U.S. History Research Papers - Mr. Bates
All students in US History are required to do a major
research paper as a collaborative effort for their English 11 and US History
courses. The grade for the project will count for 300 points (three test grades)
on the third quarter grade in history. Students taking US History, but not
English 11, should make arrangements with Mr. Bates early in the year to get
the project finished by the spring. Students who transfer between sections must
be sure to arrange with the teacher for when the paper will be done.
Students who fail the
Topic/Thesis: The purpose of the
project is to answer a key question in American history, literature, art or
music about a person, event, movement, or other historical phenomenon. Topics
and theses must be analytical and must be approved by both the English and
history teacher. A list of topics for each school year will be handed out at the
start of the project. Topics may be subdivided at the teachers’ discretion;
topics are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Scope: Advanced Placement and Honors students should produce
a paper with 10 pages of text (12 font, Times New Roman, double
spaced). A bibliography, outline, and citations page should also be
included. College Prep students' work should be 8 pages in length. Length
can be further modified for students with an IEP. Students will be graded on
what is turned in on the due date; modifications/clarifications will not be
accepted after the grade is released.
Sources: A variety of sources must be used to fulfill the
goals associated with the project. Papers should include at least one of all
the following types of sources unless prior permission is acquired: periodical
(historical magazine/journal), newspaper, book, and internet source. One major
source on the topic should be read early in the process to provide a foundation
in the topic, but it should not ultimately become more than 30% of the
citations in the final paper. This is not a book report. A minimum of 8 sources
is required. Multiple website pages under the same domain do not count as
separate sources. If a website that is restricted or that requires a fee is used,
then the student should print out the page in question so that the teacher can
check the source. At least one catalogued source from the Brooks Free Library
or CLAMS system must be used. Note the CLAMS call number on the citations
page. All Students must acquire a CLAMS card with a password for remote
use as part of this project; a separate quiz grade will be attached to the card
checkup.
Citations (noting author and page) may be made in
parentheses in the text of the paper. The bibliography/works cited page should
include title, author, publisher, date, and web address if applicable; see
English teacher for style sheet (MLA). Available at: http://www.lib.ohio-state.edu/guides/mlagd.html.
Encyclopedias are good sources for general information on the topics, but they
should not be counted/used towards the required number
of citations. Each paragraph of the paper that includes new information
or interpretations other than the student's own ideas must include a citation.
Paraphrasing should be done with care; changing a few words in a sentence is
not sufficient to avoid plagiarism. Be very precise when filling out note cards
in order to simplify documentation in the writing process. Improper
documentation or plagiarism will result in a failing grade. Outlines should
follow standard format with Roman numerals for main headings (e.g. I, II, III,
etc.), capital letters for subheadings (e.g. A, B, C, etc.) and Arabic numbers
for sub-subheadings (e. g. 1, 2, 3, etc.). Avoid use of extended sentences and
paragraphs in the outline.
Due Date: All papers must be turned in
one week before the closing date for the quarter (second or third) in which the
paper is assigned. Ten points will be deducted for each late day.
Extenuating circumstances must be brought to the attention of the teacher ahead
of time in order to qualify for an extension. Be sure to consult this sheet
before printing final draft. All papers should be given to the teacher on a
disk or as an e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word as well as in printed form.
Standards: Although the history grade will be more focused
on content than the English grade; structure, grammar, spelling and other
writing standards are considered in the grading process. See the grading rubric
listed below.
Grading Rubric:
Analytical Thesis: 5% Does the research analyze as well as describe the
topic? What is the question addressed? Example: Do not
simply list the events in a person's life, but also explain the person's impact
in changing society. Why was he the greatest president?
Length of Paper: 10% Points will be deducted for
each page short of the stated requirement.
Quality and Number of Sources; 20% See teachers early in the project to
address difficulty in finding materials.
CLAMS Source: 5% Does at least one source come
from the CLAMS net? Is it labeled in the bibliography?
Four Types of Sources: 5% Points will be
deducted for each type of source that is not utilized.
Works Cited Page/Bibliography: 5% Is the proper
format used?
Quality of Outline: 5% Is the outline an
accurate guide to the organization of the paper. Is the proper format
used?
Digital and Paper Copy: 5% Points will be
deducted if both versions are not submitted on the due date. Points will not be issued if the digital
version in not “readable” on school computers.
Grammar, Usage, Style, MLA Format: 5% Be sure to
make improvements after English teacher reviews rough draft. Efforts made to
use more complex sentence structure?
Historical Information, Analysis, and Overall Quality: 35%
How accurate is the information? How extensive and insightful is
the analysis? What is the overall impact of the student's project?