Historical Research Assignment
Prompt:
Choose a significant moment in
American History from before 1990.
Describe the historical background leading up to that moment, explain
the significance of the moment itself, and trace the cultural implications
since then.
Process Checklist
(steps to be completed as the first portion of the assessment)
q The nature of the topic is one that has cultural significance and
researchable impacts and roots.
q Topic is narrow enough for a 5 page paper, but broad enough to
find sources.
q (Following preliminary research) A thesis statement focuses on both
causes and effects.
q Five or more reliable and credible sources have been identified on
an annotated source list that includes sufficient information needed for later
MLA formatting. District electronic databases
(Gale, ProQuest, eLibrary) are used when appropriate to topic
q Notes show evidence of summarizing, paraphrasing and direct
quotations.
q Note taking preserves the intent of the original text.
q Notes provide sufficient information for a 5 page paper.
q Proposed organization of the paper appears on an outline, graphic
organizer or other means.
q All drafts must be word-processed.
q Thorough revision in drafting is evident in preliminary versions.
Common Assignment Rubric
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4
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3
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2
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1
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Thesis
Organization
Support
Conclusion
Transitions
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Thesis clearly establishes an insightful
connection(s) between the moment and its roots and impact.
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Thesis clearly establishes a connection(s)
between the moment and its roots and impact.
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Thesis states connection(s) to culture, but
some may be redundant or faulty.
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Thesis may be too general or too specific
to control the essay.
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Organization pattern is clear and
logical, without seeming mechanical.
Paragraphs are well-constructed and
may have varied placement of topic sentences.
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Organization pattern is clear and
logical.
Topic sentences show the
relationship between paragraphs and thesis.
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Organization pattern may not be
clear because some parts don’t fit.
Topic sentences may be awkward, too
general, or too specific.
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Organization pattern requires
reader inference.
Some topic sentences may be missing
or inappropriate for the paragraph.
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Thoughtful selection of information
from multiple, reliable sources shows excellent depth and quality of
research.
Information from sources is
skillfully integrated, including sufficient analysis to show relevance.
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Relevant information from multiple,
reliable sources shows depth and quality of research. Elaboration explains
each connection.
Source information is integrated
with the writer’s ideas.
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Information is relevant, but it may
come from less credible or reliable sources. Depth of research may be insufficient.
Source information is poorly
integrated or doesn’t fit. Some paraphrasing is too close to the source.
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Source material has little context
and may be irrelevant. Sources may lack credibility or be unreliable.
Information from research is scarce
or superficial. Much paraphrasing is too close to the source.
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Conclusion shows the significance
of the topic in its cultural context and summarizes the main ideas.
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Conclusion summarizes connections
to the culture and restates the significance of the topic.
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Conclusion restates connections to
the culture and repeats the significance of the topic.
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Paper ends abruptly or restates
only part of the thesis.
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Skillful transitions between
paragraphs and among ideas within the paragraphs are present. Many are not
obvious.
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Transitions show relationships
between paragraphs and among ideas within the paragraphs.
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Transitions are stilted or
sometimes missing.
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Paper lacks appropriate
transitions.
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Style
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Use of formal register and active
voice are consistent.
Word choice is specific, varied,
and insightful.
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Use of formal register and active
voice are consistent.
Word choice is specific and varied.
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Use of formal register and active
voice may be inconsistent.
Word choice may be repetitive
and/or lack variety.
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Formal register may be absent. Tenses may vary.
Writer has little control over
language.
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Documentation
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MLA format is correctly used for
in-text citations and manuscript form, including works-cited page.
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MLA format is used for in-text
citations and manuscript form, including works-cited page. Format is mostly
correct, with few errors.
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MLA format is used for in-text
citations and manuscript form, including works-cited page. Format may have
many errors.
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MLA format is poorly
represented.
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Conventions
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Sentence structures are varied,
correct, and effective.
Spelling, capitalization, and
punctuation are correct.
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Sentences are varied and mostly
correct (e.g., parallel and subordinate structures)
Spelling, capitalization, and
punctuation are mostly correct.
