1st Semester Research Paper
US History
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Pick any topic, event, or person relating to the history of the United States before 1900 and write a 3 page research paper that proves your argument about your topic.
Both your topic and your thesis statement must be approved by Mr. Gibson. Remember, your paper must prove your argument! No storytelling! No book reports! I advise you to read these instructions. No excuses!
REQUIREMENTS (#1-8 required, #9 optional)
1. The length of the paper must be 3 FULL PAGES of text. Each of these pages must also be numbered.
2. Your paper must be typed and double spaced
3. Margins = 1” Max on the top, bottom, right, and left
4. Acceptable Fonts = ARIAL and TIMES NEW ROMAN / No bigger than 12 point font
5. We are using MLA format for this paper (Mr. Gibson will provide you with an example)
6. A Thesis Statement that is bolded in your introduction.
7. A Works Cited Page with at least 4 sources. NOTE: They cannot all be from the internet or an encyclopedia. You must include a works cited page to receive a grade for your paper!
8. Your paper must also include parenthetical citations that relate to your works cited page.
9. OPTIONAL = You may include a title page or an appendix of pictures if you wish. These are not required.
RESEARCH DAY’S / ROUGH DRAFTS
You will have 3 full class periods in the library to research your topic, and develop your thesis. After this you are on your own, so use your time wisely. You may turn in a rough draft of your paper for Mr. Gibson to review, as long as it turned in by Wednesday November 19th.
GRADING / DUE DATE
· The research paper is worth 200 points, 20% of your semester grade, and will be graded based on the rubric on the back of this sheet.
· The final draft of your paper is due Tuesday, November 25th
· NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!
KEY DATES
· October 24, 29, 31 = Library Research Days
· October 31 = Research Paper Bio Due (HW # 5)
· November 7 = Works Cited Rough Draft (HW # 6)
· November 19 = Last Day for Rough Drafts
QUESTIONS / CONCERNS
As of this moment you have exactly 34 days to complete your paper. Do not wait until the last minute to ask for help. Mr. Gibson is available by email, before and after school, or by appointment. As long as you include all of the requirements you will be fine. Good luck!!!
The easiest way to write a research paper is to follow a step-by-step process. You need to write your research paper like you are arguing a court case. You are trying to prove your thesis, by providing supporting information, just like a lawyer uses evidence to prove a persons guilt or innocence. Follow the steps and examples below as a guide.
Step # 1 = PICK A TOPIC - CLEAR THIS WITH MR. GIBSON
a. Example = Benedict Arnold
Step # 2 = STATE YOUR THESIS – CLEAR THIS WITH MR. GIBSON
b. Example = The United States of America would not exist if it were not for the contributions and leadership of Benedict Arnold.
Remember! This is what you are going to spend the rest of the paper trying to prove. Remember, if you can’t argue against it…you don’t have a thesis.
Step # 3 = RESEARCH YOUR TOPIC – FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS
This is where you will find the general background information to include in the second paragraph of your paper. Answer the basic questions of who, what, when, where, how, and why. When you find information that you think may support your thesis >> bookmark it, copy it down, and mark where you got the information from.
Step # 4 = SORT THROUGH YOUR INFORMATION – WHAT PROVIDES STRONG EVIDENCE?
c. Example =
1. Benedict Arnold was born in Connecticut
2. Benedict Arnold led the Colonists to their first major victory against the British at the Battle of Saratoga. This battle was key to convincing the French to ally with the Colonists against the British.
3. Benedict Arnold was a middle class business man who married twice.
4. Benedict Arnold was hated by many of the other Colonial generals such as Horatio Gates, for his brash behavior and fiery temper.
5. Benedict Arnold made a makeshift navy in a short amount of time, fought a superior British naval force on Lake Champlain, and saved George Washington’s army from being destroyed.
6. George Washington considered Arnold one of his true friends, and one of his finest generals until he betrayed the Americans and joined the British side.
7. Benedict Arnold always lead from the front, and was a source of inspiration for his men, as he was wounded numerous times and still kept fighting.
Numbers 2, 5, and 7 provide the strongest support for the Example Thesis. Those numbers crossed out are not directly related to the thesis.
