US HISTORY 1
Thesis Paper
The Thesis Guide Book for History Papers!
* * *
Important Information:
Turnitin.com Information
Class ID:__________________
Password:_________________
Easybib.com - Register - Coupon Code: ledyardhigh
Taskstream.com - User Name: firstlastnamexxxx(YOG) Password: ledyardxxxx(YOG)
Due Dates: You will have four weeks to complete this assignment
Tentative thesis statement: 1/30/15
Note Cards (EasyBib.com) (30):
Final Thesis Statement
(Additional 10 note cards - 40 cards or more total):
Outline Using specified graphic organizer:
Rough Draft submitted using Turnitin.com:
*Final Paper submitted using Turnitin.com:
*Final Paper submitted to your Taskstream Digital
Portfolio under Research Skills, 11th grade History
Research Paper
US HISTORY 2
Basic Requirement List
(MUST be followed!)
1. MLA Format-Typed, double spaced with 1 inch margins and 12 point Times New Roman
font
2. 5-7 pages
3. A minimum of 5 sources, must include
a. 2 Secondary sources
b. Periodical or Journal
c. A valid Internet source CRAAP Test for Evaluating Web Sites (Appendix A)
d. A Primary source (Check the Library Guide History Page for Primary Sources)
**Use Destiny Quest database search to locate your sources**
(http://ledyard.follettdestiny.com)
4. Sources must be on note cards (3x5) or SHARE your Easybib project with your teacher.
5. An approved thesis statement
6. Penalties for late papers will be given at the teacher’s discretion.
7. Intentional plagiarism will result in a failing grade.
8. Must submit to turnitin.com. Papers will not be graded otherwise.
Any Questions may be addressed in the rest of the packet.
If not, please ask your teacher!
US HISTORY 3
What is a Thesis Statement?
Define the Task - Selecting, & Exploring Topics
A Thesis Statement is a single sentence that sets the tone and subject for your entire
paper, so take it seriously. The topic of every paragraph should connect back to the thesis; it is
the backbone of your entire paper. The first step is to pick a topic. The topic you choose should
include the following:
○ Interest: You need to pick a topic that interests you. Even if you are not the
greatest writer, your paper will be much better if you choose a topic you are
passionate about.
○ Research-able: No matter how interesting the topic is, you need to be able to find
sources for it. Before you set your paper in stone, do some “background
research.” Skim a few sources and see if there is enough information out there to
meet the requirements.
Once you find your topic, ask a question! The answer will be your Thesis Statement.
When writing the statement, be sure not to make it too broad or narrow. You need to fill 5 to 7
pages, so make sure your statement has enough room for discussion of multiple ideas. Here are
some examples:
Question: How was the United States able to expand its territory even though Native
Americans inhabited the entire continent?
Broad: The United States was able to expand for many reasons.
Narrow: The United States was able to expand using through the use of social
justification, economic and military power.
Perfect: Although the Western lands were already inhabited by hundreds of tribes of
Native Americans, the United States government encouraged the use of violence,
economic interests, and a defined social hierarchy to justify expansion of territory.
US HISTORY 4
Suggested Topics
In addition to the list below, use these Subject Directories and drill down for topics:
●
●
●
●
●
Internet Public Library (http://ipl.org) FREE Access
ABC-CLIO (http://databases.abc-clio.com) (user name: lhs2 PW: ledyard)
Proquest SIRS (http://proquestk12.com) (user name & PW: ledyard)
CQ Researcher (http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher) (user name & PW: ledyard)
Newsbank (http://infoweb.newsbank.com) (user name & PW: ledyard)
WWII
Nuremberg Trial: justice or revenge; fair??
Was it necessary to drop the Atomic Bomb?
Rosie the Riveter: producing the arsenal of democracy; when the men came home
WWII: the most crucial event in women’s rights movement?
Armed Forces: blatantly racist even though allowed minorities in?
Post WWII America and the 1950’s
McCarthyism: demagogue or savior
Alger Hiss: Guilty or innocent
Nixon’s climb to power
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg: victims of the time or guilty?
Chicago Seven: political beliefs on trial
Korea: American victory or defeat?
Korea: Was Truman justified in firing MacArthur?
Was the Cold War inevitable?
William Levitt: the American Dream realized
Firing of Douglas MacArthur in Korean War: Truman’s mistake or right?
