Unit 1 Project: Research Paper and Evaluating Sources

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

Student Name______
World History IIName______

Semester I Research Paper

Learning how to write a research paper is one of the fundamental skills you will learn this year in World History. To many the process seems daunting, if not overwhelming. However, if you work hard and use the time and resources given to you, this should be a challenging but rewarding assignment. The paper has been broken down into sections with multiple due dates. The logistical information is listed below:

  1. 2-4 pages in length
  2. Typed, double-spaced, 12 point font size, Times or Times New Roman, one-inch margins (default setting in Microsoft Word)
  3. 4 sources (this includes the Jungle plus at least three “primary” sources)
  4. Title Page and Bibliography included with the final paper (no Works Cited Page- students will use footnotes)
  5. 100 total points (25 for preliminary due dates, 75 for final paper)
  6. Assigned: August 23, 2012Due: September 11

Note: a list of due dates is attached

What is a research paper? A research paper attempts to analyze a specific topic or question. It is a collection of pieces of evidence compiled from various sources, drawn together by the author’s own analysis and conclusions. In your paper, you will “cite” evidence, leaving a paper trail for the teacher to find where you collected your information.

Assignment For the project in this unit, we will write short research papers (2-4 pages) regarding TheJungle by Upton Sinclair. Your job as the historian is to prove whether or not The Jungle is an accurate representation of urban life at the turn of the century in the United States. In addition to discussing the role of fictional books in a history course, our goal is to learn how to evaluate sources, write like an historian, and review basic research skills.

Is The Jungle an accurate representation of American urban life at the turn of the century?

If yes, prove with other sources that Sinclair’s book is accurate…

If no, prove with other sources that Sinclair’s book is NOT accurate…

The Research Process

  1. Select themes / areas of interest. There are four themes we discussed in class while reading The Jungle regarding America at the turn of the century:
  • Immigration
  • Working Conditions
  • Growth of Unions and Socialist Ideas
  • Political Machines

Which of these themes interest you the most?

There are two ways you can organize your paper:

  • Option 1: Choose three (3) of the four (4) themes listed above and compare / contrast the information presented in The Jungle with at least one primary source for each theme. You should spend 1-2 paragraphs discussing each theme. Properly endnote two citations from each source (for a minimum of 6 endnotes).
  • Option 2: Choose one (1) of the themes and divide it into three areas. Then compare / contrast the information presented in The Jungle with at least one primary source for each area of the theme. You should spend 1-2 paragraphs discussing each theme. Properly endnote two citations from each source (for a minimum of 6 endnotes).
  1. Begin collecting sources.Keep track of them with the attached cards. This will make it easier to compile them all into your bibliography. Begin with the sources on your Pathfinder Research Guide, but be sure and consider all of the following:
  • Card Catalog (CHS Library)
  • Specialized Encyclopedias and Reference Material
  • On-Line Databases (Proquest, Ebsco Host)
  • Dartclix (pre-approved internet sites) Note: All internet sites not obtained through Dartclix must meet my approval before use.
  • Outside Sources (St. Louis County & City Public Libraries, SLU, Wash. U.)

Once you have several sources, create a working bibliography. After Mrs. Derigne introduces the Pathfinder guide, try and find three secondary sources to correspond to your three main ideas. This should be your goal for your first library day.

Then, begin collecting primary sources for your main ideas. You may use primary sources distributed in class, as well as ones you locate on your own.

  1. Begin taking notes. Divide the notes into categories (Background, Main Idea 1, etc). However you take notes (notecards, double column, outline) make sure you summarize the information into your own words (changing both the word order as well as the words used), unless taking a direct quote, and include where you got your information from. When it’s time to write the paper, you will have all the information you need to properly cite your information on your notes.
  1. Develop thesis.
  1. Create detailed outline.
  1. Write first draft.
  1. Proofread, proofread, proofread.
  1. Complete my checklist before submitting. Make sure you pay very close attention to plagiarism.
  1. Submit paper.
  1. Rewrite if appropriate: All students may revise all major writing assignments in this course, provided they met all the initial due dates. In other words, you can’t slack and then get a free pass at a higher grade!

That’s it! SEE ME FOR HELP THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS!

Due Dates:

  • Thesis Form and Rough Bibliography, Due: Wednesday, 8/29 (15 points)
  • Outline Due: Thursday, 9/6 (10 points)
  • Final Paper Due: Tuesday, 9/11 (75 points)

Option 1: A Visual Organizer

Introduction

Appropriate Background

Thesis

Theme 1: Immigration

Information presented in The Jungle

Information presented in Primary Source 1

Analysis

Theme 2: Growth of Unions and Socialist Ideas

Information presented in The Jungle

Information presented in Primary Source 2

Analysis

Theme 3: Political Corruption

Information presented in The Jungle

Information presented in Primary Source 3

Analysis

Conclusion

Option 2: A Visual Organizer

Introduction

Appropriate Background

Thesis

Area 1: Immigrants and Housing

Information presented in The Jungle

Information presented in Primary Source 1

Analysis

Theme 2: Immigrants and Employment

Information presented in The Jungle

Information presented in Primary Source 2

Analysis

Theme 3: Immigrants and Politics

Information presented in The Jungle

Information presented in Primary Source 3

Analysis

Conclusion

A Brief Guide to Evaluating Sources

A good way to evaluate sources in general is to use the PROP method:

PPrimary or Secondary Source

RReason to Distort Evidence

OOther Evidence

PPublic or Private Audience

(P) Primary or Secondary Source

A primary source is firsthand evidence. A primary source document is an item written or created by the people directly involved in the event. Primary source documents could be letters, journal entries, speeches, government documents, treaties, photographs, artifacts, and/or interviews. Secondary sources are usually analysis of multiple primary sources, written by individuals who were not first-hand witnesses to the events. Which of these should be more reliable?

