John S. Ott
Portland State University
HST 354U - Early Medieval Europe
Winter 2024
Basic guidelines - please read
ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES:
PRIMARY SOURCE-BASED COMPARATIVE ESSAY #2
(Due IN CLASS Thursday, March 14 - 150 points [15% of final grade])
(1) All papers must be typed, double-spaced, and about 5 pages in length. Papers may be slightly shorter or longer as needed, but should not exceed 5.5 pages.
(2) Please number your pages, and make sure that your first page includes the title (something other than "Medieval Essay") and your name. You do not need to attach a bibliography/works cited page.
(3) For purposes of citation, parenthetical, in-text references to your sources are fine. For example: (Einhard, Life of Charlemagne, 27) or (Wickham, 379). Make sure to cite the sources of your assertions, evidence, and conclusions.
(4) You may use only those sources assigned in class and appearing on the syllabus. External sources or use of materials other than those assigned will result in an automatic deduction for each instance (see below). I will be checking for scrupulous use of sources; you may paraphrase, but also should quote directly from the sources, citing appropriate page numbers and setting off direct quotations in quotation marks.
(5) Work to articulate and defend a clear thesis statement, and provide evidence from the primary texts to support your assertions. Try to develop an argument from the sources and to explain why the argument is significant. Your thesis should communicate what you are arguing, and why or how that argument is significant for understanding the larger conclusions you wish to draw about early medieval history. How do you know that you have a fully-formed thesis? When you think you have a thesis, ask yourself: "So what?" In other words, "so, what does this argument demonstrate, and why does it matter?" If you cannot answer "so what?" when you have posed this question to your own thesis, you probably need to revise it further. You are welcome to ask Alice or me directly if you would like input on your thesis. We will be happy to look over thesis statements and/or drafts of your opening paragraph in advance of the paper due date.
(6) Proofread, at least once, preferably out loud to yourself. (Reading out loud to yourself is a great way to detect errors!)
Late paper and deduction policy
The last day to turn in your paper will be Friday, March 15 (hard copies only, brought to my office or submitted in class). Papers will be marked down 3 points (3%, on a scale of 100) for every day they are late; this includes weekends. Paper extensions will be given only in cases of demonstrated and genuine need, and only at least 24 hours in advance of the paper due date. This applies to all students. Please ensure that a hard copy gets directly into my hands. You may 'timestamp' completed papers by sending them to me via e-mail attachment, but please do bring me a hard copy at the first available opportunity.
The following conditions also apply:
Automatic deductions:
- Late papers will go to the bottom of the grading pile and may be returned at a later date than on-time papers;
- Late papers will be graded at instructor's convenience;
- Late papers may not receive full written feedback.
- -5 points (5%) for each missing primary source
- -5 points (5%) for use of sources external to class syllabus, per instance
- Automatic '0' for detection of plagiarism and/or use of AI
Essay guidelines
Using a minimum of five primary source readings from this term, consider one of the following questions. You may also draw on the assigned pages from Wickham and Winroth.
(1) Explore the role of ritual and performance in medieval life. This might include practices such as gift giving, religious or political ceremony, or any patterned social interactions. What is the role of ritual, or ritualized behavior, in medieval society? How do individuals perform social relationships? What other practices for maintaining social order did ritual complement, or undermine?
(2) Consider the role of emotion and expressions of emotion in medieval writing. What kinds of emotion are commonly expressed, and why? What can the analysis of medieval expressions of emotion tell us about early medieval people? Are the emotional contexts of early medieval writing distinctive (from our own)? If so, in what way(s)?
(3) Consider one or more of the following: (a) medieval kingship or lordship (as idea, its representation, practices); (b) "Church"-"State" relations, or the relationship between pope and king/emperor, clergy/monks and king, clergy and pope, etc.; (c) relations between aristocrats and kings; (d) the limits and uses of power (public and private)
(4) Consider the roles, perception, and representation of women and gender in medieval society. What kind of actions/behavior is feminized? masculinized? Are gender roles more or less fixed, fluid? How are they maintained, and what kinds of agency did they allow?
(5) Consider the extent and/or nature of Christianization in medieval society. Was medieval society Christian? If yes, what does this mean in an early medieval context? If no, why/how not? You might consider the various categories and behaviors ascribed to Christians, non-Christians, or other religious groups. Be careful, though, about making assumptions based on modern understandings of religion, religious identity, "faith" and belief.
(6) How was wealth viewed in early medieval society? What expectations were placed upon the wealthy? How was poverty and/or the poor regarded by others? To what ends was wealth to be put, and how was wealth circulated? What were the expectations of care for the poor or marginalized?
(7) Examine early medieval attitudes toward the "other" or marginalized communities (e.g., early Christians/Jews, civilized/barbaric peoples, pagans/heathens, Muslims, heretics, orthodox [Greek] Christians, learned/popular). How did medieval authors construct and depict images of otherness in their writings? To what ends, or for what audiences? This last matter--the question of audience--is particularly important to consider. NOTE: Treatment of "barbarians" from first half of term will not be acceptable.
(8) If you have another idea, please ask me in advance!