US History Dual Enrollment
The MLA Research Paper
1. The MLA Research Paper project is designed to develop the students’ research,
organizational, and writing skills. The MLA writing format is one that the student
will invariably come face-to-face with in college, so it is essential that students
master its use as early as possible.
2. The Research Paper will cover any topic in US history from the colonial era to
the present except for current events. What are current events? Current events
are anything that has occurred within the last 20 years. All topics must be
approved by the instructor.
3. The project will consist of two graded parts: research and writing.
 Research – Students will prepare a minimum of thirty (30) research cards in
the required format (see example). The dimensions of these cards must be
either 4x6 or 5x8 inches. Students must also prepare a minimum of 6
bibliography cards for the sources used. Bibliography cards must be 3x5 in
size. The sources can be varied but must comply with the following
requirements of number and type:

Book

Encyclopedia

Newspaper, Periodical, Video, etc.

Internet
(3 min)
(2 max)
Additionally, the student must turn in a first-draft outline with thesis
statement in MLA format. All of the above must be turned in inside a manila
envelope with the student’s name on the flap.
 Writing – Students will use their research cards to write a seven to ten
page research paper. The paper must conform to the following:

1-1.25 inch margins on all sides

12 point conservative font (Arial,Times-Roman, etc)

All double spaced

MLA notation

Works Cited page

Numbered pages
The completed paper will be turned in inside the project manila envelope.
4. The project will count as thirty percent of the semester grade. Projects will be
accepted after the due-date based on the 10-20-50 rule. Technological failures
such as non-working printers will not be accepted as an excuse for late papers. Cut
and paste from any source will be treated as plagiarism and may result in a failing
grade.
Research card example:
1
Alexander as a boy
Bibliography card example:
P. 34
1
Williams, John. Alexander the Great.
New York: Putnam, 1975.
Alexander was tutored by Aristotle, a pupil of the great
Greek philosopher Plato. Alexander came to respect
Greek culture especially philosophy.
On your research card, place the number of your bibliographical source in the
upper left corner. In the top center, place a short title describing the information
found on the card (use what makes sense to you). Place the page where the
information was found in the source in the top right corner. Write whatever
information you deem important in the body of the card. These cards may be handwritten.
On your bibliography card, place a number in the upper left corner. This is the
number used on your research card so you know what source was used to get the
information.
Outline example:
Outline
Thesis: Alexander the Great, through his
conquests, spread Greek culture throughout
the world.
I. Alexander’s childhood.
A. Aristotle
B. Training for battle
1. Bucephalus
2. The cavalry
II. Assuming the throne
A. The death of his father
B. The subjugation of Greece
III. Alexander the conqueror.
A. Granicus
B. Issus
C. Gaugamela
D. India
IV. The last days of Alexander
A. Marriage
B. Mutiny
C. Alexander’s death
This outline example gives you a basic idea
of what an MLA outline would look like. Do
NOT use this example as a guide for
spacing and margins, etc.
Name
___________
Research Cards (30+)
Manila Envelope
Bibliography
Cards (6 min)