1) The research paper will serve several purposes in terms of assessing the core objectives and learning outcomes for the course, including the following:
a) Analysis: Students will be required to analyze primary and secondary sources in this assignment.
b) Synthesis: Students will be required to develop a clear, historically accurate thesis that informs the entire piece of writing. Additionally, students will be required to re-state the thesis in the conclusion, as well as explain the overall significance of the topic being examined.
c) Written communication: The entire piece of writing will serve as the written communication assessment.
d) Personal responsibility: A student’s ability to connect actions, choices, and consequences (i.e. personal responsibility) will be assessed via his/her attribution of sources using MLA style.
2) The paper must be a minimum of three pages in length (excluding the works cited pages).
3) Students must cite their sources using MLA style.
Format of the paper
I) Introduction
A) Briefly introduce your topic to the reader
B) The last sentence or two should state your thesis, or the main overall argument your paper attempts to make
C) Between ¼ and ½ page in length
II) Main section #1
A) Primary objective: Help your audience gain the proper context by describing the historical situation/event
1) How can you do this? Describe the who, what, when, and where of your historical situation/event
B) Between ¾ and 1 page in length
III) Main section #2
A) Primary objective: Attempt to identify the historical decision utilized by the important actors in your selected historical situation/event (such as the leaders of the U.S. government, the big business leader, the Supreme Court, etc.)
1) How can you do this? by analyzing the actor(s)’ beliefs/philosophy, actions/decisions, & results of those actions. Discuss the various factors that contributed to the outcome of this historical scenario
2) What other options were available?
3) Do you agree with the decisions made? (DON’T USE 1ST PERSON)
B) Most important part of the entire paper, and will be the most challenging!
C) Between ¾ and 1 ½ pages in length
IV) Conclusion
A) Re-state your thesis and bring closure to the topic
1) One of the best ways to do this is by reminding the audience of the significance—why this event was important in the bigger picture of American/World history—of the historical situation/event and thus why the choices and actions/decisions of the actors were so important
B) Between ¼ and ½ page in length
1. Total length of paper: no less than 3 pages (this number does NOT include the Works Cited page)
2. Must be typed, double spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 point size font, Times New Roman font
3. Page numbers are required
4. Acceptable formats in which to save paper: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect. Word is the preferable format. DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENT FROM GOOGLE DOCS!
5. A Works Cited page is required (see handout of an sample paper)
6. Paper must document information sources (2+ sources required) using MLA. The student must use at least one primary sources and one secondary source.
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