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Sentences have some variety, but
some may be poorly constructed.
Overuse of simple sentences may be
distracting.
Spelling, capitalization, and
punctuation errors do not distract reader.
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Sentences are simple and
repetitive.
Frequent errors in spelling,
punctuation and capitalization interfere with meaning.
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Deadlines:
o
On a note card:
Identify topic and five researchable questions /5
(Due 4/7/14)
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Research Process #1: /10
(Due 4/14/14)
o
Find and print (or record on Evernote) 4-5
sources.
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Evidence of
note taking (highlighting, summarizing, paraphrasing, etc.)
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Annotated
bibliography (Due 4/22/14)
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Research Process #2: /10 (Due 4/22/14)
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Annotated
bibliography (Due 4/22/14)
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Define
Cultural Significance of Topic (Why does this moment still matter? What are the
long-range effects of the moment?)
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Graphic
Organizer of paper structure
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Research Process #3: /10
(Due 4/28/14)
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Formal
Outline of Essay, including thesis statement (topic + cultural significance)
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Work on
Direct quotations or paraphrased information (with source designated) inserted
into outline. (Due 5/4/14)
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Research Process #4: /10
(Due 5/4/14)
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Direct
quotations or paraphrased information (with source designated) inserted into
outline.
o
Works Cited
Page (also include as final page of essay)
o
First draft of paper (peer edited)
(Submitted to turnitin.com by
class time 5/12/14)
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Second draft of paper (teacher edited) (Submit to turnitin.com by 5/19/14)
o
Final draft of paper (Submitted
to turnitin.com by 5/27/14)
Research
Process 2:
Annotated
Bibliography
For your essay, you must find at
least five sources relating to
your topic. At least one of these
must be a print source (book, magazine, newspaper, map, etc.).
Next you must create an annotated bibliography of your
sources. An annotated bibliography is a
list of your sources (in MLA format, similar to a works cited page), but also
includes a short description (2-3 sentences) of each source and its
information. In an essay where you must
use multiple sources of information, the annotated bibliography is helpful in
keeping track of your sources and the information they contain.
Your annotated bibliography (with at least five sources and
annotations) is due
Tuesday,
April 22.
Annotated
Bibliography Example
Colvin,
Richard Lee and Martha Groves. "Schools Learn Perils of Using a
Single Test."
Los Angeles Times 25 September 1999: A1. This
article discusses the recent grading mistakes made by some of the top
test-making companies in the United
States. The results supplied by CTB/McGraw-Hill
sent over 8,600 students in New York
to summer school, by mistake, due to faulty results. This has also occurred
with other publishers and in other states. With so much at risk, such as
high school graduation, it is imperative that results are given
accurately. It is also necessary to make sure standardized tests are not
the only factor in getting a diploma or advancing to the next grade.
Herman,
Joan L. and Jamal Abedi. "Assessing the Effects of Standardized
Testing on Schools." Educational and
Psychological Measurement
54 (Summer 1994): 471-482. This article gives statistical
data collected
from
upper elementary teachers in 48 different schools. 450 questionnaires
were sent to the
teachers
to get information on what they thought of standardized testing.
Questions included: how
much
pressure is felt from the principal or school district, how much time is spent
reviewing for
standardized
tests, and to what extent changes in test scores are due to a change in instruction.
The
surveys
were given out to all types of schools, poor and wealthy, and approximately 341
were
received
back.
Research Process #2
Assignment
for Tuesday, April 22
1.
On a piece
of your own paper, answer these questions:
What effect does your topic have
on today’s culture? Why is it
significant or important to the lives of Americans today?
In other words, how has the invention
of the telephone or the popularity of Oprah affected the world we live in? (Substitute your own topic here)
You will use this statement to write
your thesis statement on Monday. Your
thesis statement for this paper is essentially your topic + your opinion or
position about why this is important.
Make sure you put this paper in your writing folder.
2.
If you have already found 4-5 useful sources,
skip to step 3. If not, continue to research sources
online. You need to have at least 5
sources that you will use for this paper.
