Posted: September 14th, 2017

Thesis

For this reaction paper, you will be analyzing the Davis and Eltis articles as secondary sources. For the first paragraph, describe the thesis of Davis’ article in several sentences. For the second paragraph, provide the thesis of Eltis’ article. For the third paragraph, simply reflect on the arguments.

Your reaction paper will have three paragraphs.

Paragraph 1: Describe the thesis of Davis’ article in several sentences.
Paragraph 2: Describe the thesis of Eltis’ article in several sentences.
Paragraph 3: Reflect on the arguments using the following questions:
What thesis seems most logical? Most persuasive? Did you find any part of their arguments interesting?

Note – avoid the first person in this paper! DO NOT write “I think….” “I believe….” “My opinion is…” etc.

Make sure you use footnotes throughout the paper. Use these examples below. Once again, only use “Ibid” when it refers to the source you cited before it!

Davis: David Brion Davis, “Sugar and slavery from the old to the New World,” in The Atlantic Slave Trade edited by David Northrup, 2nd edition (Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010), pg. number.

Eltis: David Eltis, “The cultural roots of African slavery,” in The Atlantic Slave Trade, edited by David Northtup, 2nd edition (Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010), pg. number.

PLEASE NOTE THE GUIDELINES! I WILL ACCEPT NO LATE PAPERS, WITHOUT A PROPERLY DOCUMENTED REASON. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Reaction Paper Guidelines

1. All papers must be saved as a .doc file and emailed as an attachment to the instructor of your recitation section. If you have a Mac computer and are unsure how to convert the file, get help from tech support. Submission of papers is your responsibility and computer problems do not constitute an excuse. Use public computer labs if necessary. If you are concerned about the receipt of your papers, please contact the professor.

2. Papers must be written in Times New Roman font, using size 12 type. Use standard margins and double-space all text.

3. Make sure you include a title that refers to your primary argument and draws in the reader. Make your paper interesting from the beginning! Include a strong argument and supporting evidence in your paper.

4.Avoid the use of the first person. Do not use contractions in formal writing. Use as little passive voice as possible. When in doubt, write in the past tense. If you have questions about how to improve your writing, please visit the writing lab.

5.You must useChicago-style footnotes to cite all information that is not commonly known (see the handout on formatting footnotes). This includes quotations (if you include any section written by another author, you must add quotation marks and a footnote) and paraphrased sections (when you refer to information or arguments made by a scholar but do not directly quote the section). The footnote must include the author’s name, the title, date, publication information (or website), and page number. Any failure to provide proper citations and quotation marks constitutes plagiarism. If you plagiarize portions of an assignment, you will receive a zero on the paper and, in some circumstances, in the course. If you have any questions, please see the instructor for advice on how to cite material. This is YOUR responsibility.