+1 862 207 3288 China’s Terracotta Warriors
Paper details
In this module, you will complete your first source analysis assignment. In 1974, farmers in the Shaanxi province of China stumbled upon a truly monumental archaeological discovery. Underneath their feet lay a massive subterranean complex of more than 8,000 life-sized, individualized statues of warriors. Accompanying the soldiers were over 500 life-size horses and an array of chariots and weapons. This “terracotta army” had been commissioned by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China. Scholars generally agree that the army was meant to be a bodyguard or escort of some sort that would assist the emperor in his trip to the afterlife. Write an essay in which you analyze what the terracotta army can tell us about the society and economy of Qin Dynasty China. What does it suggest about the political power of the emperor and the health of the economy?
Review the slideshow of 12 selected images in this resource to assist your analysis: China’s Terracotta Warriors. These images are the intended primary source for this assignment.
Working in world history means working with a variety of primary-source types. Writing, artifacts, artwork, gravesites, and even human remains are all historical
records that allow us glimpses into the past. In this class, you will be given case studies involving a primary source that you must analyze for clues about the
society that produced it.
A strong paper will include the following:
A clearly worded thesis statement that offers a direct response to the prompt
Specific observations about the primary source used as support for the thesis
Connections to the textbook, module overviews, or outside secondary sources as a means of commenting on the significance of the source to the content
of the module
Remember above all that the source analysis papers should put forward an argument: a position you adopt that expresses your educated opinion about the
source. Be careful not to rely on describing the source; use description only as a means of offering specific examples in support of your thesis.
The two source analysis papers each have a unique prompt, but both have the following requirements:
One page in length
Double-spaced and in a standard 12-point font
Chicago-style footnotes used as a citation method
Source Analysis Paper Instructions
1. Introduction
Your introduction should include the following:
Background information on the topic of your essay: This includes introducing key figures or concepts, as well as providing dates and locations to
place your topic in a historical context. Do not assume that your reader knows the topic or the sources that you are using. Always fully introduce
your sources, historical figures, and topics. For example, “In the third century BCE, Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi created an army of…”
A thesis statement: A thesis statement is the argument that you will be proving in your paper. For example, do not make general statements such
as, “Qin Shi Huangdi made many changes to China.” A thesis is a very focused argument. A better thesis statement would be, “Qin Shi Huangi
established a number of social and political reforms that helped to boost his kingdom’s economy. The creation of his terracotta army reflects
these important changes and the emperor’s success.” You can see that one is much more focused and specific in the points that it will prove in
the essay. The following link provides some great information and demonstrates how to create a thesis statement:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/
2. Body of Paper
The body of your essay should include the following:
Historical analysis: Do not simply provide a timeline of events or a list of facts about the time and place. A historical essay analyzes these events
and facts to create a strong argument that proves your thesis.
The most relevant and important information that you will use to prove your argument: Stay focused on the most important information and try
to avoid including random facts that, while interesting, might not connect to, or be relevant to, your argument. For example, what how was Qin’s
government organized? What were some of the major social reforms that he implemented? How did the economy of the kingdom benefit from
Qin’s rule?
Historical details and examples: These are the building blocks of your argument. You should include relevant dates, events, people, and examples
to prove your thesis.
Sources: Your writing should include references to your sources and properly formatted footnotes or in-text citations. Avoid using lengthy quotes
to insert historical information. The majority of your writing should be your own, not quotes. General historical information can be related in
your own words. Reserve direct quotes for examples that prove your point or to briefly relate the ideas of a source. Find a way to transition
between your own writing and the quote to fluidly connect the statements.
3. Conclusion
Your conclusion of your essay should do the following:
Draw together the points that you have raised in the essay
Connect your points to a larger revelation about the topic that proves your thesis
Avoid using overly general statements or making connections to our current time, unless the essay instructions specifically ask you to make this
connection. For example, you would not end your essay with the statements, “Qin created a system that benefitted China and made the country
what it is today.” These types of points are overly general and not really relevant, and they do not help to prove your overall thesis. Thousands of
years occurred between Qin’s rule and our current time. Stay focused on your thesis and the time period that you analyzed.
4. Works Cited
Your Works Cited/Bibliography section should do the following:
Include proper citation for the sources that you used for the assignment
Organize sources alphabetically by the last name of the author or, when not available, the first word of the article title
For assistance with proper citation, please review course material and visit the following link:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/01/
A guide to using the Chicago citation style, which is the standard for history papers, can be found at the following SNHU site:
http://libguides.snhu.edu/introduction_to_citationstyles
Use the SNHU History Library Guide to guide your additional research needed to establish the historical context and significance of the source.
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Source analysis assignments should follow these formatting guidelines: 1 page, double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one inch margins, and citations in Chicago style.
Main source is the power point on this link: http://www.asianart.org/exhibitions/terracotta-warriors
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