more than five things I am looking for in an essay, so you don't have to be a total mind-reader to get it right.

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.