Hagemann

Roman Imperial Courtier Group Paper

Students will:
1. Remember and Understand what they have learned and read about the
Roman imperial court, and the nature of primary sources.
2. Apply this information in selecting a group of Roman imperial courtiers.
3. Analyze what the primary sources have to say about this courtier group.
4. Evaluate portrayal of this courtier group in the primary sources, and the
reliability of the primary sources themselves.
5. Create a thesis-driven paper that discusses the actions, successes, and
failures of the courtier group at the Roman imperial court, and how the
group is portrayed in the primary sources.

Assignment

The purpose of this paper is to assess the skills of historical analysis that you have been
developing over the semester in your shorter essays. This paper is the culmination of that
process.

Select a group of courtiers during the first century AD (e.g. advisors to the emperor, imperial
women, the emperors slaves and freedmen), and analyze their actions, successes, failures, and
portrayal in the primary sources.

Format

Your paper is to be 4-6 pages, double spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font. You must
cite your sources, either with in-text citations, or footnotes. We will cover these in class. Your
paper must have an argumentative thesis in the opening paragraph.
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Suggested Procedure

In writing your paper, you do not need to cover the entire period from Augustus through
Domitian. However, it is recommended that you select a group which you can discuss within the
reigns of at least two emperors (they do not have to be consecutive reigns, however e.g.
imperial slaves and freedmen in the reigns of Claudius, Nero, and Domitian). Feel free to be
creative in defining your courtier group what matters is that you can persuasively make an
argument that they merit analysis as a distinct unit.

You may draw on any of the primary sources that we are reading this semester (and even sources
that we are not reading!). Use of secondary sources is not required for this assignment; I care
more about how you read the primary sources than how other scholars read them. The following
steps are recommended in approaching your paper:

1. Identify a group of courtiers that you want to write about.

2. Identify which primary sources you will use to talk about them.
3. Take extensive notes on members of your group as they appear in the primary sources.
4. Think about how the primary source authors are portraying members of your group, and
why they have chosen to do so. What are their biases?
5. Draw conclusions about the actions, successes, and failures of members of your group of
courtiers, and how they are portrayed in the primary sources. Keep in mind what
evidence you have to justify those conclusions.

Deadlines

Deadline #1 Submit courtier group to Canvas TBD

Deadline #2: Submit paper outlines to Canvas (Must include thesis and main points) TBD

Deadline #3 Turn in final paper to Canvas TBD

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Handout: Primary Source Analysis

What is your courtier group?

What is one primary source that you are using for your paper?

What members of your courtier group does the primary source cover?

What is your primary sources attitude toward members of your courtier group? In what ways is
it biased regarding members of your courtier group?

How does your primary source reflect attitudes toward members of your courtier group in the
period?

What conclusions can you draw about members of your courtier group based on this primary
source?
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Rubric
Points Points
Criteria
Possible Earned
Thesis. The author gives a specific, debatable thesis
about their courtier group.
10
Writing. The writing is free from grammatical,
mechanical, and usage errors.
20
Content: Ideas, Organization, and Clarity. Each
body paragraph makes a point in support of the
thesis. The paragraphs appear in logical order and
redundancy of thinking is avoided. The writer clearly
states the relevance of the point made in each
paragraph to the larger argument set forth in the
thesis statement.

The authors points demonstrate in-depth thinking

and analysis, sound reasoning, logic, and consistency. 40
There are no contradictions in the papers arguments.
The author avoids throwing around vague words or
concepts (NO FLUFF), instead using specific,
detailed language to focus on particular aspects of
those words or concepts. The author defines, directly
or indirectly, all abstract terms. The author
anticipates and responds to potential objections to the
thesis or the points made in defense of it.
Content: Evidence. Using quotations and/or specific
examples from the texts the author has chosen to
consider, the author provides adequate support or
illustration for the point they are making in each
paragraph. The author not only reports what a
primary source says, but analyzes its biases and
motives for the portrayal that it gives. Quotations that
30
the author uses are interpreted, analyzed, and/or
wrestled with. The author introduces each example
and makes direct connections between the quotation
and the point they are making in the paragraph.

The author also CITES all of their sources.

Total 100