Research Essay (assignments 1 and 2)
The objective of the assignment is to produce a research essay examining any theme or problem in the interwar period (1918 to 1941) and is to be completed in two steps. The final essay will be marked for depth and sophistication of research as well as for the overall quality of writing. The core of this essay MUST be primary sources.
For the purposes of this assignment much of the primary material around which the essay is built can be found on the internet. Links to some of the most useful source sites will be available through the resources link at the History 322 homepage. These links are to some of the same sites we will be using in our class discussions and are meant only as a starting point for your research.
Primary sources are to be the core of the paper and MUST represent a substantial proportion of the material used in the final paper.
You will however also need to use a range of secondary sources to create a theoretical or contextual framework to tie the primary material together and to help substantiate the arguments made. The final assignment is divided into two parts, each with separate requirements and due dates. For ease of consideration and reference, the two parts will be considered as separate assignments.
**Important Note on Internet
Sources:**
Due to the varying quality of internet sites and the difficulty facing students
of distinguishing credible from non-credible internet sources, internet sites
may only be used for PRIMARY materials for the research paper. No
secondary or interpretive materials from the internet will be permitted
for the essay.
Assignment #1
There are two requirements of the first assignment: a) provide a clear, well defined thesis statement for the final paper and b) discuss some of the research to be incorporated into the final paper. This assignment is to be 1,000 words in length.
a) Thesis Statement (200 words)
In your essay you must have a well defined thesis, or
argument, throughout the final paper. In this first assignment you
must indicate the argument you will make in your final paper.
Your final essay is not to be a narrative of events or a retelling of a
story. You must take a stand and argue a point of view in your essay.
You need to indicate the purpose of your paper. What will it achieve
or demonstrate? How will it expand our understanding of some
aspect of the inter war era.? Only by reading a range of sources
can you achieve a sense of the issues involved and create a strong argument
which reflects the complexities of the topic and the period. The
thesis can make or break the final paper and thus requires some thought.
Good research can be wasted on a pointless or superficial argument.
You must also be certain to define the parameters of the paper ( ie geographic,
chronological, etc.) and justify the use of those parameters.
b) Research Discussion (800
words)
This is to be a discussion of the source material which
is to be used in the final essay. In doing so:
This is not to be a mini-essay, but instead a discussion and analysis of the source material in relation to the thesis and the overall objectives that you have indicated for the final paper.
Assignment #2
This is to be the full research paper which builds on
the argument and material presented in assignment #1 . The
final essay will be marked for depth of research, sophistication of argument,
and quality of writing.
For the final essay you will need to build on the research of the first assignment. In addition to the primary sources, you are also required to include a minimum of two scholarly articles and one book. Remember, the core of the essay is to be built around a base of PRIMARY sources.
Correct bibliographic and reference forms for history are required. The final essay is to be 2,000 words in length, +/- 5%. Be certain that you are familiar with the due date policy.
Assignment Due Dates: