First Writing Assignment for EUH 2021—Early Modern Europe

Dr. Jeremy Rowan

Students must write a research paper--using both primary and secondary sources--that
answers the following question:

Using both the work of artists and writers, discuss the major characteristics of the
Italian Renaissance. Do you agree with some historians that the Renaissance
provided a clear break from the mindset of the Middle Ages or do you think that a
certain continuity prevailed between the two periods?

Make sure you have a thesis (a general argument) and provide examples and details to
support your answer.

• The Rough Draft of the writing assignment is due on Friday, February 5. You
will bring a hard copy of your rough draft to class on that date and use it for peer
review. The Final Draft is due on Wednesday, February 10. The Final draft
will be uploaded to Turnitin.com before midnight. Late papers will be penalized
by one grade per class session.

• This paper is worth 20% of the course grade.

• The length of the paper should be 4-5 pages (approximately 1500 words not
including citations).

• The paper must be typed in Times New Roman and double-spaced.

• For background information refer to Chapter 11 in Levack and Part III in

Kishlansky. You must use King’s Brunelleschi’s Dome and provide at least 3
outside sources (besides Levack and Kishlansky). Do not use an Encyclopedia,
including Wikipedia, as an academic source. Encyclopedias are reference works
and not research!

• All sources must be correctly cited using the Chicago Manual of Style. You must
use footnotes or endnotes and also have a Bibliography page. You can find
information about the Chicago Manual of Style at
www.chicagomanualofstyle.org or you can go to Dianahacker.com to look up
citations and bibliographic information.