Remember, you need at least three (3) primary sources and three (3) secondary sources in your bibliography.

(R)Reason to Distort Evidence

Who is the author of the source? Did they have any reason to distort the truth, provide evidence in a subjective manner, or omit key pieces of information? Is the source biased? What does the author have to gain from writing this source?

(O)Other Evidence

Does other evidence back up what this source is saying?

(P)Public or Private Audience

Who was the intended audience of the message? An autobiography written for the masses may illuminate different information about a man or woman than that person’s diary. Generally speaking, evidence intended for private audiences may be more reliable.

World History II- Mr. AielloName______

Thesis Submission Form

Working Thesis Statement: Make a prediction, based on the knowledge you have of the topic so far. Your thesis could argue that The Jungle is completely accurate, somewhat accurate, or not at all accurate. Below are three sample thesis statements.

Sample 1: The Jungle accurately portrays immigration, socialism, and political corruption in urban America at the turn of the century.

Sample 2: The Jungle does not accurately portray immigration, socialism, and political corruption in urban America at the turn of the century.

Sample 3: The Jungle accurately portrays immigration and socialism in urban America at the turn of the century, however the book inaccurately portrays political corruption.

My Working Thesis:

______

______

______

My Main Ideas:

Theme / Area #1:______

Theme / Area #2:______

Theme / Area #3:______

My Working Bibliography: Three Sources (Provide Full Bibliographic Citation Please)

Source #1:______

______

Source #2:______

______

Source #3:______

______

Fact or Fiction?

An Analysis of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle:

by

Student Name

World History II

Mr. Aiello

September 11, 2012

Sample Outline: The Jungle

I-Introduction

A-America at turn of century

B-Urbanization, immigration

C-Quote from Bailey, p. 204

D-Thesis: The Jungle accurately portrays immigration, socialism, and political corruption in urban America at the turn of the century.

II-Body

A. Main Idea / Theme 1: Immigration

  1. Information presented in The Jungle
  2. Large numbers (statistic)
  3. Difficult life (Sinclair, p. 196-198)
  4. Description of tenement housing
  1. Information presented in Primary Source 1
  2. Diary of immigrant from Poland
  3. 1.2 million immigrants the year they arrived
  4. Describe help from family
  5. Difficulty navigating government bureaucracy (Diary, p. 4)
  1. Analysis
  2. Primarily accurate
  3. Discrepancy regarding housing between the two sources

B. Main Idea / Theme 2: Growth of Unions and Socialist Ideas

(similar format as above)

C.Main Idea / Theme 3: Political Corruption

(similar format as above)

III-Conclusion

A-Restate thesis in diff. Words

B-Quote from Sinclair, p. 290

C-Significance of The Jungle

D-Thoughts on historical fiction and use of sources

Sample Bibliography

Berlin, Ira, and Leslie S. Rowland, eds. Families and Freedom: A Documentary History

of African-American Kinship in the Civil War Era. New York: The New Press,

1997.

Conrad, Howard L., ed. Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri. Vol 4. New York:

Southern Historical Company, 1901.

Dyer, Frederick H., ed. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Washington D.C.:

Broadfast Publishing Company, Morningside Press, 1994.

Fellman, Michael J. Inside War: The Guerilla Conflict in Missouri, 1861-1865. New

York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Gerteis, Louis S. Civil War St. Louis. Kansas: University of Kansas Press, 2001.

McPherson, James. “From Limited to Total War: Missouri and the Nation, 1861-1865.”

Gateway Heritage 16 (1995): 4.

Shoemaker, Floyd C., ed. “Missouri History Not Found In Textbooks.” Missouri

Historical Review 44 (July 1950): 430.

Trudeau, Noah Andre. Like Men of War: Black Troops in the Civil War 1862-1865.

Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1998.

Guide to Citations and Avoiding Plagiarism

Whitaker, Anne. “Why do Students…” Accessed September 1, 2004.

Footnote and Bibliography Guide

Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford / St.

Martins, 2004.

RP: Final Score Sheet Name______Final Score______/75

FOCUS: clear thesis, relevant content
______/3: Thesis ___thesis is difficult to see / unclear
___thesis is not appropriate or provable
___some info not relevant to thesis
______/2: Introduction ___need to develop more
___too much background
___poor transition to thesis
______/2: Conclusion ___need to develop more
___need to restate thesis in diff. words
___need to demonstrate significance

ORGANIZATION: systematic arrangement of info., clear intro. and conclusion

______/1: Title Page ___inappropriate title or format
______/1: Transitions / Topic Sentences ___main ideas unclear (topic sentences!)
___need appropriate transitions
______/5: Organization of Paragraphs and ___ main idea(s) not organized logically
Accompanying Evidence ___evidence does not support MI or thesis
DEVELOPMENT: specific, accurate evidence; in-depth analysis, documentation
______/40: Supporting Details / Evidence ___main idea #___needs more evidence
___all main ideas need more evidence
______/15: Documentation of Evidence/Sources___unnecessary or missed citations
(Footnotes & Bibliography) ___intentional / unintentional plagiarism
___incorrect footnote or bib. format
___evidence not drawn from enough
sources or correct type of sources
STYLE: word-choice, sentence variety, objective perspective, active voice
______/3: Style ___subjective and / or passive voice
___informal / inappropriate language
MECHANICS: correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
______/3: Mechanics ___spelling-grammar-punctuation mistakes

Final Comments: