Matters of Content and Form
Your research paper is a formal argumentative essay. As such, it needs the following elements:
- Introduction The opening paragraph(s) of your essay should introduce the topic and state your thesis. Your thesis should be a clear statement of your opinion on your topic. It should represent your own point of view on the evidence you have collected through your research.
- Body The body of the paper should present both primary and secondary evidence to support your thesis statement. Your goal in this part of the paper is to prove that your thesis statement is a reasonable and accurate interpretation of history. You should also define your terms in this portion of the paper – for example, if you are writing about placer mining, you should define what a placer mine is.
- Conclusion Your conclusion should restate your thesis and summarize the evidence which supports it, and generally wrap up your argument.
- Footnotes All the sources of the information in your paper must be cited using Chicago- Style footnotes.
- Bibliography A list of all the sources you used in writing the paper.
The text of the paper must be ten to twelve pages in length: double-spaced, 12 point type, with 1 inch top and bottom margins and 1.25 inch left and right margins. Each page should be numbered and have your last name on it. The bibliography does not count toward the page length.
You are welcome (and encouraged) to include photos, maps, charts, or other visual materials as part of your report, but these materials will not substitute for text. In other words, you cannot submit eight pages of text and two pages of pictures.
In general, try to avoid the first person “I” in your paper. NEVER use “you” in your paper. I will take points off for every time that you do.
Use Chicago-style footnotes for your citations. Do not use any other format. If you have questions about how to do footnotes, see A Manual for Writers, or come ask me during office hours.
You will need at least three primary sources and three secondary sources for this paper. All of your secondary sources must be scholarly – in other words, peer reviewed materials written by professional historians, archeologists, or other experts. Your sources should also be in-depth, with enough specific detail and evidence to help you develop a thorough understanding of the topic.
My Research Question: What was the role of women in the American Revolution and how did this role evolve during the time? My Thesis Statment: The role of women in the American Revolution shape women’s role in actual society.
- Clear, Strong Thesis
- Does your thesis clearly state your position on the issue?
- Is your thesis arguable?
- Is your thesis specific?
- Use of Appropriate Sources
- Does your paper include primary sources?
- Does your paper include scholarly secondary sources?
- Does your paper avoid usage of tertiary sources such as Wikipedia, history.com, etc.?
- Adequate Primary and Secondary Support (Evidence) for Thesis
- Do you back up all of your assertions with specific, verifiable evidence?
- Is your paper your own original research, written in your own words?
- Historical and Factual Accuracy
- Are there factual errors in your paper?
- Is your chronology of events correct?
- Organization, Clarity and Tone
- Is the organization of the paper clear and logical?
- Is the tone of the paper academic and professional?
- Citations
- Do you adequately cite all of the sources of all of your evidence, including both primary and secondary sources?
- Are your citations properly formatted Chicago Style footnotes?
- Does your paper include a properly formatted bibliography which lists all of your sources?
- Mechanics
- Is your paper between ten and twelve pages long?
- Is your paper formatted according to the requirements described in the class syallabus?
- Do you use proper grammar, spelling and syntax?
- Is your paper in the correct format?
- Is your paper neat?