Synthesizing your previous three research assignments, you will write up a proposal for an historical research project. This is not a formal essay, but instead the blueprint for one. There are six components to this assignment, but you should have everything you need to complete it by now since you’ve chosen a topic, written a research question, and gathered 20 sources. This proposal should be no longer than 2-3 pages double spaced. I detail what is expected of you below:
Introduction to your topic:
Write one paragraph introducing your research topic. Put the topic in historical context and describe its significance! Why is this topic worth looking into?
Research question(s):
Include your research question(s). You do not need to do anything fancy here. You can literally copy and paste it/them from your previous research assignment.
Literature review of academic sources:
Write one-to-two paragraph(s) summarizing what scholars have already said about this topic. You should read/skim the relevant parts of your academic sources for the main arguments. Then put them into your own words, highlighting if/where there is overlap and if/where there is disagreement. Additionally, are there any gaps in the literature? In other words, what aspects have scholars not talked about? This is an area where you could add to the academic discussion.
The literature review allows you to demonstrate that you know what has already been researched about this topic. It also helps you avoid covering the exact same terrain as others. (You do not need to read every word of your academic sources to complete this part of the assignment. Read introductions and conclusions, look over abstracts if they exist–just get the main point and consider how it compares to other scholars’ arguments.)
Review of primary sources:
Write one paragraph detailing how your primary industry, popular sources, and/or additional sources help you answer your research question(s). Look over your sources and see what evidence is coming up. Are there repetitive themes arising? Is there anything surprising? Any evidence that is contradictory to the other sources you have? This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have begun actually researching and are building up toward an argument.
Preliminary thesis statement:
This should be one or two sentences. Based on your review of the academic literature as well as your preliminary research, what argument do you think you’d make? This does not have to be perfect! But you need to demonstrate that you have put some thought into this project and that you have a direction you could follow if you wanted to actually pursue this research further.
Bibliography/List of 20 sources:
You should already have this done! As a reminder this should include at least 5 academic sources, 5 (primary) industry sources, 5 (primary) popular sources, and 5 additional sources. The bibliography does not count toward your page count.