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. Other useful sites to help you in writing your paper include A Student's Online Guide to History and Reading, Writing and researching History.
You will need to select your topic and receive approval for it on or before MARCH 18. 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. The review is due APRIL 24. A LETTER GRADE WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR EACH CLASS DAY THAT THE REVIEW IS TURNED IN LATE. Your paper should be typed, double-spaced and roughly 2000 - 2250 words in length.
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. 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 term paper must include at least THREE PRIMARY sources and FOUR SECONDARY sources. 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. You must view the actual source or its facsimile for it to count as one of your sources. Secondary sources are books and articles written at a later time, usually by historians analyzing the importance of historical events, but did not actually participate in the event. At least TWO OF YOUR SECONDARY SOURCES must be books that you have read.You may not include an encyclopedia or out textbook as one of your sources. Make sure to consult with me or any ACC librarian if you have any questions about a source.
Footnotes/endnotes 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. A brief online referral sheet is also available on my webpage. Footnotes/endnotes are mandatory for both direct quotations AND information you use from other sources. Your paper must also include a bibliography listing all of the sources that you used in writing the paper. Make sure to list Primary and Secondary sources separately.
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.
Make sure to include a bibliographythat
uses as correct form and lists all the sources that you have
used.
The primary and secondary sources should be listed separately. This
bibliography
is in addition to the pathfinder you have placed on the web.
