Writing your Research Paper
A research paper should critically describe an analyze its subject. its first paragraph should contain your thesis, which is an explanation of what you hope to accomplish in writing this paper. In other words, what is your point? The body of your paper should support your thesis and be analytical rather than merely descriptive. do not just say what happened --- explain why it happened. Do not simply parrot what your sources said. You should provide your own interpretation.
One way to approach this assignment is to find articles that disagree with one another. You could then compare and contrast them and provide your own interpretation. Finding historians who disagree with each other is actually pretty easy. Your textbook has a number of examples of historical debates that would make good paper topics. You are free to use other sources as well, but the articles from academic journals must form the core of your paper.
Quick suggestions:
The first line of your paper should be a concise summary of the subject you intend to discuss. The paper should be neat, grammatically correct and well written. It should adhere to the above structural guidelines and contain solid introductory and concluding paragraphs that are in agreement with one another. Papers lacking these will be penalized. Avoid using too many quotations, quoting only when absolutely necessary. Be sure to mention who you are quoting and cite your source, as well. Footnotes, endnotes, or MLA style parenthetical citations are all fine. Just choose one style and stick with it throughout your paper. Avoid contractions. Keep a copy of your paper. Organize your paper into distinct paragraphs. Avoid the passive voice. Write about the past in the past tense. Spelling and grammar are not graded per se, but chronic problems in either of these areas will inevitably affect the final grade. Above all, remember to ask for help if you have questions!
Project concept and description courtesy of Dr. Stephen Stein, University of Memphis.