Social Studies Research Paper
You will be conducting a research paper this semester. The project will require you to select a modern day
issue with opposing viewpoints. You will research this issue, take a stance on it, and prove your stance
in both a paper and an individual presentation to your peers. DO NOT LOSE THIS PACKET! It has
important dates, deadlines and requirements for you to successfully complete this paper.
Topic Choices
You may choose your from the list below or choose your own topic pending teacher approval. If you are
having trouble with a topic, please see me for help!
Smoking (Tobacco)
Gun Control
Global Warming
Animal Rights
Death Penalty
Welfare
Obesity
Drunk Driving
Immigration
UFOs
Military Draft
Gay Marriage
Cloning
Drinking Age
Birth Control
Pollution
Abortion
Affirmative Action
Requirements
Your paper must include the following:
1. Title page w/ topic, name, date, period.
2. Paper must be 3-5 pages (Does NOT include the title or reference pages!), double-spaced, Times New
Roman font (12 pt.) and the page number must be in the top, right-hand corner.
3. One inch margins (To change, click “File”, “Page Setup” and change all margins to 1 inch).
4. Reference page (APA Formated)
5. 5-10 in-text citations from your research.
Your research must include the following:
1. Your sources MUST include at least ONE book source! (NO encyclopedias)
2. You MAY NOT use wikipedia.com, ask.com, answers.com, about.com, or any online encyclopedias!
Due Dates (Subject to Change)
Thesis
Friday, May 4th
Outline
Tuesday, May 8th
Source Note Cards
Friday, May 11th
Works Cited Page
Tuesday, May 15th
Rough Draft
Wednesday, May 16th
Final Draft
Friday, May 18th (DUE DATE)
Presentations Begin:
Monday, May 21st
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a roadmap for the reader; it tells the reader what to expect throughout the rest of the paper. It
is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
It is important that your thesis capture the reader’s attention. It should be specific to what the body of your paper
will address.
Examples:
The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
or
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the
South fought to preserve its own institutions.
or
While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners
focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.
 Which of the three is the best thesis? Why?
Information from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html
Outline
In order to have a well-organized paper, you need to create a working outline of the material you will be
addressing throughout the paper. An outline details what your final paper will look like. In addition, an outline
can help you to organize your thoughts and help you to see obstacles that you may encounter when researching or
writing your paper.
Example:
The Stock Market Crash of 1929
I. Causes of crash
A. Stock value doubled 1925-29
B. Speculators bought on credit
C. Stock values became worthless
II. Events of 10/29/29
A. Blue chip stocks fell 50%
B. Buyers panicked and sold
C. Losses totaled $26 billion
III. Effects of crash
A. Speculators lost savings
B. Banks ran out of money
C. Unemployment rose
D. People became homeless
Source Note Cards
Source Note cards will help you organize the places you get your information from. In addition, you will be able
to organize the information from each source you wish to use in your paper.
Books- Author/Editor complete name, title, name/location of publisher, copyright date.
Magazines/Newspapers- Author’s complete name, article name, name/date of magazine/newspaper, pg.
#.
Internet- Name of site, date info was retrieved, web address.
Examples:
Book
Source #1
Higgins, M. (1985). A Robot in Every Home.
Oakland: Kennsington.
Magazine/Newspaper Article
Source #2
Douglas, C. (1985). Robotic Soul. Omni , 66-69.
Internet
Source #3
The Civil War Home Page. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 24, 2012, from The Civil War Official
Website: www.civil-war.net
Works Cited Page and Citations
Add a new citation and source to a document
When you add a new citation to a document, you also create a new source that will appear in the bibliography.
1. On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click the arrow next to Style.
2. Click the style that you want to use for the citation and source.
For example, social studies documents will use the APA style for citations and sources.
3. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.
4. On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citation.
5. Do one of the following:
 To add the source information, click Add New Source.
6. Begin to fill in the source information by clicking the arrow next to Type of source.
For example, your source might be a book, a report, or a Web site.
7. Fill in the bibliography information for the source.
To add more information about a source, click the Show All Bibliography Fields check box.
Create a Bibliography
You can create a bibliography at any point after you insert one or more sources in a document. If you don't have
all of the information that you need about a source to create a complete citation, you can use a placeholder
citation, and then complete the source information later.
Click where you want to insert a bibliography, usually at the end of the document.
1. On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Bibliography.
3. Click a predesigned bibliography format to insert the bibliography into the document.
Final Draft
Your final draft is due on Friday, May 18th. Please submit the attached rubric with your paper.
