The core assignment of this course is a documented
research paper (6 – 8 pages double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font).
·
The paper should support a thesis statement with information gained from
research or investigation.
·
The paper will not be just a report presenting information, but will be a
paper that carefully examines and presents your own historical interpretation
of the topic you have chosen and your interpretation of the information you
have gathered.
·
The paper may include consideration of problems and solutions, define key
terms, or refute arguments against your thesis statement.
It will be important to choose a topic of interest
to you.
·
Approach this assignment with an open and skeptical mind, then form an
opinion based on what you have discovered.
·
You must suspend belief while you are investigating and let the discoveries
shape your opinion. (This is a thesis-finding approach.)
·
Once you have found your thesis, write the paper to support it.
You will use some of the following critical
thinking skills in this process:
1.
Choosing an appropriate topic, limiting the topic
2.
Gathering information, summarizing sources
3.
Analyzing and evaluating sources
4.
Defining key terms
5.
Synthesizing information, comparing and contrasting sources
6.
Testing a thesis, making a historical argument, using refutation
7.
Amassing support for a position
8.
Documenting sources
Because this may be a longer paper than you have
written before and a complex process is involved, it is recommended that you
complete this paper using the following steps:
1.
Choose a topic related to U.S. History up to 1877 (Chapters 1-15) that you
would truly like to explore and that you are willing to spend some time on.
Your chosen topic should be focused. Pose a question that you really want to
answer. You may want to begin with more than one topic in mind.IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU DISCUSS YOUR TOPIC WITH YOUR PROFESSOR.
2.
Do some preliminary reading on the topic(s). You may begin with the
textbook, then further explore the information available. Refine your topic.
Summarize your topic, your interest in the topic, the questions you want to
answer, and a hypothesis you want to test.
3.
Gather information from a variety of sources.Use a minimum of four sources for your paper, and at least one must be a
primary source.
o
Examples of primary sources are ones that are used in our discussion forums
2 – 8.
o
They are sources that are contemporary to the times under investigation.
o
An example of a secondary source is our textbook, though the textbook also
contains excerpts of primary sources, which you may use as a source in your
paper.
Outline the results of your research and the plan for your paper (you are
not required to submit the outline).
Write the final draft and be sure to include a Works Cited List, and use
the correctMLA documentation style.
Grade Rubric
INTRODUCTION & THESIS: The paper makes a clear
and effective statement (the thesis) about the chosen topic. /15
FOCUS AND DEVELOPMENT: Body of the paper focuses on
this thesis and develops it fully, recognizing the complexity of issues. /30
SUPPORT AND SYNTHESIS: Uses sufficient and relevant
evidence to support the thesis (and primary points), including facts,
inferences, and judgments. Quotes, summarizes, and paraphrases accurately
and effectively–appropriately introducing and explaining each quote. /30
CONVENTIONS: Uses MLA format correctly; includes a
Works Cited list; is free of errors. /10
CORRECTNESS AND STYLE: Shows critical thinking and
depth of understanding; uses appropriate tone; shows sophistication in language
usage and sentence structure. /15
