Mt. Carmel High School

Mrs. Giffin's Online Classroom

U.S. History and Geography: The 20th Century

HISTORICAL RESEARCH PAPER  

The final paper is due on December 18th. There are no extensions. If you are absent, have someone deliver your paper.

The Rubric

Link to the Writing With Style Manual

Timeline of Assignments

The Paper:  The historical research paper is a documented, historical essay in which

l                    the student applies methods of historical thought and critical analysis to a specific subject;

l                    the source of borrowed material is credited and the materials consulted in preparing the paper are listed;

l                    the standard writing style format of M.L.A. is used  and

l                    the subject of the paper represents a historical problem of sufficient scope to explain an important element of change in American history.

The Purpose:

a.      to enable the student to pursue his/her own specific interests within a given area of study;

b.   to enable the student to become familiar with historical research, library databases, online sources, and correct use and documentation of a variety of sources;

c.   to enable the student to utilize and combine skills learned within the classroom; and

d.   to enable the student to become familiar with the producing of an expository piece of scholarly

writing designed for a specific audience.

Recording Research:

In preparing a historical research paper derived from a variety of sources, it is desirable to keep notes on information, data, and ideas.  Note cards, computer files or something comparable are all workable methods of retaining information as long as the information can be readily accessed and arranged.  Information can be categorized according to general headings or by the source itself.  Factual information should be separated from interpretive information wherever possible.  The necessary bibliographic information should accompany each piece of information or data.

Format:

Formal historical essays follow the same format whether short interpretive works or lengthy documented papers. 

The introduction places the reader in the historical period, introduces the specific topic and the explanatory answer (focus statement).  History is understood to undergo constant change and the historical essay seeks to explain how and why that change took place and in what manner. 

The body of the paper comprises organized information and analyzed data that supports the focus statement.  Depending on the subject, organization may follow a simple chronological pattern or be ordered in a conceptual manner reflective of the subject itself.  Each of the three body paragraphs should have at least 3 concrete details.

The Conclusion: The closings (conclusion) allows the author to more generally deal with the subject in light of larger changes in society, to answer why this particular change was important for the general area chosen (in other words, answer the question, “so what, why is this important”?). 

Papers must be typed or word processed in black ink, double-spaced, 12 point font (Ariel or Times New Roman) and printed on one side of the paper only.  Do not use colored ink or script type.

Pagination begins with the second page and is numbered consecutively throughout the paper.  Numbers appear at the bottom of the page (centered) OR in the upper right hand corner.  Placement location must be consistent throughout the paper. 

A title page and bibliography are required but other additional source pages such as table of contents or glossary are not necessary.

            Sources must be documented/cited using M.L.A. format.  (See Writing with Style Manual)

Documentation:

            Quotes should not be overused/should only fit a specific need.  Avoid long block quotes. Introduce and explain quotes; do not just drop them in and leave them to the reader.

Paraphrase and interpretation are the guiding rules; after all, the paper is meant to present your analysis not others.

Common knowledge material, such as Abraham Lincoln was president during the American Civil War, need not be documented.  A standard rule in this regard is that any information used in the paper that is not of the author’s (your) own source and that the author (you) has or may have questions as to whether or not it is of common knowledge should be documented.

Source Requirements

l        Minimum of 3 sources – each must be used at least once in the paper.

l        Minimum of 9 concrete details must be included in the paper.

l        Minimum 1 of each of the following: primary source (Example), secondary source (Example), (Do not use your textbook or encyclopedias as a source. You may use them as background information only)

l        All Online research should be done on library databases (Gale, World Book Encyclopedia,...) Other Web sites may be used but must be approved  by teacher before or on conference date.

l        Subsidiary Resources such as interviews, lectures, TV/Videos, song lyrics, historical photographs, etc. may be used with teacher permission and must be relevant to the topic.

Grading Criteria

l        Paper is worth 10% of your semester grade

l        Product will be graded according to the rubric.

l        Final draft is due December 18th

Some final notes on a formal history paper

l        Never write in the first person; always use third person.

l        Be careful of the tenses.  History means it is a past event; use the past tense when necessary.

l        Watch capitalization of names and regions, ie., the northern U.S. versus the North.

l        Spell out numbers under 100 and use numerals for all above 100 with the exception of dates (Sept. 2, 1864).

l        Avoid over use of the verb to be, try to use the exact verb that expresses the action.

l        Avoid repetition of words; use a thesaurus.

l        Direct quotes over three lines should be single-spaced and indented on each end.

l        Constantly check for connection between your information and your focus statement.

l        Be conscious of grammar and spelling.

l        Write with attention given to clarity of understanding.

l        Write to your audience in terms of language and word usage.