United States History

Research Paper – College Prep.

Costello

I. Introduction: Throughout United States history, movements developthat shape and mold American

society. There is no one individual or group responsible for these social changes and yet, they stillemerge and

find a way to alter the country forever. Sometimes, in studying United States history, these movements tend to

be overlooked or overshadowed by people, places, and facts. This assignment is designed to rectify that

neglect.

II. Directions: You are to choose a period in American history that is centered on social change and develop a

well-written research paper on that social movement. In researching that movement, you are to make a

conclusion to what caused its emergence and the ultimate result of that movement. Finally, is Americastill

fighting that movement today? Some examples of social movements of American history are:

1. The Enlightenment and its affects on the American Revolution

2. The Industrial Revolution and its impact on American society

3. The Progressive Movement and its impact on Americansociety at the turn of the 20

th

Century.

4. The Women’s Suffrage Movement

5. The Roaring 20s and Prohibition

6. The Conservative 1950s

7. Television and the changing of American society (1955 – 1965)

8. The Vietnam War and the Counter-culture Movement

9. The 1970s: Disco and Women’s Liberation

10. The 1980s: Reaganism and the crumbling of the Cold War

11. Clinton and the 1990s: America as the only world superpower

12. Modern technology and globalization.

If you have an interest in any other social movement of American society, feel free to use that interest as the

topic for your paper. However, you must have pre-approval before doing so.

III. Requirements

1. Your paper is to be at least 5 pages in length.

2. It is to be double-spaced, one-inch margins, and 12point font.

3. You are to have a title page and bibliography page that DO NOT COUNT towards the required 5 pages.

4. You are to have at least 5 resources– only two of which can be electronic (websites).

a. 3 sources have to be paper resources – books, magazines, periodicals, articles, etc…

b. Books online are acceptable but they must be documented books (if I go to a library, I expect to

find the book).

5. You must have citations in your paper – either parenthetical citations, footnotes, or endnotes. There

must be at least one citation for each source. If not, that source cannot be included in the bibliography.

a. Since the school district uses MLA format, you may use the MLA format for this paper. A guide

to the MLA format can be found on the High School Library website (on the right, click on

“noodle tools”).

IV. Due Date

Your paper is due on Friday, April 6, 2018

NO EXCEPTIONS – I must have the paper in my hands on the due date. You MAY NOT EMAIL

THE PAPER TO ME OR SUBMIT A DISK OR FLASH DRIVE WITH YOUR PAPER. It is to be

printed and submitted on the due date.

o If you are not planning on attending school on March 31

st

, you must submit your paper on the

last day you are in school or be sure that you havethe paper in my hands on the due date.

The final paper will be graded for the 4

th

marking period.

This paper is 200 points – two test grades.

V. Items of note:

This paper is a process and there will be due datesperiodically throughout the quarter – please see the

due dates below.

If you want me to proof read your paper, I need at least three days.

We will be going to the library and computer lab towork on your papers but most of the work will be

done on your own. You cannot WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO WORK ON YOUR

PAPER.

I suggest that you go to the library early and see what they have. Use your local library or perhaps you

may try Ursinus College or Villanova University.

VI. Due dates

Monday, February 12, 2018 – Topics and parental signature sheet are due

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 – Thesis is due

Monday, March 5, 2018 – Annotated Bibliography is due (directions will be provided at a later time –

must be typed and notes must be provided).

Monday, March 19, 2018 – Rough draft is due (will be returned to you on Tuesday, March 27).

Friday, April 6, 2018 – Final Paper is due (expected to be returned sometime around May 11, 2018 =

4th Quarter).

VII. Points Breakdown

Topic = 10 points (3

rd

Marking Period)

Thesis = 20 points (3

rd

Marking Period)

Annotated Bibliography = 30 points (3

rd

Marking Period)

Rough Draft = 40 points (3

rd

Marking Period)

Final Paper = 100 points (4

th

Marking Period)

200 points total.