Space Race: affect on US education
Space Race: waste of money or good investment
The 1960’s
Alliance for Progress: a chance to end the Monroe Doctrine
Cuban Missile Crisis: National Defense or power politics
Great Society: Dream or Nightmare
Warren Commission : too little time too big decision.
The Black Panthers: civil rights advocates or revolutionaries
Lyndon Johnson: Civil Rights Act 1964 (present day limiting of those rights?)
Martin Luther King: America’s conscience
Thurgood Marshall: making the law work
Rosa Parks: the right to choose
Guardian Angels: responsible citizenship or vigilantes
JFK: good or bad president
Tet Offensive and the Media – Did the media undermine US efforts in Vietnam?
US HISTORY 5
The 1970’s
Kent State: justified action or reaction
Jackson State: the other student massacre
Camp David Accords: courage in the face of enemies
Watergate: mountain or molehill
Gerald Ford: The Nixon Pardon good for US or American tragedy?
Jimmy Carter: a man ahead of his time or an inept communicator?
Richard Nixon: good or bad for America?
Pardon of the draft dodgers: a good decision?
1980’s to present day
Unions in the 1990’s: necessary or obsolete?
Reaganomics: Economic Impetus or political ploy
NAFTA: saving American jobs or not?
Ronald Reagan: America’s return to confidence
Outsourcing
Iran –Contra: covert foreign policy
NASA: final frontier or wasted dollar
Gulf War: win or loss?
War on terrorism
Patriot Act: necessary or a violation of rights
Bush (Jr) Doctrine
9-11: impact on society
Social Security: antiquated or necessary
No Child Left Behind: accountability and funding: an impossible goal?
Network News: truth or “spies”
Foreign Policy
Secretaries of State and their influence (George Marshall, John Foster Dulles, Henry Kissinger,
Warren Christopher)
United Nations: a dream for peace; third world forum
Amnesty: bring the country together (draft)
Détente: the policy that ended the cold war
Vietnam
Lt Calley: political scapegoat or war criminal
Military v political objectives
Silent majority: if it had only spoken out
Impact of protest on the political will to fight
Gulf of Tonkin: blown out of proportion or proper response
Politics
Loyal minority: minority politics- check or gridlock
The First Lady: Political asset or liability / influence
Impeachment: political check or weapon
Lobbying: special interests defeat democracy
US HISTORY 6
Civil Rights
Racism and Professional Sports: Jackie Robinson to Shaq; role models
Affirmative Action: still justified or time to retire
Northern Racism: is busing the answer?
Textbook censorship (Internet)
Reverse Discrimination: legitimate concern or exaggeration
Uncle Tom: not doing justice to the original
Homosexuals in the military: Clinton didn’t help
Boston Busing Crisis: racism still alive
Emmett Till: was his death crucial in igniting the Civil Rights movement?
Society
Professional sports: the hero thing; role model or drug user
Roe v. Wade: a woman’s right
Counterculture: a way to change society or a fleeting moment of fame
Educational reform: a myth or reality
Public Education: backbone of Democracy
Television: as a cultural force; enlightenment or detriment
Death Penalty: cruel and unusual punishment?
Docudrama: playing with history
The war correspondent: it didn’t start with Wolf Blitzer
Free Speech v. Political Correctness
Betty Friedan: the impact of the Feminine Mystique
Rachel Carson: the impact of Silent Spring
Tinker v. DesMoines: the restriction of students rights, has it continued?
Criminal Rights: have they continued to increase since the Supreme Court in the 1960’s?
Should citizen rights be restricted in wartime?
Title IX: is it necessary?
Assassination: a political weapon
Advertising: creative spelling or hornswoggling; modern day propaganda
Immigration laws: racist or protective
Curt Flood: court case that changed major League Baseball
US HISTORY 7
Research!
Seeking relevant information & ensuring adequate resources are available
to complete the paper
Finding information to support your paper is going to be confusing and frustrating. There
is so much information available, finding useful information can be a challenge. Your first step
with any paper is to visit the library. The school’s library has numerous sources and databases
for you to research.
Chosen a topic?
Brain storm keywords and complete advance searches using the collections listed below.
Take notes of subjects & keywords as you READ through the information.
