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GoALittleDeeper
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One Source EssayHas anyone had to write a one source essay?
I've picked my article....and it's "The declaration of arbroath revitalised" by Grant G Simpson and I'm really struggling with it. I've been working on it for 3 days and have nothing!
Thanks in advance if anyone can help!
Kirsty (:
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Dave Coull
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Re: One Source Essay | GoALittleDeeper wrote: | | Has anyone had to write a one source essay? |
I haven't, but my wife had to write one as part of a course she was doing. She found it very difficult.
| GoALittleDeeper wrote: | | I've picked my article....and it's "The declaration of arbroath revitalised" by Grant G Simpson and I'm really struggling with it. I've been working on it for 3 days and have nothing! |
Are you supposed to pretend that you know absolutely NOTHING AT ALL about the Declaration of Arbroath except what you have read in that particular essay by Simpson? Are you supposed to pretend you haven't even read the actual Declaration, never mind any comment on it? I would find that extremely restrictive.
As I understand it, Simpson says the Arbroath Declaration wasn't such a unique document, there were other examples of kings and princelings getting their more prominent subjects to write letters to the Pope backing their King. However, what Simpson appears to completely ignore is the utterly unique statement about DEPOSING this king, and choosing another one, if he should turn out to be not up to much in resisting claims for English overlordship. Robert the Bruce agreed to that bit being included, but I bet they had to twist his arm a bit, I can't believe it was all his idea!
I would reccomend starting your essay with a couple of sentences about the problem of using a single source, and say that, while you will not actually quote any other source, of course you do know a bit about the actual Declaration. I would reccomend that, later in your essay, after having said a bit about what Simpson DOES say, you point out what he DOESN'T say, namely, the uniqueness of that bit about the community of the realm having the right to depose a king if necessary.
Conclude with something to the effect of Simpson being useful, but we cannot really understand history by reading a single source.
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