Research Project American History (Use any topic you want to use, but you can do it any topic such as slave movements, or any topic regarding early US history.
The purpose of this assignment is for you to analyze and an develop an argument for a historical theme.
The Assignment
A research project in a history class is not just finding facts and listing them. You will be asked to choose a topic that is relevant to American history within the time frame of this class (the end of the Civil War to the present). Then you are to research that topic and synthesize a thesis statement based upon that research you found, the thesis statement you create is basically what you are trying to argue or “prove” about your topic. The project will use that research you found to justify your thesis statement. Here is an example of a thesis statement: Thomas Jefferson was a wealthy slave owner in Virginia and believed that people of African descent and European descent could not live together. However, Jefferson’s own personal life would make it seem that he felt differently about this position.
You will create a powerpoint presentation consisting of ten slides. You will have a title slide, a thesis slide, 6 slides presenting your researched information with in text citations (2-3 sentences per slide) at least 3 visuals on those slides as well, a conclusion slide and a bibliography slide at the end.
Your project should have at least 4 sources that you researched. At least one of those sources needs to be a primary source (something that was written during the time period of your topic).
When you provide that researched information in your project you are required to cite that information in the project itself using MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations (which style you choose is up to you but you must use one of those citation styles). An example of MLA in text citation would look like this: (Kiker 168). An example of APA in text citation would look like this: (Kiker, 2024, p. 168). An example of Chicago Style in text citation would be an endnote or footnote that would look like this: Author first name last name,
Title of Book (Place of publication: publisher, year), page number(s).
Your project will also require a Bibliography Page at the end of your work. An example of a MLA Bibliography citation will look like this: Last Name, First Name.
Title of Book. City of Publication, Publisher, Publication Date.
An example of an APA Bibliography citation will look like this: Author, A. A. (Year of publication).
Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher Name.
An example of a Chicago Style Bibliography citation will look like this: Last name, First name.
Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.
Due Date: Nov. 10th by 11:59pm
Grading Criteria
Here is a breakdown for how your research project will be graded:
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Thesis Statement: |
0 to 5 points Does not present a clear thesis statement. Topic of the paper has little to no relevance to the time period/subject of the class. |
6 to 15 points Presents a fairly clear thesis statement that is mostly related to the time period/subject of the class. |
16 to 20 points Very clear and well thought out thesis. Relevant to the time period and subject of the class. |
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In Text Citations: |
0 to 5 points Little to no citations in the text of the paper. Little to no proper citation structure. Plagiarized material is an automatic 0 |
6 to 15 points Most information is cited properly in the text of the paper. Mostly in line with proper citation styles (ex. MLA, APA, Chicago Style). |
16 to 20 points Information is cited properly or almost entirely correctly in the text of the paper. Citations properly align with citation styles (ex. MLA, APA, Chicago Style). |
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Bibliography: |
0 to 5 points Little to no information presented in a bibliography. Sources are not cited correctly in a bibliography page. Plagiarized work is an automatic 0. |
6 to 15 points Information is somewhat presented in a bibliography page. Information is mostly cited correctly according to a citation style (ex, MLA, APA, Chicago Style). |
16 to 20 points Information is presented correctly or almost entirely correctly in a bibliography page. Information is cited correctly according to citation style (ex. MLA, APA, Chicago Style). |
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Source Requirement: |
0 to 5 points Does not meet the source requirement. Has used sources that are banned in the instructions. |
6 to 10 points Has mostly met the source requirement instructions. Has mostly used sources that are not banned in the instructions. |
11 to 15 points Has fully or mostly fully met the source requirements. Has avoided banned sources according the instructions. |
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Grammar: |
0 to 2 points Excessive grammatical errors and misspellings. |
3 to 4 points Mostly free of grammatical errors. Mostly free of misspellings. |
5 points Completely or almost entirely free of grammatical errors and misspellings. |
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Length Requirement/VisualRequirement: |
0 to 5 points Partially complete and does not meet the length requirement and visual requirement. |
6 to 15 points Mostly meets the length requirement and visual requirement. |
16 to 20 points Completely or almost completely meets the length requirement and visual requirement. |
Resources
Here is a great online resource for citation styles:
To Submit
Use the Create Submission or Upload Files button to submit your final project.
