Research Paper
The goal of the project is to give students experience finding a variety of sources,
learning about a topic, creating a thesis, and writing what they have learned in a formal
paper. Students can choose a topic to research from a list that covers a wide variety of
world issues or they can create their own teacher-approved topic.
Papers will also be submitted through www.turnitin.com at the time the paper is due.
Requirements
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Title page
__________ pages for the essay portion of the paper. The essay must be original. No
plagiarism. Anything taken from another source must be quoted and documented
accurately, with references in the text.
Cited quotes and use of MLA format
A minimum of __________ sources, including at least one encyclopedia and one book or
text book. Other suggested sources include interviews and magazines.
Works Cited Page
Paper Format
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Typed, double spaced, with a 12-point font Times New Roman
1-inch margins
Staple the pages together in the top left corner
Compile your research material in this order:
 Title Page (includes your name, the class, the teacher, the date and the
title of your paper)
 Essay (This starts at the top of the page)
 Visual(s) Note: your visual may be on your title page, embedded in
your essay or stand alone. Make sure to cite your Visual!
 Annotated Works Cited
 Works Cited
 All Notes Pages
 All Additional Materials and Handouts (Outline, Rough Rough Draft etc.)
Important Dates for the Research Paper
Class periods you should NOT miss!
Due Dates/Check off Dates
WORLD HISTORY RESEARCH TOPICS
Note: The topics below are contemporary themes and might require outside research!
1
The Crisis In
What caused the world’s largest refugee camp? What is behind
Darfur
attempted genocide in Africa? What are the UN and other nations
trying to do to help?
2
Kashmir Conflict This beautiful mountain region is caught between northwest India
and northeast Pakistan. Both nations claim it and have battled for
control. Why is this one of the most dangerous conflicts in the world
today?
3
Problem with
NK is one of the few communist dictatorships left from the Cold War.
North Korea
It is led by a rogue and dangerous leader? Why is North Korea
dangerous? What is happening in this poor country?
4
Emerging Power China was once huge, but poor, communistic country. Now it is the
of China
2nd richest country on Earth. How did that happen? What is
happening with the communists? How does this effect 21st century
(and US)?
5
Where is Al
It has been nearly9 years since 9/11. What is being done to find Al
Qaeda Now?
Qaeda? Where is Osama? What is the world doing about terrorism?
6
Nuclear Power
In 1980s couple of Nuclear Power Plants had dangerous accidents.
Plants – the
Has technology improved? Are they still to dangerous? Are they the
future?
future of the world energy need? What is the status of NP?
7
Dirty Bombs – a
In Cold War thousands of nuclear weapons were built. Many are
threat?
now being dismantled. What is the catch a rogue enemy
organization gets a nuke? How are dirty bombs (home made mini
nukes) a world threat?
8
Got Water?
In 20th century it was all about oil. Some think the 21st century will be
about fresh water. What is the fresh water crisis in the world today?
What is being done? Or should be done?
9
Drug Wars in
While the Mexican anonym is improving the power and strength of
Mexico
Mexican drug cartels is also increasing. What is the issue and
development of this dangerous conflict? How are Mexicans dealing
with this crisis?
10
Human
While slavery is technically illegal it still exists in many forms. How does
Trafficking
the world wide trade in humans exist? Where is it the worst? How are
nations dealing with this human rights violation?
11
12
13
14
Roots of
Democracy
Roots of
Democracy
Roots of
Democracy
The
Enlightenment
What ideas arose in ancient Greece and ancient Rome that
contributed to the development of democratic values?
Plato and Aristotle’s influence on the rise of democracy: with a focus
on their ideas on the rule of law and illegitimacy of tyranny
England’s shift from Monarchy to Constitutional Monarchy and its
impact on other countries.
John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Simon
Bolivar, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison: How did Enlightenment
thinkers inspire revolutionaries to push for radical changes in government
15
The
Enlightenment
16
The Revolutions:
France
The Revolutions:
Latin America
The Revolutions:
Industrial
The Revolutions:
Industrial
The Revolutions:
Industrial
17
18
19
20
21
The Revolutions:
Industrial
22
23
The Revolutions:
Industrial
Imperialism
24
Imperialism
25
Imperialism
26
World War I
27
World War I
28
The Russian
Revolution
29
World War I
30
World War I
and society?
Revolutionary texts: Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, French
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, the US Bill of Rights, the
American Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution. How did the
principles in these texts create enduring effects on the political
expectations for self-government and individual liberty?
What were the causes and effects of the French Revolution and how
did the revolution lead to the Napoleonic era?
How did the revolutionary ideals from Europe spread to Latin
America?
Industrial Nations: England, France, Germany and Japan. What
factors enabled these countries to industrialize?
What were the technological, social, economic and cultural
changes that occurred as the Industrial Revolution took place?
