The core assignment of this course is a documented research paper (1500-2000 words in length, approx. 6-8 pages double-spaced, 12-point font).
* The paper should support a thesis statement with information gained from research or investigation.
* The paper will not be just a report presenting information but will be a paper that carefully examines and presents your own historical interpretation of the topic you have chosen and your interpretation of the information you have gathered.
* The paper may include consideration of problems and solutions, definition of key terms, or may refute arguments against your thesis statement.
It will be important to choose a topic of interest to you.
* Approach this assignment with an open and skeptical mind, then form an opinion based on what you have discovered.
* You must suspend beliefs while you are investigating and let the discoveries shape your opinion. (This is a thesis-finding approach.)
* Once you have found your thesis, write the paper to support it.
You will use some of the following critical thinking skills in this process:
1. Choosing an appropriate topic, limiting the topic.
2. Gathering information, summarizing sources.
3. Analyzing and evaluating sources.
4. Defining key terms.
5. Synthesizing information, comparing and contrasting sources.
6. Testing a thesis, making a historical argument, using refutation.
7. Amassing support for a position.
8. Documenting sources.
The topic for this research paper: Reconstruction (the challenges and achievements of the Reconstruction era, including efforts to rebuild the South, integrate freed slaves into society, and address political and economic issues) which is discussed in Chapter 15 of our textbook The American Yawp. It isn’t required to be used as a source but I attached the chapter as a file just in case it’s needed and the link is below:
* Gather information from a variety of sources. Use a minimum of four sources for your paper, and at least one must be a primary source. Primary sources are contemporary to the times under investigation.
* An example of a secondary source is our textbook, though the textbook also contains excerpts of primary sources, which you may use as a source in your paper.
Please include a works cited list in MLA format.