Destiny Quest – this is the online catalog for the school. It allows you to search for
books, E books, and other collections in the library. Run a search choosing a one word
topic, then refine & filter based on the results. For more results click on “ONE
SEARCH” to recover related articles, web sites, and other source material that is preapproved for this assignment. Access is online: https://ledyard.follettdestiny.com/
○ Library Guide - Access to everything you will need to search, organize, and write this
paper. You can use it 24/7 online: http://lhs.ledyard.libguides.com/home
○ The 900s - When reading the library’s shelves, history books are in the 900s section. You
will also find books in the 300s if you are searching for social sciences and issues, 500s
for sciences, 600s for health, 700s for music and art.
○
Exploration to Formulation
Clarity & Focus
Analyze - Fact or Opinion - Primary or Secondary?
Suggested Web Sites to search:
National History Day - www.historytoday.com
PBS The American Experience - www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience
National Public Radio - www.npr.org
US History Chronological Order - http://www.ushistory.org/us/index.asp
Gallup Site - www.gallup.com
US History - www.ushistory.org
History & Theory (studies in the philosophy of history) - www.historyandtheory.org
Smithsonian American History - www.americanhistory.si.edu
Black History - www.blackhistory.com
National Women’s History Program - www.nwhp.org
Smithsonian Institute - http://www.si.edu/
National Archives - http://www.archives.gov/ (Excellent Primary Sources)
US HISTORY 8
Tips for web searching:
When searching key words, include “AND,” “NOT,” and “OR.” The words allow the
conjunction to be used in the search, this is called a Boolean search (Berkeley Guide)
Ex: Civil Rights AND Women
○ Trying to find a specific domain (site)? Type the search and add: site:org
Ex: “Martin Luther King Jr” site:edu
○ Focus your search by choosing one word or phrase to search and include the phrase in
quotes. Your results will be exactly the phrase in the order you have written.
Ex: “History of guardian angels”
● There are several domains which typically have the following meaning. The starred ones
are a good place to start:
*edu - educational
*gov – government
*org - organization
com – commercial
net – network
○
Is it a Good Source?
Check the URL first:
Uniform Resource Locator - addresses for Web Sites
Static URLs are stable (can be used for future access): http://lhs.ledyard.libguides.com/home
Dynamic URLs are temporary (do not use for future access)
First part of the URL between the // and / contains domain information. Here is an example:
http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/pdf/lmc/reviews_and_articles/featured_articles/Abilock
_March_April2013.pdf
Identifying the pieces of the URL:
● //Publisher/
● PDF likely to be a visual duplicate of print
● Magazine
● Featured articles
● By author name and date of issue
● Use the information in the URL to READ the file structure for contextual clues.
● Read the information and begin to evaluate the source.
● What are you searching for? Choose the resource to match your topic.
If you choose to use a web site outside of the recommended sites, complete this
questionnaire and return with your note cards: (Appendix A)
US HISTORY 9
Formulation to Collection
Seeking pertinent information & Documenting
Note Cards
Keep track of the information you find in a convenient way. You need to create a minimum
of 40 note cards. On each note card you need specific information. Each card should look like
the one below. Keep only one idea on a note card with two to four sentences. Easybib.com
(http://easybib.com) Coupon Code: ledyardhigh
Number or color code your sources, rather than continuously renaming your source on each note
card.
Title. Author. Publisher. Place of Publication.
Volume.Page Numbers. Date Published. URL. Today’s
Date.
Having this information will be useful to create the
citation of the source later on in the research project.
Do not write down everything from the source. Instead:
1. Quote
2. Paraphrase/Summarize
3. Comment
Outlining!
An outline is perhaps the most useful tool in writing a thesis paper. Having an outline
allows you to organize your research notes as well as the direction of your paper. When creating
your outline, use the teacher approved graphic organizer provided. Easybib (http://easybib.com)
(Coupon Code: ledyardhigh) Projects is an organizational tool and you can easily move your
note cards to an outline.
After sorting your note cards into subtopics, an outline can be easily created:
A. Introduction
I. Background
II. Thesis
B. First Subtopic
I. First Point
1. Supporting Evidence
2. Supporting Evidence
II. Second Point
1. Supporting Evidence
2. Supporting Evidence
D. Conclusion
I. Restate thesis and main points of paper
US HISTORY 10
Intellectual property & Plagiarism (LHS Plagiarism policy)
Quoting and Paraphrasing
Intentional Plagiarism is defined as, but not limited to:
● Obvious, substantial, verbatim reproduction of information
● Fabrication of sources, falsification of page numbers, or other deliberate
misdocumentation
● Submission of others' work as the students' own. This applies to uncited paraphrasing of
another's ideas as well as verbatim use of others' words. (Others' may refer to either
scholarly sources, online "cribbed" essays, or the work of other students).
