History paper assignment

A Short Paper Assignment familiarizes you with research methods on the web. It also allows you  to receive feedback that will benefit you for future academic writing. With this assignment you will learn how to do proper and adequate research and write a short paper (minimum three double-spaced full pages of text, Times New Roman, Font Size 12) from that research.  This paper allows the student to express to their instructor and classmates what they find interesting and important in the topic. This paper needs to be submitted in the 2nd Written Assignment section of the classroom with an appropriate title. 

You may write about any person, or event in American history AFTER 1877.

I turn all papers in to Turnitin.com so if you use any of the information from your sources word-for-word you must put that information in quotation marks and cite the source to avoid plagiarism.  If you read the information and write it in your own words and it is not common knowledge, then you must cite the source because you are paraphrasing someone’s information. The short paper must include a cover page with your name, course number and a title , example: HIST102 – The Truth About Pocahontas, American Indian History, instructor’s name, and date. You must also include a bibliography at the end of your paper.

You must consult a minimum of two academically credible sources. Links to the sources are listed beneath the topic. Bibliographies and citations will be in the Chicago Manual of Style format.

The short paper needs to be turned in through the assignment section for grading.

While composing your paper, use proper English. Do not use abbreviations, contractions, passive voice, or first/ second person (I, you, we, our, etc). Before submitting your paper, check your grammar and use spell check. Remember, the way you talk is not the way you write a paper. Please label your paper as follows: lastnamefirstnameHIST102Title.

  Write a paper that:

·         Contains a thesis statement

o   A good thesis statement will probably have these characteristics:

o    It is clearly and forcefully supported by the rest of the paper, and all of the evidence pertains to it.

o    It is precise, and can be understood on its own, before one has read the essay.

o   It is precise, and not so general and vague that it does not express an arguable position. 

·         A body in paragraph form

·         A conclusion in paragraph form

·         This paper should meet all academic/grammatical requirements as laid out in the “Posting in An Academic Environment” pdf document in the first week’s lesson packet.

·         Use the Chicago Manual of Style formatting. 

·         You might also want to look the topic up in your textbook to get a clear picture of the dimensions and importance of the topic.