Paper Assignments/Schedule

HST 346

FA 2008

Dr. Janet R. Bednarek

As noted on the syllabus, you will be required to write ten (10) two-page papers based on the course readings.  You can earn up to 200 points with these papers (20 points possible per paper).  The format and requirements for the papers are listed below.

Course Readings Papers:

The purpose of these papers is to prepare you for class discussions.  Reading the material completely and carefully is an important first step.  Writing down some thoughts about the readings is a necessary and vital second step.  These papers will take you through the second step.

Although these papers are limited to certain readings, lessons learned on careful reading and note-taking in preparation for discussions can be applied to the other readings.

Each paper is to be based on the reading assignments associated with the due date.  For example, the first reading is due 27 August.  It is to be based on Jacob, pp. 1-17.   .

The first readings paper is due 27 August.  In this paper you must state which single factor you believe was the most important behind the Wright brothers’ success in inventing the airplane.  Support your choice.

The second reading paper is due 8 September.  In this paper you must state and briefly explain two major characteristics of an air war that Douhet would plan and execute and determine the primary target of an air attack, according to Douhet.

The third discussion paper is due 17 September.  In this paper you must discuss two important elements or components (theoretical, practical, structural – you have much to chose from) of the “reinvention of the airplane” or, as it is also called, the “airplane design revolution.”  Be specific as to why they were important.

The fourth discussion paper is due 24 September. In this paper you must discuss the special roles played by women and children in bringing about the coming “air age” according to the Winged Gospel.

The fifth discussion paper is due 1 October.  In this paper you must state and briefly explain three reasons given by Mitchell as to why the United States needed to develop airpower.  Be specific.

The sixth discussion paper is due 22 October.  In this paper you must discuss the extent to which “imagination” and the media played a role in the creation of the US space program and to what extent they, rather than purely technical considerations, shaped the program.

The seventh discussion paper is due 29 October.  In this paper you must define one major characteristic of each of the three ages of exploration presented by the author.

The eighth discussion paper assignment is a little different from the rest – here you will have the choice of writing on either the eighth discussion paper A or the eighth discussion paper B.  You may write either paper, but you still need to read the entire Clodfelter book. [Also, this is opportunity to make up for any missing assignments.  If you failed to hand in any previous assignments, you can hand in both A and B.]

The eighth discussion paper A is due 5 November.  (Clodfelter, pp 1-115)  In this paper you must briefly explain at one positive objective and one negative objective of the US involvement in Vietnam; discuss briefly how the negative objective placed limits on the use of airpower.

The eighth discussion paper B is due 10 November.  (Clodfelter, pp. 117-223).  In this paper you must briefly explain two reasons why, according to Clodfelter, airpower succeeded during the Linebacker campaigns.

The ninth discussion paper is due 17 November.  In this paper you must briefly discuss three factors that made the flying experience more routine, popular and/or inexpensive.  You must have at least one factor from each of the two chapters covered in the reading assignment.

The tenth discussion paper is due 1 December.  In this paper you must argue whether political, economic or technological concerns played the largest role in the cancellation of the US SST program.

Overall Requirements:

All papers are due at the beginning of the class on the due date.   You must bring one hard-copy of the paper to class.  A second, electronic version of the paper must be submitted to Turn-it-in.  Many students have found this website helpful in avoiding plagiarism (see below).  (See instruction sheet for Turn-it-in.)

For the course readings papers, no late papers will be accepted.

Avoid plagiarism with all papers.  As noted in syllabus, any academic dishonesty will result in a failure for the course.  Plagiarism is a frequent example of academic dishonesty.  If you do not understand what constitutes plagiarism, go to the following link:  http://library.udayton.edu/faqs/howto/plagiarism.php.