HIST 102: First Critical Essay #1
For this assignment, you should expect to read roughly 150 pages of The Book of Common Prayer. Which pages you read will differ based on your choice of prompt. You should also read the Introduction and use the appropriate appendices in the back as needed.
Essay Option #1: The first edition of the Book was produced as England started transitioning from Catholicism to Protestantism. Compare the 1549 edition to what you have learned about Catholicism. How are the practices described in the Book different from Catholicism? Are there aspects that seem reminiscent or unchanged from Catholic practices? For this prompt, you should read all of the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. You should also use lecture material and the textbook to provide contextual information.
Essay Option #2: The 1662 Book was published in the aftermath of a tumultuous civil war in which Puritan critics of the Church of England (who did not think it Protestant enough) temporarily abolished the Church and permanently executed the king of England, Charles I. Compare the 1662 edition to the original 1549 edition. How is the context in which the 1662 edition was produced reflected in its contents? How has the Book changed from the original? How does it speak about monarchy and ceremony (which Puritans abhorred)? For this prompt, you should choose sections of each book to compare to one another. Use the table of contents to your advantage. Useful topics you could compare might include: communion, the treatment of women, the litany, marriage, visitation of the sick, or morning and evening prayers. You should also consider sections that are present in the 1662 edition but not the 1549, such as: the uniformity acts, ordination, or the table of feasts. You do not have to address all of these topics nor are you limited to discussing only these topics. Although I am not telling you specific pages to read, you should read ~100 pages from the Book, though you are welcome to read more. You should also use lecture material and the textbook to provide contextual information.
Do not summarize the book apart from giving necessary and relevant background information. You are not writing a book report or review; you are writing an analysis of the book
A strong critical essay will include the following:
• 4-6 pages
• Complete sentences – no bullet points or outlines
• Full paragraphs that include a topic and concluding sentence
• Introductory and concluding paragraphs
• Citations (in the style of your choosing) for any and all examples
• Double spaced
• Normal margins
• 12 point font
• Absolutely NO outside research – you should not consult, use, or cite anything other than the book itself, lecture notes, or the textbooks.
Your paper will be evaluated according to how well your essay meets expectations in five categories: whether you fulfill the assignment requirements, the quality of your thesis statement, your use of evidence, the argument and analysis, and your writing.