Change in Living: Explain the growth of population, the rural to urban
migration and the growth of cities associated with the Industrial
Revolution.
Utopianism, Social Democracy, Socialism and Communism: Why did
these new Economic theories emerge as a result of the Industrial
Revolution and what was the impact?
How did shifts in art and literature express the changing attitudes
from the Industrial Revolution?
Guns, Germs, and Steel- Why were European countries so willing and
able to colonize African and Asian people and regions? What did
they need from these areas? How did they treat those they
colonized?
Explain what it was like to be colonized using one specific region or
ethnic group as an example. Explain the benefits of colonization for
the colonizers using one specific country as an example. Was this a
justifiable situation morally?
How did Sun Yat-sen lead a revolution against the groups that tried
to colonize China? Was he successful? Why or why not?
Explain the four MAIN causes of World War I (Militarism, Alliances,
Imperialism, and Nationalism). Use two rival countries as examples
and explain why these countries were willing to risk their citizens to
fight in the Great War. Define “Total War.”
Describe the weapons and technology of World War I. How did the
weapons lead to the most devastating war fought until that time?
What strategic military advantages or drawbacks did each side have
in terms of technology and military strength?
Describe the role of Russia in World War I. What effect did the
Russian Revolution have on the ability of this country to fight? How
did the United States aid the allies after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Discuss and give statistics for the financial and human costs of World
War I. Focus your research on one country from each side and
whether their losses were justified by the outcome of World War I.
Compare and contrast the Treaty of Versailles and Woodrow Wilson’s
14 Points. Which do you believe was a better plan for lasting peace
why? Why did the United States refuse to join the League of Nations
and what were the US government’s complaints about the Treaty of
31
World War I
32
The Russian
Revolution
33
Totalitarian
Leaders
34
Totalitarian
Leaders
35
World War II
36
World War II
37
38
World War II
World War II
39
World War II
40
World War II
41
World War II
42
World War II
43
World War II
44
World War II
45
World War II
46
World War II
47
The Holocaust
49
The Holocaust
Versailles?
What was the lost generation after World War I? What characteristics
of the War changed these people’s perspectives on life and art?
Why? Use at least two examples to support your claims and include
excerpts from these examples in your research paper.
Describe the process of changing Russian government from the Tsar
to the provisional government to the Communist Party. What
consequences did these changes have for the classes in Russian
society? Discuss the effects on the Bourgeoisie, the middle class, and
the Proletariat. Define and discuss the Gulag.
Discuss the reign of Josef Stalin over Soviet Russia. How did he control
the press, the economy, and his own party to improve Russian
industrial output? Discuss the human rights violations and how
people in the Ukraine suffered under the “Terror Famine.”
Compare any two totalitarian regimes from Pre World War II.
(Germany, Soviet Union, Japan, Italy, and Spain) How are they
different? In what ways are they similar? What characteristics of
these regimes helped them to gain popular support and to rebuild
the economy after World War I? Why were Fascism and Communism
after World War I?
Japanese Atrocities in China – the Rape of Nanking and other
Japanese brutalities in China
Stalin-Hitler Pact – aka Nazi-Soviet Pact – why did these sworn
enemies create a peace treaty between each other before the
outbreak of WWII?
Why did Europe let Hitler get away with expansion before Sept. 1939?
Blitzkrieg on Poland – this starts WWII, what happened and what did
Germany do to Poland?
Nazis in France – how did the Germans take Paris and how did they
control France during most of the war?
Operation Barbarossa – Nazis invade Russia in biggest military
movement of the time
Crimes Against Humanity. What happened at the Nuremburg War
Trials and War Crimes Tribunal in Japan? What was the legal process
to prosecute and punish war criminals?
After WWII some Jews hunted down escaped Nazis. How did the
Jews and Israel accomplish this?
War in Africa – the greatest tank battles in history were in North Africa
against Rommel’s Afrika Korp Panzer Division
April 1945 – many events happened in this month including FDR, Hitler
and Mussolini dying, the Soviets taking Berlin, UN established, the last
battles and others
Winston Churchill – the Lion of Britain, what did he do to keep Britain
active and fighting?
RAF – the Royal Air Force almost by itself saved Britain from being
taken by the Nazis
Nazi Aryan Racial Theory – the Germans taught that Aryan Race was
biologically superior, describe their convoluted science.
