Write approximately 2,500 words exploring a thesis of your choice relevant to US history before c.1880. Cite at least 3 reliable primary and secondary sources to support your arguments; list these sources in a bibliography at the end of the paper.
The secondary sources you cite must be written by a respected authority on the subject.
Choose a topic and thesis for your Research Paper. You may write about anything related to US History up to c.1880. A topic might be very broad (such as “George Washington“). A thesis is the specific argument or question you will investigate in your paper (such as “George Washington’s leadership style was a major advantage in the American Revolution”).
Here are some examples from previous semesters. You may use one of these sample theses for your Research Paper if you’d like.
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Topic: Women’s roles in early America, Thesis: The Civil War changed women’s roles in American society.
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Topic: The Revolutionary War, Thesis: French support was crucial for American victory in the Revolutionary War.
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Topic: Frederick Douglass, Thesis: Frederick Douglass’s experience as a slave shaped his approach to abolitionism.
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Topic: The Salem Witch Trials, Thesis: The Salem Witch Trials were primarily driven by fear.
Your paper will be graded using the following rubric.
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Points possible |
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50 |
MECHANICS spelling, punctuation, formatting (including bibliography), word count (min. 2000) |
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50 |
STYLE & PERSUASIVENESS thesis, organization, analysis |
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50 |
CONTENT at least 3 reliable primary & secondary sources efficiently utilized and correctly cited |
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150 |
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