Step # 5 = RESEARCH YOUR STRONG EVIDENCE
d. Example of key things to look for =
1. Strong or direct quotes by eye-witnesses, or authors
2. Detailed background info on your evidence
Your strong evidence is going to become the body of your research paper. By going into detail on each topic, you may find useable quotes, information, or stories that will further strengthen your argument. Remember to keep track of your sources. You will need to site quotes and facts in your paper.
Step # 6 = WRITE AN OUTLINE FOR YOUR PAPER
e. Example =
1. INTRODUTION & THESIS STATEMENT = The United States of America would not exist if it were not for the contributions and leadership of Benedict Arnold.
2. BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH = Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why
3. EVIDENCE # 1 = Benedict Arnold led the Colonists to their first major victory against the British at the Battle of Saratoga. This battle was key to convincing the French to ally with the Colonists against the British.
4. EVIDENCE # 2 = Benedict Arnold made a makeshift navy in a short amount of time, fought a superior British naval force on Lake Champlain, and saved George Washington’s army from being destroyed.
5. EVIDENCE # 3 = Benedict Arnold always lead from the front, and was a source of inspiration for his men, as he was wounded numerous times and still kept fighting.
6. CONCLUSION = Had Benedict Arnold stayed a patriot; he would likely have a city or state named after him. Although he is America’s greatest traitor, the country would not exist without his contributions.
Step # 7 = START TO WRITE YOUR SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS
Any good supporting paragraph should contain the following aspects that are listed below. When you write your supporting paragraphs, make sure that each of these elements is included.
1. THE EVIDENCE = What did you uncover in your research that supports your thesis? Describe it. Explain how it strengthens your overall argument.
2. A STRONG QUOTE = In the course of your research, when you find a powerful quote that directly supports your thesis and relates to the evidence you are providing…use it! No longer than 2 sentences! Do not write a paragraph’s worth of text for a quote. If you have to, only include the key phrases within a long quote.
3. YOUR ANALYSIS = This is what you think! Provide your own comments on the material you are presenting. Remember you are the author of this research paper. Your analysis is the reason why you are constructing a research paper. Be passionate! Be descriptive! Tell your reader how you feel about the person or event you are studying.
4. THE COUNTER ARGUMENT = State what opponents of your opinion or argument may think, then use this to strengthen your argument. By providing both perspectives you are giving your reader a balanced viewpoint.
Step # 8 = WRITE A ROUGH DRAFT
Do not wait until the last minute to write your paper. Have a friend, family member, or Mr. Gibson proofread your paper. The object here is to make your paper as polished as possible before the due date. Use other people as resources, because they may give you ideas on how to make your paper better.
Step # 9 = WRITE YOUR INTRO AND CONCLUSION LAST
Everyone seems to struggle with this, so wait until you have written the background and supporting paragraphs of your paper. Remember your thesis be underlined and bolded in your introduction! Your conclusion is simply another form of your introduction, where you are reviewing the points you have made throughout the paper. Spend most of your time working on the supporting paragraphs, and the introduction and conclusion will be much easier to write.
Step # 10 = Align YOUR PAPER TO THE MLA FORMAT
SOURCES / CITATIONS REQUIREMENTS
A good historian always cites where they got their information from. As historians it is your job to cite quotes, information, or ideas that you have uncovered in your research. If you don’t, you are plagiarizing someone else’s work. So, when you are directly quoting or rephrasing information you have included in your paper, be sure to cite in (parentheses) where you obtained the source. Look at the example below.
Benedict Arnold was wounded twice in the leg during the assault on Quebec, which essentially prevented Canada becoming the 14th colony (Gibson, pg. 583)
Please refer to the Sonoma High Senior Project Style Manual for additional citation references.
When you are done with your research, you must include a bibliography, or list of the sources used in your paper. These must be in alphabetical order. You must provide a list of at least 6 sources. Follow the pages attached entitled “How to Cite Print Sources of Information” that is attached to the packet for reference. Remember, ask Mr. Gibson for help, but do not wait until the last minute!
Don’t forget about your parenthetical citations and your works cited page!