Write a 500-750 word essay that examines at least three major issues, events, or ideas in American history from 1865-1920. Use your textbook and any other quality, reliable sources to base your essay on, but the essay must be 100% your own original writing (will be checked with Turnitin.com). Do not quote directly from sources. Instead, paraphrase information in your own words. Your paper should include the following: Introduction – Give a general overview of the topic. End your introduction with a thesis/main idea statement that identifies your specific issues/events/ideas and what their overall impact was. Main Paragraphs – Each main paragraph should identify and explain a specific issue/event/idea from 1865-1920 and explain why it was important during that time period. Provide examples/details that show how that issue/event/idea shaped the lives of actual people in the past. Conclusion – Restate the main idea of your paper but do not just simply review your main points. Instead, address these questions: What have you learned about the people of the past by examining different historical issues/events/ideas? What do you think we can learn about ourselves, our country, or the world by learning about American history? What other new understandings or insights have you gained by learning about American history? Bibliography – List any sources you used for this paper. No specific number of sources is required. No internal documentation is required. Grading 90-100 – Strong introduction, fully captures reader’s attention, audience understands exactly what the paper is about. Well-crafted main paragraphs, clearly and specifically identifies three or more historical issues/events/ideas, excellent detailed explanation, flows smoothly and logically from one sentence to the next. Conclusion brings reader’s attention back to the main idea, clearly and specifically addresses all questions and demonstrates critical and analytical thinking about the topic. 80-85 – Good introduction, gains reader’s attention, audience understands the main idea of the paper. Main paragraphs are organized, identify three historical issues/events/ideas, good explanation with some detail, flow of sentences makes sense. Conclusion restates main idea, addresses all questions. 70-75 – Weak introduction, main idea not clear. Main paragraphs lack organization, does not clearly identify three historical issues/events/ideas, some explanation, few details, sentences do not flow logically. Main idea not clear in conclusion, does not address all questions. 65 or below – Poorly organized, no obvious main idea, major components are missing, demonstrates general lack of effort in completing the assignment.