Technical Plagiarism is defined as, but limited to:
● Poor paraphrasing, amounting to "pearling" of "translating" another's work
● Improper citation or documentation that misrepresents a source
● Insufficient citation of factual information not held to be common knowledge (common
knowledge is defined as facts readily available from a variety of sources)
● Poor integration of direct quotations with the student's own writing
What Is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing is taking the information and rewriting it in your own words. This does not mean
using synonyms or removing an “and.”
How do you know when to quote?
You should quote whenever:
● It will lend authority to your paper
● The wording is too precise and paraphrasing will distort the meaning
● Contradicting it, you want the reader to know you are being fair.
***YOU SHOULD PARAPHRASE INFORMATION MORE THAN YOU QUOTE IT***
You are searching & processing information to find out what is already known by others about
your topic. Next you will borrow some of the information which is the intellectual property of
the source. You need to choose:
● Move the information directly to your work, quote, and cite the source
● Borrow a small amount of the intellectual property and paraphrase in your own words
and cite the source
● Use a larger amount of the source information and summarize in your own words. Again,
this must be cited.
US HISTORY 11
Presentation & Synthesis of Ideas
Components of Writing
Introduction:
The introduction introduces your topic to the reader. This paragraph will provide the
basics of your subject, narrow it, and then present your thesis. A good way to start is some
background information: Who, What, When, etc.
The best introduction will always be one that’s interesting and catches the reader’s
attention. This can be done with a witty comparison or a famous quote.
The final sentence should be your thesis statement.
Conclusion:
The conclusion is, perhaps, the hardest part of the paper. By now you’ve spent hours over
a computer and just want to be done. Although this is the last paragraph, it is also one of the most
important ones. The conclusion is what the reader will remember about your paper. There are no
set guidelines on writing conclusions, simply suggestions on what to include:
● A famous quote – it will lend authority to your final moments
● A prediction – this can be in two different ways: Scare them into action or create a
utopia, a place of perfection.
● Repeat all your points – a little dependable and try something new
● DO NOT – repeat your introduction in new words or cast doubt on your points.
Titles:
Save the best for last! The title is the easiest part because it is so simple and creative.
Regardless of your topic, you need a title that catches interest. A controversial statement can
work wonders. Other options include quotes from famous people, a question, or a well written,
witty line from your own paper. Remember, you title should reflect your topic and your tone.
US HISTORY 12
MLA Formatting and Internal Documentation
Paper Formatting:
1. Title Page:
a. The title should be in all capital letters and in the center of the page.
b. Beneath it should be your Name, Block, and Date in the lower right hand corner.
2. Paper:
a. 12 point Times New Roman Font, 1-inch paper margins on all sides, double-
spaced.
b. Use underlining or italics for all titles of works. Be consistent and choose only
one.
c. Number all pages, except the first page, in the top right corner. The header should
have your last name in it. Ex. Smith 2
Internal Citations (parenthetical references)
These are important because it allows the reader to trace your information source. You
need to cite all statistics, quotes, and information that could not be considered common
knowledge. When paraphrasing or quoting, write the following at the end of the sentence before
the period: (author’s last name page number)
Ex. 99.9% of students will find this helpful (Spellings 4).
Should the author’s name appear in the information, simply include the page number in your
citation. When including the author’s name, try to include some background information to give
them authority.
Ex. According to Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education, 99.9% of students will find
this helpful (Spellings 4).
If the work has no author or is a non-print source (web site, TV show, speech, etc) use the title. If
the title is too long, abbreviate it or include the first important word of the title (not ‘the’).
Ex. 99.9% of students will find this helpful (Thesis Guide Review 4).
When using an indirect quote, a quote you received from someone else, include “qtd. in” to
indicate the source.
Ex. “This Thesis Guide is fantastic!” said Ms. O’Brien, a teacher at Ledyard High school
(qtd. in Smith 7).
If two works have the same last name, include the initials in the documentation. If there are two
works by the same author include a shortened title. If more than one person wrote it, then include
US HISTORY 13
all the last names. A work with 4 or more authors requires the abbreviation “et al.” after the first
name.
