A-Level Objective
To make an A in this course you must have a TEST AVERAGE OF 24 AND write a research paper.
Rationale: This term paper provides an opportunity for the student to examine, in depth, one specific event, topic, or person in American History from 1877 to the present. It will enable you to research an area of interest to you, define a specific subarea of particular interest for further research, and then present the results in a well-written term paper.
General Requirements:
1. You must select the topic in consultation with the instructor before the date specified in the syllabus. This ensures that you will both make a prompt start and have a workable topic. In the past, students have proposed topics that combine the subject of their major with local events or situations. The whole idea is to involve you in an area of interest that will also benefit you in your chosen career path and, at the same time, have sources of information readily available to you. Your paper must argue a thesis -that is, something you are trying to prove about your topic. it is not enough to say what happened and when - you must argue the historical significance of your topic
2. The BODY of the paper will be approximately 2000 - 2250 words long. This translates into seven or eight double-spaced, typewritten pages. Exceptions to these limits must be approved by the instructor before the paper is submitted. The History Department has constructed a useful site to help you in the research and writing process.
3. The term paper must include at least THREE PRIMARY sources and FOUR SECONDARY sources. At least TWO of your sources must be books that you have read. A primary source is something written by an individual who lived at the time and took part in the event that he or she is describing. Primary sources usually take the form of letters, diaries, journals, newspapers, government documents, and autobiographies. IT DOES NOT COUNT AS ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY SOURCES if you take a source listed in one of your secondary sources. Secondary sources are books and articles written at a later time, usually by historians who were not participants in the event. At least TWO OF YOUR SECONDARY SOURCES must be books that you have read. You may not count encyclopedias or your textbook as one of your required sources. No term paper will be accepted unless it contains the requisite number of primary and secondary sources. Make sure to contact me if you have any questions about a source.
4. Consult with me or any ACC librarian for direction in finding your sources. Austin has numerous libraries and depositories including The University of Texas General Libraries, the Benson Latin American Collection, the Barker Texas History Center, the Travis County Collection of the Austin Public Library, the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, and many others in addition to the resources available at ACC. Your instructor will be most helpful in guiding you to the appropriate sources.
5. Footnotes are required in the term paper. The preferred form for footnotes is found in Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations located in the ACC libraries. Several online guides will help you with this process. If you desire to use another form for your footnotes, you must receive prior permission from the instructor. Footnotes are mandatory for both direct quotations AND information you use from other sources.
6. An annotated bibliography is also required. The form can be found in Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. The purpose of annotating your bibliography is to explain not only the contents of the source but also its value to you in preparing the paper.
7. The term paper must be typed, doubled-spaced on standard letter-sized, white paper with margins approximately one inch on all sides. Several ACC campuses have LRS Computer Centers have computers for your use and people that will help you if you have questions about their use..
8. Any form of scholastic dishonesty, especially plagiarism, in the production of this paper or in any other part of the course WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Any student committing any form of scholastic dishonesty WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE AN "F" FOR THE COURSE and be reported to ACC authorities for further disciplinary action. The college policy states: "Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty. including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework."
9. If you have any questions concerning the term paper at any point in the process, be sure to contact me. Remember, you will be making an argument rather than just recounting a narrative of events.
Grading: This term paper will be
graded "ACCEPTED" or "NOT
ACCEPTED." Recognize that a paper rife with
misspellings and grammatical errors WILL NOT be considered
acceptable.
If you submit your term paper at least TWO WEEKS before the deadline
date
in the syllabus and it is graded "NOT ACCEPTED,"
you may revise it and resubmit it prior to the deadline date.
Deadline: You may place your paper in my mailbox at RGC or you may email it to me as a word.doc attachment. If you email your paper to me make sure that I respond indicatting that I have it. No term paper will be accepted after the deadline date listed in the syllabus.