Over the course of this school year you will write a 10-page paper on any topic in American History.  This paper is meant to be the culmination of your four years as part of the American History Academy Program at Salesian High School.  The topic of this paper should be of great interest and importance to you.  For ideas for your paper, click here.  You should consider this paper a summary of your years of study of American history, our nation's story and YOUR story.



No class time will be devoted to this paper.  You will work on this project entirely on your own time.  It is the most important homework assignment of your current history class, U.S. History and Government.  You know by now that any term paper is the result of many smaller assignments.  You will complete these assignments following the deadlines shown below.  These assignments will come due during each of the four quarters of this school year.  In every quarter, your assignments for this paper will constitute 50% of your quarter grade.  Be sure to follow the schedule carefully, completing each of the assignments on time.  Your teacher will remind you about each assignment, explain them in class, and help you complete them.



This paper requires original research.  You must read and use two books.  You must read and use five articles from online databases like Thomson Gale's U.S. History Research Center.  The only other web sites permitted to be used are SIRS Decades: 20th Century American Resources, Harp Week, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History web site, History Now from the Gilder Lehrman Institute, the Library of Congress’ American Memory web site, the Gale Virtual Reference Library, Thomson Gale's Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, and Issues and Controversies in American History.  With the exception of illustrations for your paper, no other information from the open web will be permitted.

Click here for a complete list and explanation of the features
of each of these databases.



Your paper must make a choice.  You cannot write, for example, a paper on George Washington.  You can write a paper on George Washington, the most influential of all of our presidents.  In this last example, you have chosen Washington as the president who influenced the office of the presidency the most.  Your paper will prove why and make your case.  For help with making a choice, click here.



Your completed paper will constitute the Final Examination for your U.S. History and Government course.  Incomplete papers, plagiarized papers, and papers not meeting the minimum requirements outlined below will not be accepted and will earn a grade of “0” for your Final Examination grade.  Because of the weight of the Final Examination, failure to complete this paper as described will constitute a failure for this course, jeopardize your attendance at graduation, and will result in summer school before a Salesian High School diploma will be awarded to you.



On the other hand, completion of this paper will be a rewarding experience.  You will have completed college caliber research and developed skills that will give you an edge over other seniors preparing for college.  You will have devoted time to a topic that you enjoy and got to learn even more about.  Your paper will be a singular accomplishment of which you, your parents, and your school will be very proud.  Copies of the best papers will be kept on file in the Salesian High Library for future students to study.




REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PAPER
These are the minimum requirements.
ALL of them must be met for your paper to be accepted for a grade higher than "0"

  • Size: no less than 10 pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt. font
  • Research: two (2) books, five (5) articles from an online database
  • Topic: makes a choice on any topic in American history
  • Follows: MLA format
  • Includes: embedded citations, three illustrations, and Works Cited page
  • FORBIDDEN
    • dictionary or encyclopedia articles from the online databases
    • use of the open web for anything other than picture/photo/cartoon search
    • use of web sites other than those listed above
  • BEYOND MINIMUM & NOT REQUIRED
    • Highest Points: use of a primary source document, including political cartoons
    • Highest Points: all research done from books
D E A D L I N E S
First Quarter
  • Topic Sheet
    • Use this form to declare the topic of your paper
    • Click here to download into MS Word the Topic Sheet you must complete
  • Thesis Statement Sheet
    • Use this form to set forth the thesis for your paper
    • Click here to download into MS Word the Thesis Statement Sheet you must complete
  • First Book Report
    • For help with books for your research, click here
    • Use this form to report on the first book you read for your term paper
    • Click here to download into MS Word the Book Report form you must use
    • You will report on this book in class and you MUST bring the book to class on this day
      • You can receive NO credit if you do not bring the book to class with you
Second Quarter
  • Second Book Report
    • For help with books for your research, click here
    • Use this form to report on the second book you read for your term paper
    • Click here to download into MS Word the Book Report form you must use
    • You will report on this book in class and you MUST bring the book to class on this day
      • You can receive NO credit if you do not bring the book to class with you
  • Preliminary Outline Draft 1
    • This outline will be only one page in length
    • You will outline your 10-page paper in broad terms
  • Preliminary Outline Draft 2
    • After your teacher reviews Draft 1 of your Preliminary Outline and returns it to you, make the corrections, print the Outline again, and hand it in for another grade
Third Quarter
  • Works Cited Page Draft 1
    • Following the MLA format, create and print for a grade your paper's Works Cited page; include all of the resources you used
      • Be SURE to include at least two (2) books and five (5) online database articles
    • Also include the citation for any pictures/photos/maps/cartoons you found on the web
    • Your Works Cited Page will include a minimum of eight (8) items
      • two (2) books, five (5) online database articles, at least one (1) picture/photo/map/cartoon web page reference
  • Works Cited Page Draft 2
    • After your teacher reviews Draft 1 of your Works Cited Page and returns it to you, make the corrections, print the Works Cited Page again, and hand it in for another grade
  • Complete Outline Draft 1
    • This outline will be at least three pages in length
    • You will outline your 10-page paper in much more specific terms
      • Once this outline is completed, your 10-page paper will practically write itself
  • Complete Outline Draft 2
    • After your teacher reviews Draft 1 of your Complete Outline and returns it to you, make the corrections, print the Outline again, and hand it in for another grade
Fourth Quarter
  • 10-Page Paper Draft 1
    • Type your paper without paying much attention to grammar, spelling and writing style
      • Transfer all of the information from your Complete Outline
      • Transform your Complete Outline into paragraphs
    • Print your 10-page paper as is, errors and all
  • 10-Page Paper Draft 2
    • Correct all grammar and spelling errors
      • Use the "green wavy" and "red wavy" lines of MS Word as a guide
    • Make sure you have correctly included embedded citations
    • Review the Salesian High School Writing Rubric and make sure your writing would be graded with the highest grade possible
    • Hand in BOTH Draft 1 and Draft 2
      • Your teacher wants to see EVIDENCE of the editing process described above
    • Your teacher will return Draft 2 to you
Final Examination
  • 10-Page Paper Draft 3
    • Follow all of the corrections and suggestions made by your teacher
    • Review the Salesian High School Writing Rubric once again
    • Hand in your completed 10-page paper for 10% of your final end-of-the-year grade

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