Death Camps – there were other camps besides Auschwitz, describe
the camp system
50
The Holocaust
Why West didn’t Stop the Death Camps – one of the lasting questions
of the war… what did the west know and why did they ignore the
slaughter
51
The Holocaust
52
World War II
53
World War II
54
The Cold War
55
56
The Cold War
The Cold War
57
The Cold War
58
59
60
61
62
The Cold War
The Cold War
The Cold War
The Cold War
The Cold War
63
The Cold War
64
The Modern
World
The Modern
World
The Modern
World
Final Solution – Hitler’s controversial plan to finally eliminate all Jews
from Europe
Battle of Stalingrad – one of the most incredible stories of the Russian
war with Nazis
Yalta & Potsdam Conference – the two big meetings of the Ally
leaders to decided what would happen after the war… starts the
Cold War
Origins of the Cold War – how id the conflict between USSR and US
develop
Cold War & China – how China became communist under Mao
Cold War & Cuba – Cuba is one of the few communist nations still
around – what is this history and our relationship with Castro
Cold War & Germany – how Germany was divided and the Berlin
Wall meant to the Cold War
Cold War in South America – US and USSR compete in Latin America
Cold War & Africa – US and USSR compete in Africa
Arms Race – the race to build more and better nuclear weapons
Space Race – the competition to rule the skies and space programs
Fall of the Soviet Union-Why did the original communist country,
sworn enemy of the US and Western allies finally collapse?
Break up of Yugoslavia-What caused this once independent
communist nation to fall apart? What has happened to this Balkan
region since 1919?
Why did Europe create the European Union?
65
66
International Monetary Fund-What is the IMF? How did it evolve?
What are its functions and limitations?
World Court-What is the World Court? How does it prosecute war
criminals and crimes against humanity?
Research Project
Notes from Source #1
Name___________________________________
Date__________________________ Period ___
Directions: Correctly cite your source below
Citation of this source:
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Directions: Write a detailed annotation of your source. Refer back to your notes if you are unsure of how
to do this!
Annotation or Summary of this source:
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Directions: Take notes from your source in the space below. Make sure to use quotes around anything
you copy directly and record the page numbers if it is from a book. Refer back to your note taking
handout if you are unclear of how to take notes!
Notes from this source:
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Research Project
Notes from Source #2
Name___________________________________
Date_________________________ Period ___
Directions: Correctly cite your source below
Citation of this source:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Write a detailed annotation of your source. Refer back to your notes if you are unsure of how
to do this!
Annotation or Summary of this source:
______________________________________________________________________________
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Directions: Take notes from your source in the space below. Make sure to use quotes around anything
you copy directly and record the page numbers if it is from a book. Refer back to your note taking
handout if you are unclear of how to take notes!
Notes from this source:
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Research Project
Notes from Source #3
Name___________________________________
Date__________________________ Period ___
Directions: Correctly cite your source below
Citation of this source:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Write a detailed annotation of your source. Refer back to your notes if you are unsure of how
to do this!
Annotation or Summary of this source:
______________________________________________________________________________
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Directions: Take notes from your source in the space below. Make sure to use quotes around anything
you copy directly and record the page numbers if it is from a book. Refer back to your note taking
handout if you are unclear of how to take notes!
Notes from this source:
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Research Project
Notes from Source #4
Name___________________________________
Date__________________________ Period ___
Directions: Correctly cite your source below
Citation of this source:
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Directions: Write a detailed annotation of your source. Refer back to your notes if you are unsure of how
to do this!
Annotation or Summary of this source:
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Directions: Take notes from your source in the space below. Make sure to use quotes around anything
you copy directly and record the page numbers if it is from a book. Refer back to your note taking
handout if you are unclear of how to take notes!
Notes from this source:
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Research Project
Notes from Source #5
Name___________________________________
Date__________________________ Period ___
Directions: Correctly cite your source below
Citation of this source:
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Directions: Write a detailed annotation of your source. Refer back to your notes if you are unsure of how
to do this!
Annotation or Summary of this source:
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Directions: Take notes from your source in the space below. Make sure to use quotes around anything
you copy directly and record the page numbers if it is from a book. Refer back to your note taking
handout if you are unclear of how to take notes!
Notes from this source:
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Research Project
Notes from an Additional Source
Name___________________________________
Date__________________________ Period ___
Directions: Correctly cite your source below
Citation of this source:
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Directions: Write a detailed annotation of your source. Refer back to your notes if you are unsure of how
to do this!
Annotation or Summary of this source:
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Directions: Take notes from your source in the space below. Make sure to use quotes around anything
you copy directly and record the page numbers if it is from a book. Refer back to your note taking
handout if you are unclear of how to take notes!
Notes from this source:
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Research Paper
Name _____________________________ Date __________________ Period _____
Score
Category
Introduction
Thesis
Paragraph
Structure
Organization &
Coherence
Focus on
Assigned Topic
Accuracy of
Facts and
Evidence
First paragraph is catchy and
the writer works hard to draw in
the reader’s attention.
10
Thesis is evident and point to be
argued is well stated.
4
All body paragraphs contain a
topic sentence, multiple
examples and a transition
sentence.
