1302research

History Research Paper (DIL)
A-Level

MINIMUM AVERAGE: To make an A in this course you must have an OVERALL TEST AVERAGE OF 80% on ALL 5 TESTS AND write a research paper.

APPROVAL: You must have PRIOR APPROVAL for the topic by the DEADLINE posted on the Syllabus, or the report will not be accepted.

NOTE that the Research Paper is NOT allowed unless you qualify with an average of 80%. You cannot use the Research Paper in order TO RAISE your average up to 80%. The Research Paper is done over and above the course average of 80%.

RATIONALE: This term paper provides an opportunity for the student to examine, in depth, one specific event, topic, or person in History during the time period and scope covered by the history course in which you are enrolled. 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.

SUBMITTING: The report is produced on a standard software program like MS WORD, and submitted as an attachment by e-mail.

General Requirements:

1. APPROVAL: You must have PRIOR APPROVAL for the topic by the DEADLINE posted on the Syllabus, or the report will not be accepted. 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.

2. The paper will be approximately 1750 to 2000 words long. This translates into seven or eight double-spaced, typewritten or word-processed 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. No more than three of these required seven sources may be online resources. 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. You may not include an encyclopedia as one of your 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. See the procedures for ACC LIBRARY RESEARCH below.

5. Footnotes are required in the term paper. The only form for footnotes for a history report 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.

NOTE: No other form of footnotes (MLA) will be accepted for credit. 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. FORMAT: The term paper must be produced on a standard computer software program, preferrably Microsoft WORD, doubled-spaced in a standard font like Times Roman, and submitted by e-mail as an attachment. 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.

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: No term paper will be accepted after the deadline date listed in the syllabus

CHECKLIST: (answer each question before submitting the paper)

1. Does my paper have THREE PRIMARY sources and FOUR SECONDARY sources? If not, it will be NOT ACCEPTED.

2. Does my paper have an ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY? If not, it will be NOT ACCEPTED.

3. Do I have the 80% average required? If not, it will be DISQUALIFIED.

ACC LIBRARY RESEARCH

These step-by-step instructions were written specifically for you by the ACC Library Reference Librarian, who is very helpful by Online CHAT or if you prefer to visit the Reference Desk.

For Author’s Bio and Book Reviews:

CLICK on the ACC library homepage (Iibrary.austincc.edu)

CLICK on "Articles & Research" in the left-hand sidebar.

Then CLICK on "Articles & Research" and select one of the sources below by clicking on the initial letter of the titles listed below using the “Alphabetical list of database titles.”

SEARCH the book's title to find reviews on the book.

NOTE: If you are not on campus, your name and ACC eID will allow access to these indexes.)

LOCATING AUTHOR AND REVIEW INFORMATION

The online Gale Literary Databases comprises the following three databases:

Contemporary Authors is available in print and on line. Check the library catalog to see which libraries have copies in print. Contains biographies of both fiction and nonfiction authors.

Contemporary Literary Criticism provides both reviews and in-depth critiques on the works of modern authors.

Dictionary of Literary Biography generally contains a list of the author's works, a biographical and critical essay, additional resources such as photos and illustrations and biographical references.

To search all three databases at once:

· Go to library home page http://library.austincc.edu

· Open the "Articles & Research" link in the left-hand sidebar

· Choose "Articles & More"

· Select Gale Literary Databases under G from the “Alphabetical list of database titles”

· Make sure the "Search All Literature Databases" tab is selected

· Enter either the name of your author (last name first) or book title in the appropriate search box