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Instructions
HIS 2105
Research Paper
Basic structural requirements of all research papers:
8 pages total (excluding title page, images, and bibliography)
1” margins on all sides
Double spaced
Times New Roman font, size 12
Footnoted where appropriate following the Chicago Manual of Style (see below for minimum requirements regarding citations)
Topics are open for student choice, but must focus on women in US history
Each student will choose a topic of interest to them personally and then prepare a formal research paper as the culmination of their research into the topic chosen.
Each student will be responsible for choosing their own topic and for writing their own paper. Additionally, the entire paper should be the individual student’s own original work and not submitted for any other course.
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Sources to use:
A substantial secondary source (more than 100 pages) that is published and peer-reviewed. Books, edited works, and/or a collection of journal articles can serve well in this role.
You must present in your paper at minimum eight (8) citations from the book or other substantial secondary source(s) you select to show the reader where to source the information you used to write the paper. You should cite quotations, data or other specific information that came directly from your source.
Outside research from both primary and secondary sources. Use at least 1 primary and 1 (additional) secondary source.
You will need to include at least five (5) additional citations from outside research you do to support your argument that a key component of the book is essential to understanding one aspect of history. You can use books, articles, census reports, data and statistics and interviews or other sources such as music and visual arts.
Heavily or entirely internet encyclopedic citations (i.e. Wikipedia, Spark Notes, etc.) will not be considered an effective effort at scholarly research and analysis. Keep that in mind when researching and preparing the bibliography and paper.
You will use the proper citation format (in history we use the Chicago Manual of Style). Any deviation from this will result in final grade reduction for the assignment. Citations should be in Notes-Bibliography (i.e. footnotes) style according to the Chicago Manual of Style. This means that you need to cite all references via footnotes, and you must supply a bibliography at the end of the paper. A CMS tutorial module is available in D2L.
Failure to cite the research is a failure of the goals of the project (to use analytical skills with sources), therefore failure to cite these sources will result in a “0” for the assignment, no exceptions.
FAQs
How do I start?
Choose a topic that is of interest to you and start with a historical book or other substantial secondary source on the subject matter (documentary of at least 180 minutes, collection of articles totaling at least 100 pages, etc). A list of sample books to help springboard your topic is included below. This book is a springboard for a research paper. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS NOT A BOOK REPORT!
While reading the book or other substantial secondary source of your choice, take notes about what historical aspects discussed in the source piqued your interest to learn more.
You will write a paper on an element or theme of that topic discussed in the source that drew your interest. The paper should represent both that initial source and some additional research you gather.
For example: Perhaps after reading The Jungle you want to learn more about the regulation of food packing and the effect on women in the workplace, or you want to explore further what life was like for immigrant women of the period.
You would then do some research and then write a paper on women in the food packing industry or on women and immigration of the period using the the substantial secondary source you selected as the springboard for discussion.
Any combination of research is acceptable (primary and secondary sources), as long as the analysis is historic, academic, and the content is not offensive to others in the classroom or elsewhere.
Notes from Customer —
Don’t worry so much about the Book Part, I know you dont have accsess. Making sure everything is in chicago manuel (footnotes) is extremely important.