10
The essay is very well organized
into paragraphs. One idea
follows another in a logical
sequence with clear transitions.
The paper reads well. It tells a
coherent story.
8
The entire essay is related to
the assigned topic and allows
the reader to understand much
more about the topic.
10
All facts presented in the essay
are accurate and relate back
to the thesis. All facts are cited
correctly.
First paragraph has a weak
“grabber.”
8
Thesis is mixed among many
sentences and hard to piece
together.
Grammar /
Mechanics
Analysis
Conclusion
Thesis is not entirely apparent
although topic is evident.
All body paragraphs contain at
least two of the following three
components: topic sentence,
examples, transition sentence.
8
The essay is pretty well organized
into paragraphs. One idea may
seem out of place. Clear
transitions are used. The paper
makes sense.
6
10
4
Thesis and topic of the essay are
unclear.
2
The writer attempts to use the
correct paragraph structure of
a topic sentence, examples
and a transition sentence, but
clearly struggles.
6
The essay is a little hard to
follow. Paragraphs are unclear.
The transitions are sometimes
not clear.
4
1
There is little effort by the writer at
writing correct paragraphs.
10
4
Ideas seem to be randomly
arranged. No effort at paragraph
organization. The essay is very
confusing and/or incomplete.
8
2
4
Most of the essay is related to the
assigned topic. The writer
wanders off topic in at least one
place, but the reader can still
learn something about the topic.
8
Almost all facts presented in the
essay are accurate and usually
relate back to the thesis. Many,
but not all facts are cited.
The essay is very general and
repeats a few ideas without
much evidence.
10
6
6
The essay has four or five
mechanics errors.
8
The write makes an attempt at
making analytical points in a
majority of the essay.
No attempt has been made to
relate the essay to the assigned
topic. OR No evidence is
presented.
Most facts presented in the
essay are accurate (70%).
Evidence is scattered about
rather than used to prove the
thesis. Facts are not cited.
8
The essay has two or three
mechanics errors.
The writer makes excellent
analytical points in each of the
body paragraphs.
10
The writer uses the concluding
paragraph to wrap up their
essay effectively.
10
Very little effort was made to
catch the reader’s attention in
the first paragraph.
6
3
10
The essay has few, if any,
spelling, punctuation,
capitalization or grammar
errors.
A catchy beginning was
attempted but was confusing
rather than catchy.
8
The writer loosely wraps up their
essay with their conclusion.
8
6
The writer makes an attempt at
making an analytical point at
least once in the essay.
6
The writer clearly struggles with
their conclusion.
4
10
4
There are several factual errors in
the essay. There is no real effort
to make the piece cohesive.
Facts are not cited. Little or no
evidence is presented.
4
The essay has more than five
mechanics errors.
4
There is no effort at making
analysis of any of the evidence
presented in the essay.
10
8
8
4
The writer makes no attempt at
forming a concluding paragraph.
0
10
Format
Paper is in proper order and
format. (Ex. 1 inch margins, 12
point font, MLA format).
Paper is turned in almost proper
format. There are 1-2 mistakes in
format.
4
Sources
Essay contains minimum
required sources set forth by
the teacher.
Works Cited
Length
3
Essay is missing one source or
notes from one source.
8
Works Cited is attached. All
sources are cited in perfect
MLA format.
4
Essay covers or exceeds
minimum page requirement
All notes are included and are
in the correct order: Works
cited or annotated Works
Cited, Outline, Rough Draft,
Notes from all sources used in
the library.
6
Works cited is attached. 2-3
separate errors in MLA format are
present.
3
Essay is half a page below
minimum requirement
Additional Skill Steps Graded Separately:
1. Thesis Statement (5 pts) _____
2. Check on Sources/notes (15 pts) _____
3. Annotated Works Cited (15 pts) _____
4. Outline (10 pts) _____
5. Rough Draft (20 pts) _____
6. Final Draft (102 pts)
2
Most notes and handouts are
attached. Missing one or two
handouts from class or they are
in the incorrect order.
4
1
Essay is poorly researched and is
missing three or more sources or
notes from three or more sources.
4
Works Cited is attached. 4-5
separate errors in MLA format
are present.
2
Essay is a full page below
requirement
3
2
Works Cited is attached. 6 or
more separate errors are present
in MLA format.
1
Essay is more than a full page
below the requirement.
2
Almost all notes are included.
Missing 3-4 handouts from class
or they are in the incorrect
order.
3
4
4
2
Paper Grade
4
Few notes and handouts are
attached.
Weaknesses:
Skills Steps Grade
8
1
1
4
Comments:
Strengths:
Paper has more than 5 mistakes
in format.
Essay is missing two sources or
notes from two sources.
4
Notes
Paper has 3-4 mistakes in
format.
Overall Grade