HISTORY 475 FINAL EXAM                            FALL 2010

Please answer these two questions.  The length of each essay should be between four and five typed double-spaced pages (readable 12-point font; one-inch margins all around).  Essays are due by 7pm on Thursday, 9 December.  You can submit them either in paper in my office or online.  See the syllabus for rules concerning online submission.  The turnitin.com class ID number is 3519689, and our password is HIST475 (in all capitals).


QUESTION ONE—WOMEN: How accurate is the following statement?: “Through grassroots organizing, ordinary people have had the power to remake society and substantially improve their lives.”  Assess the validity of this statement by drawing on the Orleck book, the 28 October women’s movement readings, and any other relevant class material.  Give most of your attention to examining the goals and tactics of women activists.  You can also draw briefly from your own observations on women’s status in society today.  These personal observations can be useful for judging how much success or change women activists have been able to create.

QUESTION TWO—FOREIGN POLICY: Has U.S. foreign policy from Nixon to Obama done more good than harm for Americans and the wider world?  Answer this question by drawing on our readings from 2, 4, 9, and 18 November (six readings total: Suri, Eckes, Marsh, Preston, Makdisi, Obama/Afghanistan), along with any relevant class lecture material.  Make substantial references to at least five of these six readings.

OTHER RULES AND TIPS
-When you develop your thesis in the body of the essay, be sure to recognize and rebut opposing points of view. 
-No outside research is encouraged, and you need to obtain my permission at least two days in advance to cite outside readings.  So long as you use only our class materials, you do not need a formal bibliography.
-The rules for common-sense parenthetical citations that we used for earlier essays still apply.
-Remember to review the tips on writing page posted on my faculty website.
-Your essay must include numerous brief quotations from the available readings.  Wherever possible, use a primary source quotation rather than a secondary source quotation.  To find primary sources in Orleck, Preston, and other secondary sources, look for places where the author quotes from historical actors and use them to help make your case. 
-When you quote from a source, be sure to introduce the author and context of the quotation in the essay.  See my webpage writing tips on avoiding anonymous quotations.
-Although you may converse with classmates on general ideas, this is the equivalent of a final exam, and all work (gathering evidence and writing) should be your own.