Research Paper Assignment

8^th Grade - United States History

Topic

The research paper assignment will require the student to do research on a topic on early American history from 1500-1860. All details for this assignment are listed below. Please read carefully. A full discussion will occur in class.

Structure

The paper is divided into 3 parts:

• Part I – Thesis – This should be a brief summary of who or what your paper is about. Your thesis statement should be at least 3-6 sentences in length.
• A preview copy is due February 25 ^th.

• Part II – Research Information - This is the heart of the paper. Based on the topic you have chosen, all of your research is to be written in your own words in this section. Please read the QAS guidelines on plagiarism!

• Part III – Works Cited Page - All sources used to write your paper must be cited in the paper and on a separate page. This means that you must use parenthetical citations in your paper and have a separate “works cited” page at the end of your paper.
• An annotated bibliography is due February 25 ^th. * An annotated bibliography is a bibliography that is annotated (to make or furnish critical or explanatory notes or comment). This means that you must provide a brief summary of the information found in each source.

General Requirements

• Thesis – This is the first step in writing your research paper. This section is a brief summary of what is your paper is about. A copy of your Thesis Statement is due on February 25 ^th. * It must be typed, double-spaced and in the MLA format. The font must be Times New Roman 12.

• Sources – You must use 6 sources for your paper. This includes only 2 Internet sources, and 1 encyclopedia. This means that the other 5 sources can be books, magazines and other periodicals. Parenthetical citations must be used in the body of the paper, after each source. A works cited page should be the last page of your paper (not included in the 5 pages). A copy of your annotated bibliography is due February 25 ^th.

• Rough Draft - should be a completed paper except for minor corrections. This means a thesis statement, 3-5 page paper and works cited page. It must be typed and follow the MLA format. The rough draft is due on March 24th. *

• Final Paper – must include at least 3-5 pages (not including the works cited page). Also a copy of the rough draft submitted earlier must be included with the final paper. THE FINAL PAPER IS DUE ON APRIL 17th .

DATES TO REMEMBER

February 25th , Thesis

February 25^th Annotated Bibliography

March 24th Rough Draft Due

April 17 th Final Paper due

Grading

Thesis and Annotated Bibliography – will be given a quiz grade

Rough Draft – will be given a test grade.

Final Paper – will be given 2 a test grade.

If you need help with this paper, please see Mr. Kolade or your History Teacher for assistance. Do not wait until the last minute!

* - Means this assignment is due on this date whether class meets or not.

Suggested Topics

Settlement of Roanoke

Sir Walter Raleigh

Jamestown

Captain John Smith

House of Burgesses

Magna Carta

Mayflower Compact

Pilgrims

Puritans

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

The Quakers

William Penn

John Adams

Benedict Arnold

Patrick Henry

Joseph Brant

Colonies: (Pick one) Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, The Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia

Navigation Acts

Glorious Revolution

English Bill of Rights

Great Awakening

Jonathan Edwards

George Whitefield

Enlightenment period

Benjamin Franklin

John Peter Zenger

Treaty of Paris

The Acts: (Pick one) Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Act, and Tea Act, Intolerable Act

Sons of Liberty

Samuel Adams

Mercy Otis Warren

The Lowell Mill Girls

Patrick Henry

First Continental Congress

Battles: Lexington and Concord, Cowpens, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Saratoga, Ticonderoga, Yorktown, Princeton, Brandywine

Ethan Allen

Thomas Paine

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Nathan Hale

George Rogers Clark

John Paul Jones

Molly Pitcher

Peter Salem

Benedict Arnold

Articles of Confederation

James Madison

Roger Sherman

Paul Revere