This document outlines an assignment for students to analyze primary sources related to history. It provides two choice options for an analysis: Choice A involves images of Native Americans in Florida, and Choice B involves images and documents about Mayan society. Students are instructed to choose one option and answer the analysis questions in 3 or more paragraphs per question, citing evidence from the provided sources. Guidelines are provided on formatting, length, citations, and grading criteria for the assignment.

1. Primary Source Analysis Assignment #1 (worth 10%)
This assignment will ask you to think like a historian.You will
be asked to analyse evidence from the past (primary sources) in
order to form conclusions. To do this assignment well you will
need to be creative and think critically.
Choose ONE (1) of the analyses projects below (either A or B).
Consider carefully the primary source images or document
excerpts presented and write a response to each question. You
may use the textbook readings to help provide further context.
Requirements
1. Compose your Analysis as a Microsoft Word file, 12 pt.
Times New Roman font.
2. Include your name and student number at the top of the page.
3. Submit your Analysis into the Analysis #1 Dropbox by the
posted deadline.
You should also refer to the corresponding Rubric in the
Orientation Module for information on how this assignment will
be evaluated.
CHOICE A: Images of Native Americans in Florida
Source: "The Mourning Widows" by Theodore de Bry (1591
CE)
Source Background
In 1591 Dutch engraver and goldsmith Theodor de Bry
published Grand Voyages, which contained the earliest known
European images of Native Americans in what is now Florida.
Although Theodor de Bry never traveled to the Americas, the
images he created helped to shape the European perception of
Native American cultures and the land they inhabited.
For Grand Voyages and later publications de Bry relied on
accounts by men like Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a member
of the short-lived French colony in Florida, Fort Caroline. This
engraving was based on an original (now lost) sketch by Le
Moyne.

2. Translation of Latin Text
Ceremonies of Women Mourning for their Deceased Husbands
After arriving at their husbands’ burial place, in memory of
these brave men they cut their hair below their ears and scatter
it on the graves where they have already thrown their husbands’
shell drinking-cups and weapons. Then they return home, but
are forbidden to remarry until their hair has regrown long
enough to cover their shoulders. They also let their toe and
finger nails grow, filing the sides to make them pointed. But it
is above all the men who practice this custom. Whenever they
can grab hold of an enemy, they sink their nails deep into his
forehead and tear the skin, leaving him blinded and bloody.
Analysis Questions
Write at least 1 full paragraph (5-6 sentences) per question.
1. Do you think that the image gives an accurate impression of
native life? If so, why? If not, why not?
2. How would our analysis change if the original sketch by
Jacques Le Moyne survived?
3. What was the intended audience for this image? How might
the audience’s expectations influence the artist?
CHOICE B: Images and Document excerpts about Mayan
Society
Source 1: Excerpt from a Spanish manuscript letter about the
Maya, 1595 CE
The form of the marriage is: the bride gives the bridegroom a
small stool painted in colors, and also gives him five grains of
cacao, and says to him, “These I give thee as a sign that I accept
thee as my husband.” And he also gives her some new skirts and
another five grains of cacao, saying the same thing.
Excerpted from: J. Eric Thompson, “Sixteenth and Seventeenth
Century Reports on the Chol Mayas,” American Anthropologist
40 (1938): 602.
Source 2: Excerpt from the Popul Vuh, creation myth of the
Maya
We will now return to the story of man’s creation by the

3. Creators and Makers Tepew and Q’uk’umatz.
“The time for the first dawn has arrived, and we must complete
our creation. Let man and all of humanity appear on the earth’s
surface. Humankind will give us our sustenance,” they said.
They came together in the darkness to think and reflect. This is
how they came to decide on the right material for the creation
of man. They had to hurry because there was little time left
before the sun, the moon and the stars would appear in the sky.
The corn used to create the first men was found in the place
called Paxil and K’ayala’. Yak the wildcat, Utiw the coyote,
K’el the parrot, and Joj the crow were the creatures who
discovered this food. They were the ones who showed the way
to Paxil so that the corn could be brought back. And that is how
the beautiful place where abundant white and yellow corn grew
was discovered. All kinds of fruits and seeds, including beans,
cacao, zapote, anona, wild plums, nance, white zapote and
honey were also to be found in Paxil and K’ayala’.
Victor Montejo, Popol Vuh: Sacred Book of the Maya, trans.
David Unger (Toronto: Groundwood Books/Douglas &
McIntyre, 1999), 61.
Source 3: Detail of a palace scene on a Late Classic Maya Vase
(circa 800-900 CE)
Source Background
Maya civilization produced a rich artistic culture and legacy.
Vases such as this one were used to serve food and drink at
important royal banquets. Archaeologists Dorie Reents-Budet
and Ronald Bishop describe their importance in Maya culture:
The vases, used both to serve food at feasts and as gifts
presented at such events, were created by highly skilled painters
who had mastered the intricacies of Classic Maya religious
mythology, ideology, and history, and used hieroglyphic writing
as both communication and visual poetry. Artists were highly
regarded and often members of elite families. These vessels are
rich repositories of data concerning Classic Maya culture and
royalty and provide intimate views of palace life. They depict
the decorations that would have adorned the now-bare stone

