HISTORY REPORT
I. WORKS CITED PAGE (bibliography) – use Armijo library web resource “Easy Bib” & follow M.L.A. format.
II. NOTES
*Write bulleted notes on the main points and supporting details as you read your sources.
*A minimum of ½ page of notes must be taken from any written source, to count as one of the required sources.
*A maximum of 2 pages of notes may be taken from any one source.
*Write notes, rough draft & final draft on ONE side of the paper only.
*Label what notes go with which sources (you’ll need this info. for your works cited page!)
*READ and highlight the main points and supporting details of your complete notes.
*Notes are to be written in your own words (except for quotes.)
*BOTH a thesis statement and an outline need to be written from your highlighted notes BEFORE writing your rough draft.
III. QUOTES*Locate in sources and use in report a minimum of two interesting quotes (copy exactly, word for word and the pg. #.)
*The first and last sentences of your report MUST be interesting quotes (first & last impressions!) Brainyquote.com is good source.
*Additional quotes may be used, but no more than 10% of your report may be direct quotes.
*Place quotes in “quotation marks” and write an ENDNOTE for each quote.
*Endnotes identify sources of the quotes, are placed in parentheses and located immediately following quote (not at bottom of pg.)
*Endnotes are to include the following information from the source used:
Source WITH author = authors’ last name(s), date and pg. number(s.) EXAMPLE: (Jones, 2004, pg. 5.)
Source WITHOUT author = title of source, date and pg. number(s) EXAMPLE: (Life of Sir Winston Churchill, 2004, pg.5)
IV. THESIS STATEMENT
*Using your highlighted notes, write a ONE sentence thesis statement.
*Thesis statement = one sentence which fully explains the MAIN ideas of your report.
*Thesis should answer all SIX questions: 5 “W’s” & 1 “H” (Who, What, When, Where, Why? and How?)
Poor thesis example: “My report is about Jomo Kenyatta of Africa.”
Better example: “Jomo Kenyatta’s struggle for the rights of his fellow Africans prepared him to become Kenya’s first
elected black president in 1963.”
*Your thesis statement MUST be the LAST sentence of your introductory paragraph.
V. OUTLINE
*Spread out the pages of your highlighted notes onto the top of a large desk or table. Since notes are written on one side of the paper
only, you will now be able to see all of your highlights at the same time!
*Look through your highlighted notes and NUMBER the main points and supporting details in the chronological order that you think
the information might be included in the body of your report.
*Using these numbered highlights, write a brief, one page outline on a separate sheet.
VI. ROUGH DRAFT
*Using your highlighted notes, thesis statement & outline, write the history report rough draft in your OWN words.
*Use good grammar (beware of run-on sentences, paragraphs that are way too long, etc.)
*Report is to be written in THIRD person only (do NOT use pronouns such as “you”, “I”, “me”, “my”, “mine”, etc.)
*Don’t leave “extra spaces” between paragraphs in your rough or final drafts (simply indent the beginning line of each paragraph.)
*Report is to be written in the following order:
Introduction = First paragraph of your report & must have exactly 3 sentences. 1st. sent. must be an “interest-grabbing”
QUOTE from one of your sources (w. endnote.) The 2nd. sentence is a TRANSITION between the quote and
thesis. The 3rd. sentence must be your THESIS.
Body = Starts at the second paragraph and is the main part of your report (describes main ideas & supporting details
introduced in the thesis.) The body is to include a minimum of 3 paragraphs (usually more.)
Conclusion = Last paragraph must also have exactly 3 sentences. The conclusion is NOT the last paragraph of the body!
Rather, it is a final paragraph AFTER the body that reviews the main points that were already covered in the
report. Do not include any NEW information in the conclusion. 1st. sentence of the conclusion is a RESTATED
THESIS (different wording.). The 2nd. sentence is another TRANSITION sentence. The 3rd. sentence is a different,
interesting QUOTE, that puts a “finishing touch” on your report.
*BOTH the Rough Draft & the Final Draft must be printed & have: (1) title page (2) report & (3) works cited page (in that order.)
*Title page = see “example guidelines” document (centered top, middle, bottom “clusters” of info., write due date for rough
draft on rough title, due date for final draft on final title, check spelling!)
*Works Cited page = List only sources that you actually USED in writing report. (NOT just a list of sources that you checked
out or printed.) You must use the “Easy Bib” resource (Armijo library webpage) for “works cited” (select M.L.A. format.)
VII. GRADING
*History Report is worth one full test grade. Must complete a report to have a chance to earn an A- or higher at semester!
*History report assignment must include ALL of the following to receive ANY credit: hardcopy sources, notes, rough draft, final
draft all turned in to Mr. Burke & electronic report submission to turnitin.com no later than one day past final deadline!
*Graded on: following instructions, understanding the topic, writing with good clarity, grammar, spelling, effort, neatness, meeting
deadlines, use of complete & accurate information, overall quality, etc.
*A report that is plagiarized or that has not been submitted to turnitin.com will receive NO credit!