Purpose: All US history and World Community classes require a 7-8 page research paper for students to demonstrate their ability to find primary and secondary sources using library resources (books, databases, etc.) and to exercise skills in primary source analysis.

Format: Please write a well-organized, typed, double-spaced, 7-8 page paper. The paper should not be less than seven full pages or longer than eight full pages. Please follow standard norms for format: Times New Roman 12 pt. font and standard one-inch margins. Please type your name, class, date, at the top left corner (not in the header area). Include page numbers. Both footnotes AND a bibliography are required.

Topic: I have provided a list of term paper topics on Blackboard. Choose three topics, numbering them 1-3 with the first one your first choice. You may also suggest a topic that is not on the list. Submit your topics on Blackboard as a Word document (I can only open .doc, .docx, or .pdf files). I will select one of the topics you submitted so there is no overlap with other students in class. In the event that all three topics are already assigned, I will contact you with options.

Preliminary Bibliography and Research Report: At minimum, students should find two books and three primary sources on their topic. For many topics, more primary sources are available and should be used. Students must submit a list of primary and secondary sources found thus far. List primary and secondary sources separately, starting with primary, using the correct citation format for the Chicago Manual of Style (found in the Rampolla Pocket Guide to Writing in History). Include at least one paragraph explaining the progress of the research to date and plans for completion. Type your name, class, and date at the top left hand corner of the page. Please submit it online on Blackboard in the Assignments folder on the date indicated in the course schedule.

Updated Bibliography and Research Report: Submit both the preliminary bibliography and your updated bibliography together so that I may see the progress you have made since my initial feedback. Include at least one paragraph explaining your plan to complete the paper. Type your name, class, and date at the top left hand corner of the page. Please submit it online on Blackboard in the Assignments folder on the date indicated in the course schedule.

Grading: Consult the writing guidelines and rubric for how the paper will be graded.

Citations
Students must cite the source of their information if they quote directly, paraphrase, or use in any way someone else’s ideas.
Give a full Chicago Style citation for the first citation of the source.
Give a short form version of the citation for subsequent citations.
If you use the information from the annotation, the editor of the book needs to be cited as the author.
If you use information from the document itself, the primary source author is cited.
Follow the examples of how to cite in Rampolla’s Pocket Guide to Writing History.
You can also find Chicago style guidelines through Doherty Library: http://libguides.stthom.edu/chicagostyle