Presentations
Presentations will begin on Monday, May 21st. Volunteers will be taken first, followed by an alphabetical order
for presentations. Follow the presentation rubric below to help you prepare your presentations.
World History Research Paper Skills Grade Sheet
Name of Student:
Topic:
__________________________
______________________________________________
1. Parent Letter Signature
Due 5/2/12
*Signed & handed in on time
2. Topic Choice
Due 5/2/12
*Preliminary Topic research
(10 pts) _______
*Topic checked with Mr. Elsasser
3. Thesis
*Handed in on time
*Relevant to topic & research
*Properly formatted/typed
(15 pts) _______
*Handed in on time
*Properly formatted/typed
(30 pts) _______
Due 5/4/12
4. Paper Outline
(5 pts) _______
Due 5/8/12
5. Collection of Sources
Due 5/11/12
*Sources handed in on time
(20 pts) _______
*Diversity of sources
*Two primary source included
*At least five sources total
*One book source
*Source cards submitted
6. Final Works Cited Page
(Bibliography)
Due 5/15/12
*Handed in on time
*Properly formatted/typed
* APA Format
(10 pts) _______
7. Rough Draft/
In Class Peer Editing
*Handed in on time
*Includes works cited page
*In-text citations
(10 pts) _______
Due 5/16/12
Total Points:
______/100 pts.
Category
Requirements
In-Text Citations
Organization
Mechanics
Quality of
Information
Argument
Conclusion
Works Cited Page
Social Studies Research Paper Rubric
10-9
8-7
6-5
4 or less
Paper is 3-5 pages,
Times New Roman
Font (12 pt.), doublespaced, 1 in. margins,
pages numbered.
Paper is 2-4 pages,
Times New Roman
Font (12 pt.), doublespaced, 1 in. margins,
pages numbered.
Paper is 1-3 pages,
Times New Roman
Font (12 pt.), doublespaced, 1 in. margins
pages numbered.
Paper does not meet
page, font, and other
requirements.
Paper has 6-10 in-text
citations. Uses a
variety of sources and
cites using APA
format.
Paper has 4-8 in-text
citations. Uses a
variety of sources and
cites using APA
format.
Paper has 2-4 in-text
citations. Limited use
of sources and cites
using APA format.
Paper has 2 or less intext citations. Limited
sources or doesn’t use
APA format.
Information is very
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs and
subheadings.
Information is
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs.
Information is
organized, but
paragraphs are not
well-constructed.
The information
appears to be
disorganized.
No grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation errors.
Almost no
grammatical, spelling
or punctuation errors
A few grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Many grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It includes
several supporting
details and/or
examples.
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It provides 3-4
supporting details
and/or examples.
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. 1-2 details
and/or examples are
given.
Information has little
or nothing to do with
the main topic.
The research paper
clearly demonstrates
understanding of the
topic and the ability to
support a thesis with
relevant information.
The research paper
demonstrates
understanding of the
topic and the ability to
support a thesis with
information.
The research paper
demonstrates some
understanding of the
topic and/or the ability
to support a thesis
with information.
Conclusion clearly
summarizes the main
points of the paper and
accurately ties back to
the thesis statement.
Conclusion
summarizes the main
points of the paper and
ties back to the thesis
statement.
Conclusion somewhat
summarizes the main
points of the paper and
vaguely ties back to
the thesis statement.
The research paper
demonstrates little/no
understanding of the
topic and/or the ability
to support a thesis
with relevant
information.
Conclusion does not
summarize the main
points of the paper and
does not tie back to
the thesis statement.
Correctly formatted
using APA
APA formatted with
some minor mistakes
APA formatted with
major mistakes or
missing information
Did not use APA
format or missing
completely
Total Points Earned: _____/80
Grade: _____
Teacher Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
World History Research Presentation Grade Sheet
1. Technique
Length of Presentation ____________________________/5 Mins
Eye Contact
____________________________
Introduction / Conclusion ___________________________
Voice Projection
____________________________
Body Language
____________________________
Technique Total: _____ (25 pts.)
2. Content
a) States and Supports Thesis ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
b) Effective Use of Picture(s) /Chart(s) /Graph(s) ________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
c) Check for Audience Understanding (3 questions posed to the audience)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Content Total: _____ (15 pts.)
3. Presentation Materials
a) PowerPoint or Poster board display
- Summary of findings and evidence
- Pictures/graphs/charts
______/10 pts.
b) Index cards with info. for Presentation
______/5 pts.
c) Index cards with 3 questions for audience
______/5 pts.
Presentation Materials Total: ______ (20 pts.)
Total Presentation Points: ______/60 Pts