Pre-AP World History
Research Project-get excited!

Adapted from Julie Marnell
The Research Project Requirements:
Part I. The Paper-3rd Quarter
Part II. The Visual Display-4th Quarter 5/18
Part III. The Oral presentation-4th Quarter 5/18
& 5/20
Adapted from Julie Marnell
The World History/Geo. I Project Requirements:
Part I. The Paper-3rd Quarter
• Research paper assigned-Today 2/11
• Topic selected-By next class 2/16
• Research notecards due-2/18
• Outlines and thesis due-TBA
• Rough Drafts due/peer editing -TBA
• Final Research Paper due- mid-March date TBA
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Step One: Consider topics, civilizations, conflicts/
cultures that interest you. Use the 5 AP Themes an
The handout on thesis paper development to
guide you.
The AP World History Themes:
1. Interaction
between humans
and the
environment
2. Development
and interaction of
cultures
Adapted from Julie Marnell
3. State-building,
expansion, and
conflict
4. Creation,
expansion, and
interaction of
economic systems
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Sistema de Castas
5. Development and
transformation of
social structures
* Gender roles and
relations
* Family and kinship
* Racial and ethnic
constructions
* Social and
economic classes
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Step Two: Research your broad
topic and narrow it by developing a
question about your topic.
Example: Broad Topic: French Revolution
Narrowed Question: How did the French
Revolution transform the social class system
of France and its colonies?
Your answer to the question
is the thesis.
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Step Three:
Divide your topic
into 4 subtopics/map points. These
will be subheadings/map points you
will use in your paper to answer your
overall research question and
organize the content.
Sample Thesis: The French Revolution eliminated
the rigid social class system in existence and led to
social upheaval for the working classes as well as the
nobility.
Subtopics: Social classes pre-revolution
Leaders of the revolution/ideology
Effect on working class
Effect on nobility
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Step Four: Use Academic
Sources to research your
topic. You need four
resources: two non-internet.
BE SURE TO CHECK THESE
SOURCES FOR CREDIBILITY.
I shouldn’t
have used Wikipedia
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Start researching
•Use electronic
notecards for your
research --organize
them by source and
subtopic.
•Set a schedule for
yourself. You need to
manage your time and
stick to the schedule.
Follow the Project
Deadlines Sheet.
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Step Five: Draft an outline of your
paper.
Intro – While the French Revolution dramatically altered the
political system of France and her colonial territories, its greatest
impact was on society. Blah blah blah
Thesis: The French Revolution eliminated the rigid social class
system in existence and led to social upheaval for the working
classes as well as the nobility.
Subtopic 1 Social Class pre-revolution
Point 1: Point 2:
Blah blah blah
Subtopic 2 – Leaders of the Revolution/Ideology
Point 1
Point 2
Blah Blah Blah
Adapted from Julie Marnell
Step Five: Draft an outline of your
paper (Continued)
Subtopic 3 – Impact on the Working Class
Point 1 –
Point 2
Blah blah blah
Subtopic 4 – Impact on the nobility
Point 1
Point 2
Blah Blah Blah
Conclusion and Restated Thesis – Tie it all in and summarize.
Restate your thesis
Adapted from Julie Marnell
DO
• Include analysis in your paper- Be sure you
have answered the question, why?
• Use quotes to support your topic sentences
• Share your draft with your parents or older
sibling for feedback.
• Save your drafts in more than one location –
save a backup file on a flash drive, online
drive, or email.
• Use primary sources when possible and
provide analysis in your paper.
Adapted from Julie Marnell
•Write a thesis that is a
regurgitation from your
history book
Don’t
•Write the research paper
the day before it is due
staying up all night
to get the job done.
•cut and paste someone
else’s work from the
internet
•cheating will destroy
your grade and your
integrity.
•choose not to do this
assignment – you will fail.
Adapted from Julie Marnell
http://www.dianarodriguezwallach.co
m/blog/uploaded_images/photofeather-pen-784257.jpg
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sociofunctional/View/da.data/0000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000
2281787/%5Bimage1%5D/filename
http://endtimepilgrim.org/puritans12.htm
http://www.blackpast.org/files/black
past_images/sistema_de_castas.jpg
http://thebadmomsclub.com/2010/0
4/crime-and-punishment-edition-badmoms-love-bad-kids.html
Adapted from Julie Marnell