Compose a 5 to 8 page paper introducing a topic of historical interest or controversy. This paper must build on the two earlier assignments in which you chose a topic, prepared a thesis, and gave citations for primary and secondary sources. You may not change your topic without prior permission from the instructor!!! . On the other hand, if your research has led you to change your mind about your topic, then you may change your thesis. Be sure to let the instructor know that you have changed your thesis before you turn in the final paper.
Your paper must include a bibliography of 5 primary sources and at least 2 secondary sources that explore your topic. Please make use of the writing guides found in the Resources module. Please follow the detailed directions below.
Requirements for the Final Paper
All papers should present an argument. This argument should be unique (of your own making), compelling (it should communicate an interesting idea), and clearly articulated (a reader should have no problem identifying it). In crafting your argument, you should draw on lectures, discussions, and readings, as well as your own ideas about the topic you have chosen. This may seem daunting, but you have had plenty of practice with this in class in writing your short papers.
The argument in your paper should be supported by ample evidence. Evidence supporting your argument should come from both primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources should be drawn from assigned course materials and research of your own using JSTOR or another appropriate scholarly search engine. Note: For each secondary source, please include a separate page, in addition to the 5 – 8 pages of text, that includes:
Complete Citation (again, as practiced in class), and a short 3 to 5 line abstract.
All papers must also include analysis of at least five primary sources (depending on your topic, you may need more). You will be responsible for finding these sources on your own. Primary sources can include newspaper or magazine articles, films, images, advertisements, diaries, memoirs, oral histories, manifestoes, government documents, or any materials produced by historical actors during your period of study. Students experiencing difficulty in locating primary sources should consult the instructor or a librarian. For each primary source, please include a separate page (yes, in addition to the 5 to 8 pages of writing) that uses the format we use in class:
Complete Citation and 5 Points of Significance
The written portion of your papers should be no shorter than 1250 words (or approximately 5 pages) in length, double-spaced, and written in a 12 point font (Times New Roman or an equivalent). They should include page numbers, properly formatted footnotes with accurate citations, see any of the citation guides under the SFC Library tab on SFC.EDU, and a title that reflects the paper’s argument.
Final Papers will be evaluated according to:
The quality of the analysis and argument presented
The strength of the evidence marshaled in support of that argument
The quality of written expression (this includes style, grammar, and proper citation)
OUTLINE:
1. Introduction, including an argument
2. 5 to 8 pages of ORIGINAL prose on the topic.
3. At least 5 pages of individual citations for primary sources, with a list of at least 5 points of significance for the source.
4. At least 2 pages of individual citations for secondary sources, with a short abstract for each source.
5. A bibliography that lists all of the primary and secondary sources you used, including, if appropriate, your textbook or reading from the course modules.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|