Research Paper Guidelines

This page is designed to help you conceive, research and write your research paper. Your research paper will be based on primary sources--texts, documents, images, and other material culture from the period. PLEASE NOTE THAT PAPERS THAT DO NOT USE PRIMARY SOURCES CAN NOT EARN A GRADE HIGHER THAN AN 80. It can be on any topic that you want as long as it fits into the chronological and spatial framework of the course. The paper will have a thesis statement or argument. The thesis must be underlined in your final draft. It will be your job to try to convince me of your point of view. Under no circumstances should you write a narrative paper that just describes a series of events. The paper should be footnoted according to the guidelines in the Chicago Manual of Style, double-spaced, in 12 pt font, with page numbers, and one inch margins all around. The length should be 10 pages (18-20 for graduate students), PLUS a title page (keep it simple, the title page is not an art project), and a bibliography page. Staple it (no paper clips, please) and do not put it in binders or folders. Finally, you will need to fill out and attach the research paper cover sheet to your paper.
 
All students should consult with me on their topics. I am happy to discuss your ideas with you, help you with references and assist you in refining your thesis. I will not, however, give you a topic. When you come talk to me, please come with ideas already in mind. Finally, you should start the research paper as early as possible. Your particular sources may be difficult to find and it may require that you get them from other libraries. In other words, do not start working on this the weekend before it is due.
 
If you are not totally comfortable writing a history paper, I suggest that you explore the following websites or consult Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Terms Papers, Theses and Dissertations (Chicago, 1996). You should also read some articles in history journals such as The American Historical Review or Speculum, both are available at Leonard Library or through J-STOR (you will need a library PIN number).
When you are ready to start your research, your first step is to find two or three general topics that interest you. Be careful with overtly broad topics (Renaissance Women, Late Medieval Warfare, the Black Death) which will only lead you to a weak and not very interesting paper. Broad topics are your first step, but they need to be narrowed. Common ways of narrowing topics include geographically, chronologically, and by seeing the topic through different eyes (children, minorities, women, or members of a specific social class, for example). Consequently, while "Popular Reactions to the Black Death" is not a good topic, "Poor London Women and their Reaction to the Black Death" may be. Although this may not be your final title, it will help you to focus your research.
 
Your next step is to read some secondary sources on the topic(s). A good place to begin is with a good reference source such as the Dictionary of Middle Ages (call #: Ref D114 .D5 1982) or the Encyclopedia of the Renaissance (call #: Ref CB361 .E52 1999). You may also want to browse the Bibliography I have provided for you and consult the International Medieval Bibliography, Academic Search Complete or Humanities Full Text, excellent guides to article literature. Reading the secondary sources will familiarize you with the topic and with some of the current debates on the field. In the bibliography of the secondary sources you will also get a good idea of what primary sources you may be able to use. Remember that primary sources include, but are not limited to, documents, narratives, literary sources, songs, art, coins, architecture, and archaeological findings. Search our library (do not forget the LINK+ service) and determine if enough of these sources are accessible to you. Begin examining the primary sources. After going over numerous primary sources, you should begin to develop some questions about your topic. These are often called historical questions. Your thesis will be the answer to one of these historical questions. As you gather your sources and begin to develop your arguments, it may not be a bad idea to draft an outline that allows you to visualize the finished essay.
 
These websites should provide some insight on working with primary sources and developing your thesis.
You will probably write several drafts of your paper--another reason for starting the process early. Early drafts help you to get your ideas on paper, to develop your arguments and to incorporate your evidence. They usually do not have the clarity, conciseness and style of a final draft. You will need to revise, edit and polish your drafts multiple times before it is ready to turn in. There's no simple way around this. Good writing takes time and will usually involve significant cutting and rewriting on your part. For some excellent revising suggestions, consult this website. While you are preparing, writing and editing your essay keep these suggestions / requirements in mind.
 
A few weeks before the first draft of your paper is due, you will be required to turn in an abstract. The abstract should include a one paragraph summary of your topic, including a working thesis, and a bibliography with at least 6 primary and 6 secondary sources. When looking for sources do not forget the journal literature. Your secondary sources should not come exclusively from books, but also from journal articles. Among the secondary sources included in your abstract, at least 2 must be articles, while the rest can be books.The abstract serves two purposes: to get you working on the paper early enough and to ensure that you have a viable thesis and source material. If you're unsure how to do one, you can click here for a sample abstract.
The paper(s) that you turn in, whether it is the first or final draft, should consist of the following:
  • An introduction with a clearly stated and underlined thesis (up to 1 page).
  • A short section on the historical background to your topic (2-3 pages).
  • The body of your argument with supporting primary and secondary sources (4-5 pages).
  • A Conclusion (up to 1 page).
Before turning it in make sure that it is correctly annotated and that you have followed the suggestions / requirements.
Finally, here are some useful reference sites for writers.

 

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