Topics in European History: Henry VIII

Extra Credit Option #1 -The Mary Rose
due Friday 13 February

Directions: This is the first of two extra credit options for those conscientious students who may want a way to solidify your grade or take stress off the final. It is worth 5 pts. (to be added to the final exam).

To complete this assignment you will need to visit two websites (linked below), one from the BBC and one that is a resource for teaching schoolchildren about the ship and it's history. Investigate each of these sites thoroughly and write a paper of approx. 1000 words, typed, double-spaced and in 12 pt. font on Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose:

The key question for you to answer is "Why is the Mary Rose historically significant?" Or if you prefer, "What can we learn from the history of the Mary Rose?" You can approach it from any angle you like - as naval history, as royal history, as diplomatic history, as a great "find" in underwater archaeology, etc. If you have questions or are having difficulty choosing an approach for the paper, do not hesitate to ask. Creativity is encouraged.

There is no need to do additional research for this paper, although you may wish to reference more than one page from each of the websites. The Chicago Manual of Style formatting of such sources is as follows:

1 Andrew Lambert, "The Mary Rose: A Great Ship of King Henry VIII," BBCi History: Wars and Conflict, 20 September 2002, (date accessed). <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/mary_rose_01.shtml>.

2 "Explore the Mary Rose: The Mary Rose Resource for 7-11 year olds," Supporting KS2 Study Unit - Britain and the Wider World in Tudor Times, (date accessed). <http://www.maryrose.org/explore/index.htm>.

You do not need to hand in a bibliography or works cited sheet; footnotes/endnotes will be sufficient for this assignment (but be sure to refer to the link to The Compass on plagiarism if you are wondering what information you need to cite…my rule of thumb is to have at least one reference per paragraph). If you have further questions on referencing, let me know.

Extra Credit Option #2 - A Man For All Seasons
due Friday 20 February

Assignment: Conventional wisdom says that Thomas More opposed Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church because his conscience required it. A contradictory viewpoint is that, as Henry's former tutor, More was trying to teach the King a lesson. Which do you think is the most plausible explanation for his actions?

Directions: Take notes on the film and be sure to connect it to class discussion as well. Your paper should be a minimum of 750 words/3 pages (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font). As with all written assignments, you need to provide references for your evidence. Ask if you have questions about the formatting of the citations.