Reading Short Response Paper
Directions: In 2-3 pages typed, double-spaced, and in Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier 12pt format with 1″
margins (approximately 500-700 words) respond to one of the following prompts using the text of one of the
Unit Readings. Your response should fully address the question asked including citing sources to support your
thinking.
Prompt #1: Evaluate the author’s bias in their approach to history. What arguments in their paper expose this
bias? How does their experience and academic credentials impact their bias?
Prompt #2: Critique the argument of one of the authors. Where in their argument do they lack sufficient
evidence or use logical fallacies to support their position?
Prompt #3: Summarize the thesis of one of the authors. What are they arguing? What evidence do they offer
to support their position?
Criteria for Success Checklist
Directions: Use the following checklist to ensure that your response contains the qualities required for your desired
score. Each score includes the previous checklist items.
1
-Response identifies and fully addresses the prompt using at least one piece of evidence
-Response utilizes Chicago Style Footnotes for most sources
2
-Response meets the required length (2-3 pages and/or 500-700 words)
-Response identifies and fully addresses the prompt using at least one piece of evidence
-Response utilizes Chicago Style Footnotes for most sources
3
-Response utilizes multiple pieces of evidence
-Response utilizes Chicago Style Footnotes for all sourcing and includes a Works Cited
4
-Response adds outside resources (knowledge or additional research) to contextualize either the author or
the time period.
-Outside evidence is properly cited using Chicago Style
5
-Response adds outside resources (knowledge or additional research) to expand upon the response as an
additional piece of evidence to support your thinking.
-Outside evidence is properly cited using Chicago Style
Type of
Paper
Demonstrating Change
Over Time using Two Texts
Analysis of One Text Analysis of One Text w/
outside evidence
Link to
Paper
A Transitive Identity The Sum of Their Parts: Fredrick
Douglass and Immigration
Or
Hope in Tumultuous Times: American
Exceptionalism and the Space Race
Power: Trade,
Europeans, and
American Indians
Directions: In the pages that follow, please type your response. Please Bold the number prompt you are
selecting below. Remember you can add footnotes by pressing Ctrl, Alt, and F all at the same time.
Prompt 1 2 3
This is my sentence. 1
1