1. Assignment – Civil War
In this assignment, you will answer a question in a 5-paragraph essay regarding the Civil War, which we have just studied.
Instructions:
Choose one of the following questions
Write a 5-paragraph essay explaining your point of view; use information from the class or your own research to support your point of view
Submit this essay to Mr. White

2. Lincoln’s War Powers
Many of President Lincoln’s decisions to use his war powers as president are controversial – his decision to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, his issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation, his conducting of the war without Congressional approval. Was Lincoln justified in using these war powers? Why or why not?

3. Sherman’s March
General William Tecumseh Sherman’s destructive march through Georgia helped end the Civil War, but many people criticize him for his army’s destruction of Atlanta and and the area around it. Explain whether you feel that Sherman was justified in his use of these tactics.

4. The Unfinished Civil War
At the end of the video, the historian Barbara Fields says that, in many senses, the Civil War, or its results, aren’t fully complete. Is this an accurate statement? If so, is it still important to study the Civil War? Explain why you feel this way.

5. Argument Logic – 12 Points
Excellent – 6-5 points
Good – 4-3 points
Poor – 2-0 points
Logic argues major points and avoids logical gaps
Virtually no gaps exist in the paper’s logic
Some minor gaps and questions may exist in the paper’s logic
The paper’s arguments make little or no logical sense
Evidence used is appropriate, strong, and supports the main thesis strongly
All information used strongly supports the main thesis
Most information used strongly supports the main thesis
Most of the information in the paper is weak and does not support the main thesis
Writing Mechanics and Structure – 12 Points
Writing mechanics and structure follow common standards of written English for the subject
Writing mechanics and structure have few, if any, errors
Writing mechanics and structure may have some minor problems that do not detract from the paper overall.
Writing mechanics and structure have numerous errors that cause major problems with the paper
Formatting follows the APA style guide
Formatting is clean and closely follows the APA style guide.
Formatting is mostly clean and generally follows the APA style guide
Formatting has numerous mistakes
Introduction and Conclusion – 12 Points
Excellent – 4 points
Good – 3-2 points
Poor – 1-0 points
Introduction directly and clearly states the point of view or purpose of the paper.
Introduction directly and clearly states the view or purpose of the paper.
Introduction may only vaguely state the view or purpose of the paper.
Introduction does not state the paper’s purpose, or states it in an extremely unclear way.
Introduction engages the reader by explaining importance or relevance of the argument
Introduction clearly states the importance or relevance of the argument.
Introduction may only vaguely state the importance or relevance of the argument.
Introduction does not explain the importance or relevance of the argument.
Conclusion logically brings together all parts of the argument for a clear summary
Conclusion logically brings together all parts of the argument for a clear summary.
Conclusion may have gaps in bringing together the various parts of the argument.
Conclusion does not bring together the parts of the argument.