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Social Studies Research Paper
You will be conducting a research paper this semester. You must choose a topic from the units of study listed
below. DO NOT LOSE THIS PACKET! It has important dates, deadlines and requirements for you to
successfully complete this paper.
Topic Choices
You may choose your own topic on any of the units we will be covering this year, with teacher approval. If you
are having trouble with a topic, please see me for help!
Unit I: Greece Unit VI: Revolutions
Unit II: Rome Unit VII: WWI
Unit III: The Middle Ages Unit VIII: Pre-WWII, WWII
Unit IV: The Renaissance Unit IX: The Cold War
Unit V: Reformation Unit X: Modern Europe
Requirements
Your paper must include the following:
1. Title page w/ topic, name, date, period (English Department handout).
2. Paper must be 3-5 pages (Does NOT include the title or reference pages!), double-spaced, Times New
Roman font (12 pt.) and the page number must be in the top, right-hand corner.
3. One inch margins (To change, click “File”, “Page Setup” and change all margins to 1 inch).
4. Reference page.
5. 5-10 in-text citations from your research.
Your research must include the following:
1. Your sources MUST include at least ONE book source! (NO encyclopedias)
2. You MAY NOT use wikipedia.com, ask.com, about.com, or any online encyclopedias!
Suggested Due Dates
Thesis Monday, October 5th
Outline Tuesday, October 20th
Source & Note Cards Friday, November 6th
Rough Draft Friday, November 20th
Final Draft Monday, December 7th (DUE DATE)
If you would like to conference with me before any of these due dates, I will be available during Coyote
Skills, or after school (by appointment only!)
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a roadmap for the reader; it tells the reader what to expect throughout the rest of the paper.
It is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
It is important that your thesis capture the reader’s attention. It should be specific to what the body of your
paper will address.
Examples:
The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
or
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the
South fought to preserve its own institutions.
or
While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners
focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.
Which of the three is the best thesis? Why?
Information from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html
Outline
In order to have a well-organized paper, you need to create a working outline of the material you will be
addressing throughout the paper. An outline details what your final paper will look like. In addition, an outline
can help you to organize your thoughts and help you to see obstacles that you may encounter when researching
or writing your paper.
Example:
The Stock Market Crash of 1929
I. Causes of crash
A. Stock value doubled 1925-29
B. Speculators bought on credit
C. Stock values became worthless
II. Events of 10/29/29
A. Blue chip stocks fell 50%
B. Buyers panicked and sold
C. Losses totaled $26 billion
III. Effects of crash
A. Speculators lost savings
B. Banks ran out of money
C. Unemployment rose
D. People became homeless
Information from Glencoe Social Studies: Enrichment Series
Source Cards
Use 3x5 index cards to write down the sources that you are using for your research.
Books- Author/Editor complete name, title, name/location of publisher, copyright date.
Magazines/Newspapers- Author’s complete name, article name, name/date of magazine/newspaper, pg. #.
Internet- Name of site, date info was retrieved, web address.
Examples:
Book
Source #
Higgins, Mike. A Robot in Every Home.
Oakland: Kennsington, 1985.
Magazine/Newspaper Article
Source #
Colligan, Douglas. “Robotic Soul.”
Omni June 1985: 66+.
Internet
Source #
The Civil War Home Page
February 3, 2009
http://www.civil-war.net/
Information from The Writer’s Craft (McDougal Littell)
Note Cards
Use 4x6 index cards (can use 3x5) to write down the information that you are using from your research. Note
cards should be used for the following: quotations and paraphrased/summarized material. Remember, your note
card is for writing pieces of information NOT paragraphs of information.
Quotation- Copying the original text, word-for-word.
Paraphrase- Re-writing material in your own words.
Summary- record the main idea of the material/passage in your own words.
Guidelines:
1. At the top of each card, write a heading that summarizes the main idea of the info you are writing about.
These headings help you to sort your cards when writing your draft.
2. In the upper, right-hand corner write the # of the source card in which the information can be found.
3. At the bottom, write whether the information is a quote, paraphrase, or summary of the material.
4. At the end of the note, write the page # where the information came from.
Example:
Note Card
Source #
Main Idea
Information. Page #.
Type of Note (Quotation, paraphrase, summary)
Information from The Writer’s Craft (McDougal Littell)
Final Draft
Your final draft is due on Monday, December 7th. Please submit the attached rubric with your paper.
Name ___________________________________________
Social Studies Research Paper Rubric
Category 3 2 1 0
Paper is 3-5 pages, Paper is 2-4 pages, Paper is 1-3 pages, Paper does not meet
Requirements Times New Roman Font Times New Roman Font Times New Roman Font page, font, and other
(12 pt.), double-spaced, (12 pt.), double-spaced, (12 pt.), double-spaced, requirements.
pages numbered. pages numbered. pages numbered.
Paper has 6-10 in-text Paper has 4-8 in- text Paper has 2-4 in-text Paper has 2 or less in-
In-Text Citations citations. citations. citations. text citations.
Information is very Information is organized Information is The information appears
Organization organized with well- with well-constructed organized, but to be disorganized.
constructed paragraphs paragraphs. paragraphs are not well-
and subheadings. constructed.
No grammatical, Almost no grammatical, A few grammatical, Many grammatical,
Mechanics spelling or punctuation spelling or punctuation spelling, or punctuation spelling, or punctuation
errors. errors errors. errors.
Information clearly Information clearly Information clearly Information has little or
Quality of relates to the main topic. relates to the main topic. relates to the main topic. nothing to do with the
It includes several It provides 1-2 No details and/or main topic.
Information supporting details supporting details examples are given.
and/or examples. and/or examples.
The research paper The research paper The research paper The research paper
clearly demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates some demonstrates little/no
understanding of the understanding of the understanding of the understanding of the
Argument topic and the ability to topic and the ability to topic and/or the ability topic and/or the ability
support a thesis with support a thesis with to support a thesis with to support a thesis with
relevant information. information. information. relevant information.
Conclusion clearly Conclusion summarizes Conclusion somewhat Conclusion does not
summarizes the main the main points of the summarizes the main summarize the main
points of the paper and paper and ties back to points of the paper and points of the paper and
Conclusion accurately ties back to the thesis statement. vaguely ties back to the does not tie back to the
the thesis statement. thesis statement. thesis statement.
Total Points Earned: _____/21 Grade: _____
Teacher Comments: _________________________________________________________________________
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