Minnesota History, Spring 2024
Paper Assignment Options
You are required to write two papers this semester and there are several different options to choose from. You must write a different paper option/topic for each due date. You may complete a third paper for a substantial amount of extra credit: I will award 2 percentage points to your final course grade, which is the equivalent of adding 10% to your Discussion Grade! Late papers are accepted with a 3 point deduction per day. Keep in mind during Finals Week I will have a very limited ability to accept late papers.
The first deadline is 3/26 at Noon. For this paper, I would highly recommend the Mapping Prejudice option (link below). It's a really cool (new this semester!) opportunity, focused on Anoka County. We will be learning about the related topics in March, which matches up well with the timing of the paper assignment. The paper is shorter and more "casual" than a formal academic paper, but you will need to put in some focused time on preparing to write it, so be sure to set aside enough time in the weeks before the deadline. You may certainly choose one of the field trip options instead. I usually suggest the virtual Fort Snelling field trip for the first paper since we cover Fort Snelling earlier in the course.
The second deadline is 5/10 at NOON, which is the
last day of Finals Week. You may choose any of the options for this paper.
The State Capitol virtual assignment lines up well with our readings at the end
of the semester, but any of the topics (Mapping Prejudice, Virtual, or In Real
Life field trips) are just fine, as long as you are not repeating the topic of
your first paper.
Extra Credit Paper: You may complete a third paper
option (whichever one you have not yet completed). This paper has a
suggested due date of May 6 but I will accept it
until the last day of the term, which would be Friday May 10 at midnight.
OPTION #1: MAPPING PREJUDICE PROJECT
New! This option is new in Spring 2024. Click here for the assignment.
OPTIONS #2 AND #3: FIELD TRIP PAPERS (VIRTUAL AND/OR IN REAL LIFE)
This assignment has changed quite a bit over the last 24+ months! Before Covid, I required students to go on two self-guided field trips and then write a summary and analysis of their experience. Going on a field trip to a historic location (and often bringing friends or family members along) was for many students the highlight of the course! I was very disappointed when Covid closed all of the historic sites, so I had to devise a "virtual" field trip. The Minnesota Historical Society has since reopened their historic sites. Some of those are now closed for the season, but you can still find some options that are open. However, I know that not everyone has the same level of comfort when it comes to Covid exposures or the ability to drive to a field trip destination, so I will NOT be requiring you to go on an actual tour; you can opt instead for the virtual options.
No matter which option you choose, you have the option to earn 5 extra credit points if you visit with an ARCC writing tutor in person or over Zoom before you turn in your paper. Look for more information on D2L or click here: http://www.anokaramsey.edu/resources/tutoring-services/