4. palace buildings found at most Maya sites, and the perishable
interior furnishings that do not survive in the archaeological
record: curtains and throne covers of cloth and jaguar pelt;
containers of ceramic, gourd, wood, and basketry; books; regal
costumes; and musical instruments and scented wood torches
that added to the auditory and aromatic atmosphere of the court.
Also recorded on them are ancient myths and epic tales, which
often survive nowhere else.
Excerpted from: Dorie Reents-Budet and Ronald Bishop, “What
Can We Learn from a Maya Vase?” Archaeology 56:2 (2003).
This particular vase which was discovered at an archaeological
site in the Petén Lowlands, depicts a ruler gesturing towards a
pot of foaming chocolate. There is a plate heaped with sauce-
covered tamales (a starchy traditional Mesoamerican dish made
with corn dough) below him.
Analysis Question:
To answer this question, write at least three full paragraphs (5-6
sentences each).
1. What role did cacao play in the lives of the Maya? Explain
your answer citing all the documents.
Term Paper - Position Paper
In this activity, you will research all sides of a controversial
environmental issue (e.g. The
Keystone Pipeline, The use/ban of DDT, The Dakota Access
Pipeline, Global Climate
Change, The US withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord,
Human population growth
and food security, energy use and environmental implications,
Hydraulic fracking,

5. location of landfills etc.) to gain a better understanding of the
environmental issue and
articulate a position based on the evidence Learning
you have collected.
ves ObjectiAdd
ressed by this Activity
environmental
science.
n on an environmental issue.
environmental issue.
Required Time
The completed paper is due before midnight on Saturday May
9th, 2020 and MUST be submitted
through the final paper turnitin link in Canvas. Late
submissions will not be accepted.
Papers should NOT be sent through my email
Description
You will prepare a 3-pages position paper that includes your
opinions, viewpoints,
feelings, and the evidence that supports them. The 3-page limit

6. does not include the
reference list and figures/data tables. Figures and tables if
included, should not take up
more than one third of a page. All figures and or data tables
should have a title.
The main reason for this activity is for you to use your critical
thinking skills to analyze the
different arguments of an issue and then articulate your own
position on the issue
(supported by evidence).
Assessment
A description of the evaluation criteria is included in the
guidelines following.
Paper Guidelines
Position paper Due date
is 05/09/2020
A position paper differs from a traditional term paper in that it
includes your
opinions, viewpoints, feelings, and the evidence that supports
them. The main
reason for this activity is to understand an issue better by
researching all sides of

7. the issue thoroughly. Choose an environmental topic that
interests you (you can
select from the list above or choose a topic of your own).
Research the different
sides of the issue and think about your position on the issue.
Write a position paper
based on the guidelines outlined below. The paper should be 3
pages long (12 pts
font, 1 ½ spaced). If your paper is longer than 3 pages, I will
grade the first 3
pages. Use at least 5 sources for the paper and make sure you
use the proper
format (APA) for your paper and reference list. The following
books, available at
the HCCs bookstore will help you explore different
environmental issues:
issues / selected,
edited, and with introductions by Theodore D. Goldfarb
issues / selected,
edited, and with introductions by Thomas A. Easton
Evaluation Criteria and Guidelines: Point Values

8. Paper: Please turn in the cover sheet I provided
15 possible points
15 possible points
15 possible points
15 possible points
10 possible points
15 possible points
5 possible points
I. Introduction: Statement of the issue to be discussed.
II. Description of more than one side of the issue supported by
relevant and multiple sources of information (use
references).
III. Clear concise statements of your position on the issue.
IV. Discussion of your position supported by relevant and
multiple sources of information.
V. Questions that have arisen as you researched the issues and
information you need to understand the issue better.
VI. Concise summary statement restating the issue, your
position, and the essential evidence that supports your
position.
VII.Literature Cited (APA)

9. Appropriate number (minimum of 5)
Appropriate type (not only opinions)
Proper format (see below for examples)
Overall Important Communication Factors 10 possible points
Spelling and grammar
Neatness
Clarity and consistency of focus
Subtitles for each section heading in your paper
(required)
Total Possible Points 100 possible points
http://encore.hccs.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1132993__STaki
ng%20Sides%20environmental%20issues__P0%2C2__Orightres
ult__U__X2?lang=eng&suite=cobalt
http://encore.hccs.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1354895__STaki
ng%20Sides%20environmental%20issues__P0%2C1__Orightres
ult__U__X2?lang=eng&suite=cobalt
Example of proper format for references IN TEXT:
Book or Journal Article: The wild boar has caused extensive
damage to the wildlife reserve.
(Smith, 1993).
Personal Communication: J.W. Jones explained that the Smoky
Mountains are used

10. quite extensively during the summer months (personal
communication, August 24,
2000).
The Smoky Mountains are used quite extensively during the
summer months (J.W.
Jones, personal communication, August 24, 2000).
Note: Personal communications should be referred only in text.
Provide initials and as
exact a date as possible. Explain who the person is and why
their input is important.
Examples of proper APA (American Psychological Association)
format for LITERATURE
CITED:
Journal Article: Adelgid, B. W. (1999). Killing fraser firs in the
Smoky Mountains. Journal of
Exotics and Introduced Species. 1 (15), 13-15.
Book: Boar, E. W. (1993). Upsetting the balance of the Merritt
Island Wildlife Refuge. (3
rd
ed.). London:
Island Press.
On-Line Sources: Mussel, Z., Loosestrife, P. (September 23,
1999). Gaining a foothold in a new

11. environment [On-Line]. Available:
http://www.eliminatingnativespecies.com/
A brief listing of some suggestions that should be implemented
in your position paper to
ensure the highest quality:
Make sure your ‘voice’ is apparent in the paper – don’t overuse
quotes. Use
the writing lab as a resource.
Have others proofread your paper for spelling, grammar, and
organizational
problems. Have at least one literate, logical friend read through
your paper
carefully to check for “flow of logic” mistakes, ambiguous
statements, etc.
Make sure you write a position paper and NOT a traditional
term paper. There is a
difference! If you are unsure about the difference reread the
guidelines and talk with
me.
Reread these notes again before you turn in the paper.
http://www.eliminatingnativespecies.com/