In other words, all of your
information cannot come from the same source—you must include, in the text
of your paper, information from each one of your sources.
Evidence of note taking is required
here. Either highlight the important
information in the text of your article or include another piece of paper where
you take notes on the important info.
3.
If you have
all of your sources, begin to organize the research into the sections you’ll
use in your papers. You could do this in
a graphic organizer like the one on page 5 of the research paper packet. If
another graphic organizer format works better for you, use that instead.
Intro: ½ page (include
attention getter, thesis, and preview of main points)
Multiple Causes: 1 ½ pages (about ½ page per cause, show how all lead
to the central moment)
Moment: 1 page (center point of the paper, explaining the central
idea and its importance)
Multiple Effects: 1 ½ pages (about ½ page per effect, show how all
come out of the central moment)
Conclusion: ½ page (include a restatement of thesis, recap of main
points, and a final statement about importance of moment)
See also outline example for paper format.
Research Process 3 & 4: Historical Research Essay Outline (Hank Aaron example)
I. Introduction
A. Attention-getter.
B. Thesis: (moment + cultural
significance) Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run changed
the ways people looked at African-Americans in professional baseball.
C. Preview
(three) main points:
1. Causes:
Negro Leagues/Jackie Robinson breaking into MLB.
2. Effects:
Future home-run records and subsequent steroid investigations
a. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa
b. MLB drug controversy/changing policies
II. Causes
of moment
A.
First cause: Formation of the Negro Leagues
1. Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source
from research): In 1880s several professional Negro teams were formed. Professional baseball mirrored the
segregation in larger society (Negro
League Baseball Players Association).
2. Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source
from research): Several players tried to integrate into the MLB prior to
Jackie Robinson with little success (Negro
League Baseball Players Association).
3. Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source
from research): “The first successful organized Negro League was established on
February 13, 1920, at a YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri” (Society for American Baseball Research).
B. Second cause: Jackie
Robinson’s introduction to the major leagues (“About Jackie Robinson”).
1.
Example,
statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source from research):
2.
Example,
statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source from research):
C. Third cause:
1.
Example,
statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source from research):
2. Example, statistic, fact,
quotation, etc (source from research):
III. The Moment
A. Background
information necessary to understanding the moment (Source)
B. Explanation
of its importance (Source)
1. Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc
(source from research):
2. Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc
(source from research):
IV. Effects of Moment
A.
First Effect that came from moment
1.
Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source
from research):
Example, statistic, fact, quotation, etc (source
from research):
B.
Second Effect that came from moment
1.
Example, statistic, fact, etc. (Source from
research)
2.
Example, statistic, fact, etc. (Source from
research)
C.
Third Effect
1.
Example, statistic, fact, etc. (Source from
research)
2.
Example, statistic, fact, etc. (Source from
research)
V. Conclusion
A. Restatement
of thesis (in different words)
B. Final
statement on moment's enduring impact on culture or its importance as a turning
point.
How
to embed quotations into your essay
Non-embedded
quotation:
"This
image reinforces the idea that girls should mask their real selves and hide
their true identity" (Sheridan 36).
Embedded
quotation:
Noted
author S. Sheridan also believes Ms. Wonder promotes the objectification of
women, "This cardboard adventure queen sends messages to both girls and
boys: a heroine can be both strong and sexy which reinforces the old myth of a
perfect cook in the kitchen and whore in the bedroom" (26).
While traveling on a bus, the author is “Heart-filled,
head-filled with glee” (2).
Poor example:
This is shown by “And he was no whit bigger” (6).
Examples of proper quoting:
Samuel Johnson says, "Nothing can please
many, and please long, but just representations of general nature" (2394).
Samuel Johnson believes that only universal
ideas please: "Nothing can please many, and please long, but just
representations of general nature" (2394).
Samuel Johnson believes that "Nothing
can please many, and please long, but just representations of general
nature" (2394).
Give page numbers even if you paraphrase
rather than quote directly:
Samuel Johnson believes that only the truest
representations of universal human nature constitute great art (2394).
