Mokyr paper specifics:
Two choices:
General Instructions:
About half the content of your paper should be specifics from
the book, about half should be from your own research. Higher
grades will go to papers that exhibit logical thinking, an
analytical framework, specific evidence, the ability to inform
and communicate, sound organization, and a concise and
coherent argument. All parts of your paper must include
specific factual information from your research, not just your
own impressions. I expect you to come to your own
conclusion (and so you are allowed to use "I").
Instructions on paper format:
Your paper should be 4-5 double spaced
typed pages (1000 to 1200 words) and include a references in a
standard form (MLA, Chicago, or APA). It should be
printed out double-spaced with your name and course
information at the top. Papers must be handed in via Blackboard, screened by
the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. (This system
does keep a copy of your paper--if you have a problem with that
please speak to the professor.) Late papers will be penalized two points if
handed in later than the due date and an additional two points
for each calendar day late (so a paper two days late would
lose six points).
You must provide footnotes or
references to your sources (not just for quotes but also for
specific information and arguments) in the text of the paper and
provide at the end an overall list of the sources you used to
write your paper (you may include sources that you read and
found useful but did not cite in the text). You must use
either MLA, APA, or Chicago format for references--papers that
fail to use one of those formats and use it correctly will be
penalized. You can find standard formats at:
Writers
Handbook.
Be careful to avoid plagiarism.
The syllabus states:
Checklist for a good paper:
Gies Paper specifics: take an example
of one medieval technology. Find other sources on that
technology and explain its development in more detail than the
book does for about half your paper. In the other half of your
paper, discuss the interaction of the technology you have
chosen with society. You must give specific historical
examples, not just speculation. It will probably be easier to
focus on the impact of technology on society, but if you
prefer you can focus on the impact of society on technology.