analyze the reasons for America’s reluctance to enter the war, and then the reluctance of the United States on entering into post-war agreements made at Versailles in 1919, like the League of Nations.

U.S. History II Essay Prompt

World War I is unique. Prior to World War II, it was the most deadly war in history. This is due largely to increased militarism, technological and weapons developments, the use of trench warfare, and the sheer scale and involvement in the war. Among the involved countries, the United States was most reluctant to join, with President Woodrow Wilson even running for reelection in 1916 on the slogan “He kept us out of war!”

In this essay, analyze the reasons for America’s reluctance to enter the war, and then the reluctance of the United States on entering into post-war agreements made at Versailles in 1919, like the League of Nations. In addition, please discuss the emphasis on American isolationism that was prominent in this period (this should include, but is not limited to: what isolationism is and what isolationists argued, and who some prominent isolationists were). Finally, please discuss the arguments of those who opposed isolationism in this period. Consider for your argument whether or not the isolationists were “right” in the post-war period.

Remember, in a research essay, you must make an argument (this is found in your thesis) and support it throughout your essay with details. All details must be historically defensible; that is, they must be evidence found in your research from scholarly sources. More details are below:

Guidelines
– Use the following formatting in your essay: 12pt font, Times New Roman, double spaced, normal margins (1” on all sides). Your essay should be approximately 2-3 pages in length. (Please pay attention to the attached section: “Writing a Scholarly Essay.”)

– You need three scholarly sources in addition to your textbook. (See the “Scholarly Research” section attached for more information.)

– Use in-text citations, and prepare a list of sources using MLA or APA style. For more information, visit https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ or https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/, or feel free to consult with the NEMCC Writing Center. (It is not necessary for you to include an abstract with your essay, but do include at least a cover page if your chosen citation style calls for it. My main concern for this essay is that your in-text citations, as well as your Works Cited/References page are done in MLA or APA format.)

 

 

 

 

 

Scholarly Research

  1. Begin with your textbook.
    2. In addition to your textbook, you will need at least three more scholarly sources.
    3. What’s a “scholarly source?” Generally, this means something that is appropriate for college-level, objective research. A scholarly source will tell you who the author is, will provide his or her credentials for writing the material, will document where that author got his or her information, and will be unbiased (objective) in its presentation of the facts. Use the following website to see if your source is appropriate: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html. If you have a question about the reliability of a source, ask your instructor, NetTutor, the NEMCC Writing Center, or any librarian.
    4. Use EBSCOHost or other library databases to conduct your research: http://www.nemcc.edu/library/online-databases/. A librarian at any of the NEMCC Libraries can help you.
    4. Avoid these sources:
    a. Wikipedia
    b. Sites that don’t give the author’s credentials
    c. Publications by religious groups or any other organization that are written to promote one viewpoint

 

Writing a Scholarly Essay

  • This website offers great information for students on writing scholarly essays: http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarly
  • The writing should be in essay form (remember to keep the tone formal and scholarly—avoid first and second persons (do not use “I” or other pronouns), abbreviations, and contractions). Be sure to have an introduction with a thesis statement, developed body paragraphs that serve your central ideas, and a conclusion. Be sure the essay is organized into paragraphs, and remember, your concluding paragraph shouldn’t introduce new ideas. (Use these links for a good guide on writing a college-level history paper: http://www.history.ucla.edu/academics/undergraduate/history-writing-center/steps-for-writing-a-history-paper-2 and https://www.hamilton.edu/documents/writing-center/WritingGoodHistoryPaper.pdf)
  • Above all, be careful to always use your own words. Plagiarism (using someone else’s words or thoughts without giving them credit) is cheating and WILL receive a grade of 0/F. Keep in mind that only changing the word order or a few words is still plagiarism. For more clarification on what constitutes plagiarism, refer to this site: http://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/what-is-plagiarism
  • Remember to always use specifics from the readings and/or you research to support your main points. In a history paper, DETAILS and textual evidence that support your main arguments are of utmost importance.
  • Grades will be based both on content and quality of writing, including mechanics. The Grading Rubric for Writing Assignments is available for you to view on Canvas.
  • Include a list of sources (in-text citations (also sometimes called parenthetical citations) are necessary also!).