The purpose of this paper is to provide you with an opportunity to examine, in depth, one specific event or topic of particular interest to you concerning American Indians. The only limitation is that it must deal with an issue(s) that fits our timeframe from the first human migrations to the New World through 1890. This project should help to develop your knowledge of historical resources and give you experience in critically examining a large amount of written material while crafting a well-written term paper. You may wish to consult other links on my webpage and the ACC History Department's webpage for additional help in choosing a topic, finding sources and writing the paper. Of particular value is Term Paper Resource Guide to American Indians which offers a number of topics to consider when researching American Indians.You may wish to consult other links on my webpage and the ACC History Department's webpage for additional help in choosing a topic, finding sources and writing the paper. Other useful sites to help you in selecting a topic and writing your paper include the ACC Library's Research Guides,  ACC History Databases, ACC Research Guides, Multicultural History, and Reading, Writing and Researching History. 

You will need to select your topic and receive approval for it on or before MARCH 2. I suggest that you consult with me well before the deadline because we may have to refine your topic to make sure it is suitable. A printed copy of your paper is due APRIL 20. You will also send a copy named "your name" to SafeAssign via Blackboard. A LETTER GRADE WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR EACH CLASS DAY THAT THE PAPER IS TURNED IN LATE.

Your paper must argue a thesis -that is, something you are trying to prove about your topic. Do not simply give a narrative of what happened and when. Think about what specific question you intend to answer in your paper. You must present an argument about the historical causes of or significance of your topic. Your paper would then discuss and support this argument by giving evidence (examples) from historical sources.

The BODY of the paper (not including footnotes and bibliography) must be at least 2000 words and no more than 2500 words long. This translates into about eight double-spaced typewritten pages. Exceptions to these limits must be approved by the instructor before the paper is submitted. 

The paper must include A MINIMUM of  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 observed 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. Your textbook, encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), dictionaries and juvenile works are NOT ACCEPTABLE SOURCES.  No term paper will be accepted unless it contains the requisite number of primary and secondary sources. The  SOURCES MUST DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE ARGUMENTS you make in your paper. The quality of your sources is an important factor in determining if your paper is accepted. If your sources (both primary and secondary) are of low quality or they do not reflect the statements made in your paper or they are of only tangential value YOUR PAPER WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  Make sure to contact me if you have any questions about a source.

FOOTNOTES/ENDNOTES ARE REQUIRED in the term paper and they MUST BE SEPARATE from the annotated bibliography. The preferred forms are found in Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations located in the ACC libraries.  Footnotes/endnotes are mandatory for both direct quotations AND information you use from other sources.  A brief online referral sheet is also available at the ACC library webpage.  Your paper must also include an annotated bibliography listing all of the sources that you used in writing the paper. Make sure to list Primary and Secondary sources separately. This bibliography is in addition to the pathfinder you will place on my webpage.

AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY is required. Divide your sources into PRIMARY and SECONDARY groupings. For each source write a few sentences explaining its value and content.  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 get you to think critically about the sources that you use in your research. These sources must be germane to your paper. Sources that are of little or only tangential value to your paper will not be considered acceptable. Make sure to contact me if you have a question about a source. 

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 in this course will automatically receive the grade of "F" in 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." Help understanding plagiarism can be found at the ACC Library website and accreditedschoolsonline.org.

Proofread your review to eliminate errors of spelling, grammar, construction, typing, etc... This WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE. Make sure that your paper has a coherent theme, is sensibly organized and carefully documented. MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE i.e., use quotation marks and GIVE PAGE NUMBERS to identify the quotes and ideas of others. Help understanding plagiarism can be found at the ACC Library website and accreditedschoolsonline.org. Make sure to send a copy of your paper to SafeAssign via Blackboard and to name your paper "your name."

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