Saratoga

Research Paper Due Dates

The following is the schedule of assignments, with their due dates, for the research paper. You are required to complete each step on time; each part will count toward your grade. READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY.

Part I: Topic Proposal Ð'- Monday September 18

Submit a 2-3 sentence description of 3 topics for a research paper. The topic must be an event in American History from the Colonial Era up to 1980. The topic should be relatively narrow, something that does not take up more than a paragraph in your American History textbook. Broad topics such as "Abraham Lincoln and Slavery", "The Roaring Twenties", "The Great Depression", or "The McCarthy Era" are NOT acceptable. Topics in cultural history should be avoided. Examples of acceptable topics would be "The War Hawks role in the declaration of war in the War of 1812", "Benjamin Franklin's position regarding American Independence", "

Part II: Background Reading and Summary Ð'- Friday, October 20

Has a teacher ever told you NOT to use an encyclopedia? That SHOULD BE the FIRST book you consult to learn more about your topic. Do some background reading (such as an encyclopedia) to get an idea about the event. Then write a one to two page summary of the topic. You may obtain this information from any source, and you do not need to use the proper format for citations. All you need to do is indicate where you got the information from at the end of the summary. As with all of the work you do, you should also keep a detailed record of which sources you have used and, where applicable, the page numbers of where you found information. The assignment must be typed, using standard format (double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, default margins).

Part III: Works Cited Page; Book Check Ð'- Monday, November 13

Submit a works cited page that properly documents each of the sources you are using for your research paper. This must include at least five books or other scholarly sources (e.g., articles). A legitimate source is one with citations, meaning footnotes or endnotes. You MUST ALSO BRING these books with you to class on this day. If you cannot take the book out of the library, then Xerox at least twenty pages from it, including the title and copyright pages. If it is an article you have located online, please print it out. When you actually write your paper, you must base your work on information from books and scholarly sources, not from encyclopedias or the Internet. It is okay if you find new sources after you submit this page, as long as you remember to add them. We will discuss in class how to do a works cited page. (The information is also in Citing Sources.) You must start doing actual research and taking notes before this deadline even though your research will not be checked on this date.

Part IV: First Note Check Ð'- Monday, December 18

As soon as possible, you should begin taking