Research Paper Worksheet&

Research Paper

Due 11/17

Due 12/1

The Research Paper (approx. 2000 words) presents arguments in support of any thesis relevant to Western Civilization since AD 1600.

The Research Paper Worksheet helps you state your thesis, develop an outline, and write a few paragraphs to practice citing sources correctly.

Read the full instructions and grading rubric for each paper in Assignments.

Find samples of a successful HIST-5 Research Paper from a previous semester in Lessons > Guides & Reviews.

Getting started (1)

Be sure you understand the assignmentLook in Assignments > Research Paper. Read the instructions and grading rubric carefully.

If you still have questions after reading the explanations in these slides, please feel very free to send me a note in Messages.

Research Paper instructions from Assignments:

• Write approximately 2000 words exploring a thesis of your choice within “Western Civilization since 1600.”

You may choose any topic relevant to Western Civilization since 1600, even if it’s something we did not mention in class.

Getting started (2)

Research Paper instructions from Assignments:

• Your paper must:

• Be approximately 2000 words long.

• Focus on a central thesis.

• Use primary sources and at least 3 sources to support your arguments.

• Clearly cite sources where appropriate.

• Include a bibliography listing sources cited in the paper.

• Follow a clear citation format such as MLA, Harvard, APA, etc. (your choice).

Your paper should be within 100 words or so of 2000 words long.

Do not simply state loads of related information. Use the information to argue, present, or explore a single

focused idea.

Cite or quote at least 3 secondary and primary sources.

… more on this later.

List only the sources you’ve cited.

When citing sources in the paper and listing them in your bibliography, follow the formatting guidelines of a specific citation style.

Getting started (3)

What to write about?

• Choose a topic from Western Civilization since AD 1600.

– Choose something that’s interesting to you

– Choose something that you can research (not something so obscure that no information is available)

What to write about?

• Topic Thesis

– As you research your topic, develop a thesis for your paper. This should be a specific, focused argument, question, statement, or interpretation. Your whole paper will be organized around the thesis.

– Here are some examples of topics and theses from successful HIST-5 Research Papers in previous semesters:

Getting started (4)

Interesting Topic Successful Research Paper ThesisHardship caused by industrialization “Which groups suffered most from industrialization in the early decades of the

nineteenth -century Europe?”Napoleon Bonaparte “Napoleonic propaganda reinterpreted the democratic ideals of the French

Revolution.”

The Suez Canal “Egypt contributed far more resources than France or Britain to the completion of the Suez Canal.”

World War I “World War I is an example of how terrible modern war can be, and why large scale war should be avoided.”

Colonialism in Africa “Despite some positive impacts, the European colonial presence in Africa had a profoundly negative impact on the African peoples.”

Finding Reliable Secondary Sources Use your judgment!

• The secondary sources you cite must be written by a respected authority on the subject.– Try to find scholarly sources (peer-reviewed work by academics). The information and

interpretations in scholarly articles have been accepted as reasonably correct by numerous experts. • Find these in books and scholarly journals at the library. • Search the “EBSCO Academic Search” database (at MyCR > Library Resources).

– Google Books is a useful way to browse for secondary sources. Click on “preview available.”

– The work of reputable journalists is sometimes acceptable.• But be careful: journalists, like the History Chanel or PBS, want to make money. This means that

their books are going to emphasize things that sell (sex, violence, aliens, the glorious triumph or tragedy of underdogs and the oppressed). Their interpretations are going to be more interested in appealing to the contemporary American consumer (our values, desires, tastes) than accurately depicting historical fact. So beware!

– You can cite class lectures as secondary sources.

• The internet is a bane and a blessing. There is a truly astonishing amount of rubbish online. As a general rule, if you cannot find a website’s author, do not trust it. – NEVER cite websites like Wikipedia or About.com etc. where any moron can anonymously

pose as an expert from the safety of his/her couch. You can read it; just don’t tell anyone.

Writing the Paper (1)

• Start with structure

– Create an outline for your paper. • You may use sub-headings to organize your paper into 2 or 3 sections, with

2 or 3 paragraphs in each section. This is useful for some papers. • Each section and paragraph should do something to contribute to the

paper’s purpose: supporting and explaining your thesis statement.

– As you research, fill in each paragraph and section of your outline with information, quotes, and ideas.

– Begin turning your notes into complete sentences. Add some of your own analysis, reflections, connections. Your paper will be done in no time!

Writing the Paper (2)

Citing sources: when & why?

• When to cite a source:– Cite the source of all information in your paper (even if you do not quote the

source directly), UNLESS the information is:• 1) general knowledge within the subject

– For example: “George Washington became the first president.” (general knowledge; no citation needed)

• 2) your own finding or idea.

• Why cite sources?– To show the reliability of your information– To distinguish your own ideas from those of others

Writing the Paper (3)

Citing sources: how?

• Citing a source in the paper:– When you cite a source in the paper, use an abbreviated reference (such as the

author’s last name and a page number). Do not paste in long URLs or list full publication info each time you cite a source in the paper.

• Listing the source in the Bibliography:– List the full publication info of each source you’ve cited in the paper. List only

those sources you have cited in the paper (not every single thing you read).

• Formatting:– You may use any style you’d like for your paper’s scholarly apparatus. Most

people at CR like to use MLA. Some people may use APA, Harvard, Chicago, etc. – whatever style you want is fine. Choose one and be clear and consistent. Use short citations in the paper, and then list the full info. of each cited source in the bibliography.

Important tips for writing about history

• Past & present tense– When describing past events, use the past tense.

• For example: “Woodrow Wilson formulated the Fourteen Points.”

– When describing a primary source, use the present tense.• For example: “The Fourteen Points include many Enlightenment principles.”

• “The ___th century”– As a noun: two words

• For example: “The seventeenth century was a time of chaos and hardship in Europe.”

– As an adjective: hyphenated• For example: “Seventeenth-century Europeans faced chaos and hardship.”

• Use active sentences instead of passive sentences whenever possible.– Passive sentences use the verb “to be” (is, was, are, were, etc.). Active sentences use a

different verb. Active sentences are usually stronger, more efficient, and more concise. – For example:

• Passive: “Tribal boundaries were ignored.”• Active: “Colonial boundaries ignored tribal groupings.” Active sentences tend to contain more

information in the same amount of space. They tend to be more direct and efficient.

Writing the Paper (4)

Random tips for writing about history

• Quote economically– When you choose to quote a source word for word, utilize that quote. Do not just leave it sitting

there all alone. Engage with it, discuss it, refer to its importance somehow. If the quote is not important, use your own words instead.

• Your paper is a machine.– Your paper performs work. This is its work: to convey your ideas to the reader. That kind of work is

called “rhetoric,” and like any craft, it involves tools and techniques that we all should learn and practice. Rhetoric is a valuable life skill.

– Each word, phrase, piece of information, quote, etc. in your paper is part of a rhetorical machine. Everything in the paper – every part of your machine – should work together to actively support and develop the thesis.

• Use your own words.– Only quote directly when it’s useful. Otherwise, use your own words. – Never copy something directly without using quotation marks and citing the source.

• Proofread for clarity.– It would be sad if you couldn’t share your ideas; your ideas are wonderful. English is a wonderful

language. It has a word or phrase for just about every idea that can enter your head. Proofread your paper to make sure each word and each sentence says exactly what you want it to say.

– Proofreading out loud can help catch unclear phrasing. Ask someone else proofread for you too.

Writing the Paper (5)

Good luck!

Please send me a Message if you have any questions or would like me to look

at a rough draft.