Each student will write a research paper on some aspect of World War II in Europe
Paper must have a clear, argumentative thesis that is supported by the body of the
work.
• Papers must be between 2,500 and 3,750 words long, excluding notes.
• Papers should offer argument supported by specific example—incidents, events, dates,
places, names, statistics, etc.
• Papers, notes, and bibliographies must be double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and
page numbers.
• Papers should not have basic grammatical errors, such as comma splices, dangling
participles, lack of agreement between verb and subject, incorrect tenses, random
capitalization, contractions, or slang.
• Papers should avoid the use of the passive voice. Make sure your sentences have an
actor for the verb.
• Papers should not use the first person or the construction “one must look. . .”
• Papers should be written in the past tense—this history after all.
• Papers should have clear theses, topic sentences, paragraph foci, and transitions from
one subject to another.
• Papers should not quote extensively from historians. All quotations should be primary
with the exception of pithy or controversial academic commentary.
• Papers should have a bibliography starting on a new page.
• All sources of information, ideas, and quotations within the paper must be cited.
• Papers should conform to Chicago Manual of Style 16th ed.
• Papers should have at least twenty different sources.
• At least eight of the sources should be primary, all other sources should be academic.