Paper details
WESTERN CIVILIZATION
RESEARCH ESSAY (25%)
HISTORICAL CONTROVERSIES
This assignment consists of a research paper examining an important person or event that
contributed to Western civilization and shaped its history.
Purpose:
Historians often hold conflicting views about people and events in the past. Examining an
historical controversy will provide you with a better understanding of how historians approach
facts and form opinions. You will manage information, take into account different historical
opinions, analyze arguments, organize your thoughts and present them in a clear written form in
order to better understand a historical process.
What you need to do:
1. Based on your previously submitted research outline, write a 1200 words minimum essay
(excluding the cover page, footnotes and bibliography)
2. In the introduction, you must present a thesis statement (put it in bold letters so that I can
easily identify it) regarding your historical controversy.
3. In the body of your text, you must argue to support your thesis statement. Your arguments must
be specific and convincing, and supported by facts and evidence. Avoid simply describing your
topic or aspects surrounding it. Any facts or information you include in your essay should relate
directly to your thesis statement and constitute an argument to support it.
5. Use footnotes (Chicago style) to present references for all information borrowed from your
sources. Include a bibliography at the end of your paper. The quality and use of your research
from historical books will substantially influence the evaluation of your essay − be sure to use
them in the body of your paper.
Summary:
• Intro: Present both sides of the historical controversy. Formulate a thesis statement that
supports one side or the other, or a compromising third position.
• Body: Present arguments that defend your thesis statement. Provide evidence. Include as
many footnotes as possible using Chicago style. Include page numbers in your references.
• Conclusion: Summarize your arguments; explain how you feel you have proven your thesis.
• Bibliography: Must contain at least 4 academic sources. One extra web source is allowed.
• Word count: At least 1200 words (typed) AND FOOTNOTES INSIDE THE PAPER
WESTERN CIVILIZATION
RESEARCH ESSAY
FINAL PAPER GRADING SCHEME
INTRODUCTION
You provide an introduction in which you clearly present an historical controversy (1 point)
You briefly outline the different sides of the historical controversy (1 point)
You clearly present a valid thesis statement and offer an overview of your arguments (1 point)
BODY
Your arguments are clear, well divided into paragraphs and well balanced (4 points)
The evidence and examples used to support your arguments are relevant and convincing (4 pts)
You use examples from varied sources: class notes, textbook, and academic sources (2 point)
CONCLUSION
You summarize the content of your essay. (1 point)
Your self-reflection on the significance of your essay is meaningful. (1 point)
EDITING, FORMAT, LANGUAGE
Your essay is of appropriate length: 1200 words minimum (2 points)
Your essay has a cover page and is properly formatted (double-space writing, normally-sized
font, page numbers, 1” margins, etc.). (2 point)
You present your references in footnotes and use Chicago style. (2 point)
Your essay has a bibliography containing at least 5 academic sources (books, peer-reviewed
journal articles, primary sources, etc.). No more that one internet source. (2 points)
Your essay has no spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, or typos (2 points)
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