Finding Freedom in Florida: Native Peoples, African Americans, and Colonists, 1670- 1816

Article Review
The attached document is the article that needs to be read and written on.
Each student enrolled in the course will write 2 Article Reviews, each comprising 15% (30% total) of their final course grade.  For this assignment, you should consult one of the following journals (in paper or electronic format) and select an article (20 page length minimum, no Book Reviews) dealing with Native Americans in Florida:  Florida Historical Quarterly, American Indian Quarterly, American Indian Culture and Research Journal, American Historical Review, Journal of American History, Journal of Modern History, The Americas, Ethnohistory, Colonial Latin American Historical Review, Journal of Inter-American Affairs, Journal of Latin American Studies, Journal of Social History, William and Mary Quarterly, Early American Studies, Journal of Southern History, and Native South.  After reading the chosen article, students should evaluate it the same way that they would review a book, using the guidelines below.  Article Reviews should be typewritten or computer-printed in a 12 pt. font, double-spaced and have standard margins (one inch on all sides).  Each must be between 700 and 800 words in length.  A link to the articles reviewed must be attached to the paper submitted for grading and must be approved by the instructor prior to the day of submission (email proposed article to instructor and proceed only after receiving confirmation that article is acceptable).  Failure to do either will result in a 25-point reduction in the assignments grade.  All will be graded on the students understanding and presentation of content, clarity, spelling, grammar, and organization.

Article Review #2 should be submitted via the appropriate link in Module 9 of webcourses on 10/19.
Article Reviews should give the reader a brief, clear idea of the nature, content, and purpose of the article and indicate its major contributions to the literature on the subject (new ideas, revision of old ideas, new evidence).  Reviewers should both describe the works key features and offer a sophisticated analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.  Reviews should also include a discussion of how well the author has succeeded in his or her purpose, covered the subject as a whole, used available resources, organized material, and expressed the narrative.  Critical evaluation may be either favorable or unfavorable but do not allow sympathy or difference of opinion to keep the review from being a fair and straightforward assessment.  For additional information see Purdue Universitys Writing a Book Review guidelines (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/book_reviews.html (Links to an external site.))
Keep in mind that any quotation or ideas from the readings that you include in your papers must be cited (See previous section on Academic Integrity). Students should consult for information concerning the proper format for this paper. All citations should be in the form of footnotes.
Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade per class period. No late papers will be accepted after the date/time of the Final Exam (12/7/21).
 
Assignment Grading Rubric
 All written assignments will be graded according to the rubric below. Students who want more detailed feedback on their written assignments should contact the instructor to set up a meeting for that purpose.
 
Introduction and Thesis Statement

100 points 80

79 60

59 0 points

Explains problems to be addressed; provides necessary background; ends with contestable thesis statement; thesis answers question

Problem statement missing; problem poorly focused; thesis unclear, not contestable, and/or does not fully answer question

Contribution begins without context or background; contribution lacks thesis statements; reader confused about what writer is attempting to do

Quality of Ideas and Argument
 
Use of Evidence

100 points 80

79 60

59 0 points

Excellent use of different course materials to support argument; effectively provides relevant examples, evidence, and appropriate quotes

Uneven use of evidence and examples; evidence not always directly relevant; over- reliance on a single source; significance of quotes not
readily apparent

Lack of evidence and examples; evidence, if provided, not related to overall argument; limited reference to course materials

 
Organization and Clarity

100 points                            80

79                                      60

59                                0 points

Clear, well-organized contribution; paragraphs begin with topic sentences related to thesis; topic sentences fully developed in each paragraph; contribution flows logically, reader doesnt get lost

Generally sound organization; some topic sentences strong, others weak; some paragraphs not fully developed; reader occasionally confused by awkward organization, unclear sentences, fuzzy ideas

Poor organization, lacks clarity; contribution not organized around coherent paragraphs; paragraphs lack topic sentences; prose is hard to follow and understand

 
 
Editing and Manuscript Form
 

100 points 80

79 60

59 0 points

Flawless contribution, or an occasional minor error. Looks like a professional history contribution; notes follow assigned format; contains an academic title.

Distractions due to spelling, punctuation, grammar errors; writer seems a bit careless.
Varies from assigned style and format in a few ways; contains non-academic title.

Contribution seriously marred by mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation; lack of editing. Contribution does not follow assigned style and format; contribution lacks a
title.