Ex. 87% of teenagers hate writing thesis papers (L. King 10).
Ex. Most teens hate thesis papers because of the amount of time they take (“Teens and
Thesis Papers” 54).
Ex. Although teens hate papers, they are a good way to prepare for college level writing
(Patterson and Peterson 151).
Ex. Teens who had never written a thesis paper, will struggle more in college (Emerson
et al. 87).
Works Cited
This page must follow strict formatting. Centered at the top of the page must be the title
“WORKS CITED.” The page must be double spaced with no skipped spaces between entries.
You must alphabetize your sources. Should your source be more than one line, the second line
must be indented one inch. Easybib will properly format your works cited from which you can
merge the word document to the rest of your thesis paper. If you are confused, please see the
example below.
WORKS CITED
Smith, Joan. “Loving Thesis Papers: a biographical account of one woman’s love
of thesis papers.” National Educator. 24 November 2008: 1-56.
Each source must be documented properly. Some common source citing will be listed
below. If you are unable to find your type of source, visit: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/. This is
a free online writing center that can help you find more obscure citations. See Appendix B for
sample basic citations.
US HISTORY 14
Thesis Approval Sheet
Forming your thesis
Name: ______________________
General Topic of interest: ___________________________________________________
Question you would like answered: ___________________________________________
Possible/Tentative thesis (answer to the question):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Questions that come up as you research:
1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________
US HISTORY 15
Thesis Outline Handout
Final Thesis: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Requirements
Source Citation
How does the evidence in the source support your
thesis? Be Specific
Primary Source
Secondary
Source 1
Secondary
Source 2
Journal /
Periodical
Internet Source
Teacher Signature: __________________________
Student Signature: __________________________
US HISTORY 16
Peer Review Sheet
Author: __________________________
Reviewer: _______________________________
I. Introduction
_______ Is there background information to introduce the topic?
_______Is the thesis clearly stated? Underline or star the thesis.
_______Does it capture your attention?
II. Body of the paper
Evidence
_______ Is there sufficient evidence to support the thesis? Can you identify at
least three major points?
_______Are the points clearly presented Do you understand how this supports the
thesis?
_______ Are the points explained and discussed adequately? Do they leave out
information?
_______ Are the points organized and do they transition easily? (Do the points
move from the least to most important and is it a clear transition)
Style
_______Do they follow MLA format?
_______Is each paragraph coherent; does it develop its topic sentence?
_______Are there grammatical problems?
III. Conclusion
________Does the conclusion review/summarize main points?
_______ Does the conclusion contain new ideas or information?
_______ Does the conclusion contradict the thesis?
_______ Does the conclusion adequately close the paper, do you feel as if there is
US HISTORY 17
nothing more to talk about?
_______ Is the conclusion memorable?
IV. Overall
_________ Is there a clear position taken and is it well developed and supported?
_________ Does the paper include internal citations?
_________ Does the paper convince you of their point? Have they swayed your opinion
at all?
Please give 6 general comments: 3 for improvement and 3 praising. Include any additional notes
in this space
Improve
Commendations
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
Notes
Thesis Paper – Check-in/Grade Sheet
US HISTORY 18
Name: ____________________________
Block: _______
Item
Due
Date
Score
1
Tentative Thesis Statement
/5 points
2
5 Source cards/ 40 Note cards
(properly formatted)
3
Number of Source Cards
● Title
● Author
● Type of source
4
Number of Note Cards
● Letter on right hand corner - Q for quote. P for paraphrase.
● Key idea of the source - one idea per card
● Page numbers (except for web sites)
● Uses note form (bullets, not copying complete sentences)
5
Thesis outline handout
6
Outline - Completed Graphic Organizer
● Adequate background & definitions provided
● Includes thesis statement and topic sentences
● Includes blend of quotes and paraphrases.
● Explanation of quotes and how they relate to thesis and or
topic sentences
● Basic citation so you know where the information comes
from
● Conclusion relates to thesis and responds to question
/10 points
7
Rough Draft submitted to Turnitin.com
/10 points
8
Final Paper submitted to:
Turnitin.com and TaskStream.com
/15 points
9
Research Folder - copy of Works Cited page And ALL
note/source cards or shared on Easybib with your teacher
/20 points
/5 points
/30 points
/5 points
/100 points
Letter Grade