1. U.S. History Research Paper
Due Date: Friday, April 10th
3 FULL pages minimum for College Prep
5 FULL pages minimum for Honors/AP
Page Count Does not include title page and works cited page
Submission: Paper copy and online, plus 6 research journals

2. Rubric

3. Step 1: Read The Prompt College Prep (CP) Honors
To what extent were ___________ successful in achieving social and legal equality in America focusing on the years 1960s to present?
Select 1 group: Women, Native Americans, Latinos and LGBT
To what extent were ________ AND ________ successful in achieving social and legal equality in America focusing on the years 1960s to present?
Select 2 groups: Women, Native Americans, Latinos and LGBT

4. Step 2: Select your group(s)
Women
Native Americans
Latinos
LGBT
CP pick 1
Honors pick 2

5. Step 3: Research! Research! Research!
You need at least 6 sources of information
1 source will be provided for you by your teacher
You must find the additional sources (5 minimum) on your own
There are no specific requirements/limitations on what types of sources (ex: website, book, journal, etc.). Your textbook does not count as an additional source.
Each source will require a RESEARCH JOURNAL to record your research. These will be submitted on April 10th along with your Research Paper.

6. Step 3: Research! Research! Research!
6 Sources Minimum
Primary Sources
Documents written at the time by someone involved
Diaries, letters, newspaper articles, photographs, speeches, legislation, Supreme Court Cases
Secondary Sources
Later discussion of an event
Newspaper articles, biography, documentary film

7. Step 3: Research (continued)
Potential types of sources
Books
Physical, ebook, online
Websites
Newspapers, magazines, interviews, political cartoons
Online journals
JSTOR, EBSCO (available through the GHCHS library)
Other?
Ask your teacher for permission

8. Step 3: Research (continued)
You must have SIX total Research Journals.
Use the appropriate Research Journal for your source type:
Primary:
Journal
Book
Website
Secondary:

9. Step 3: Research (continued)
Research Journals Online

10. Step 4: Review Your Research
Now that you have gathered your sources and taken notes using your Research Journals, you can begin to review your research.
After reviewing your research you should be able to answer the prompt’s true question: Did this group(s) of Americans succeed in gaining social and legal equality?

11. Step 5: Write Your Thesis
Thesis must take a position regarding how successful your group(s) of Americans was at achieving social and legal equality.
Example: Throughout the 1950s and 1960s African Americans struggled to attain social and legal equality. Overall, African Americans were successful at combating segregation in key cases like Brown v. Board of Education, fighting for voting rights with the organized efforts of SNCC and CORE during Freedom Summer and protecting civil rights with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965.

12. Step 6: Outline Paper
Introduction Paragraph: Introduces your reader to the topic of your essay.
Provide historical context to your reader, i.e. explain what period of time your essay will be focusing on and what the subject of your paper will be.
Hint to your arguments conclusion.
Write a clear and concise thesis statement that provides an argument to be proven within your research paper.
Body Paragraphs:
Start with a topic sentence that connects your thesis statement to the subject of your first body paragraph.
Be sure to give specific, detailed examples.
Use your resources to provide the evidence to support your thesis statement (argument).
Be sure to discuss influence on today, not just provide evidence.
Conclusion: Review your argument. Summarize your main points.

13. Step 7: Write Your Paper Keep in Mind
Make sure that you are answering the prompt
Make sure that you proofread more than once

14. Step 7: MLA Citation In-Text Citations Embedding quotes
All sources used must be cited within the paper when used, whether at the end of a sentence (if a direct quote) or the end of a paragraph (if ideas are used throughout)
Multiple authors may be cited at the same time at the end of a paragraph: (Jones 12, Smith )
Embedding quotes
As was said about the French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (Dickens 1).

15. Step 7: MLA Citation (continued)
Works Cited example for a book (ebook):
Smith, John. This is My Book. Los Angeles: Book Publishing, Inc, eBook.
Works Cited example for an online journal:
Jones, John. "I Wrote an Article." Everyone Gets Published Magazine (2013): Print.

16. Step 7: MLA Citation (continued)
Works Cited example for a website:
Williams, John. "This is My Opinion Today." Lots of Opinions Site. N.p., 15 Aug Web. 7 Sep <
Site to use: Son of Citation Machine ( will help with citing all different types of sources, both in text and for the Works Cited page

17. Step 8: DOs and Don’ts DOs
Limit pages you are writing: do not ramble on
Answer the prompt clearly
Use 3rd person, past tense
Use academic writing
Remember the format
Don’ts
Retell a story (we know what happened)— “just the facts”
English-style “hooks” in your introduction
Full-page paragraphs
Copy/paste from web or any other source
Procrastinate

18. Step 9: Turnitin.com
Period __: # _________ Password for all classes: _______
Remember your DUE DATE (April 10th)!
Essay must be submitted to turnitin.com by 3:30pm on Friday, April 10th

19. Rubric

20. Frequently Asked Questions
Minimum 6 sources (the 6 you are doing the research journals for), but to properly respond to the prompt, you should be going to more sources (which must be cited and included in the works cited)
Follow all MLA formatting directions, which include title page, in-text citations, works cited page (for the 6 research journal sources, plus any others that you use to write your paper)
On April 10th, in addition to submitting to turnitin.com, you will be handing in a paper copy of the essay plus your 6 research journals