Paper

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. It can be on any topic that you want as long as it fits into the chronological, topical and spatial framework of the course. The paper will have a thesis statement or argument. 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, double-spaced, in 12 pt font, with page numbers, and one inch margins all around. The length should be between 18 -20 pages for undergraduates and 22 - 25 pages for graduate students. You should include a title page(keep it simple, the title page is not an art project), and a bibliography page. Staple it and do not put it in binders or folders.
 
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 (The Black Death in England, The Church and the Black Death, Popular Reactions to 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 Premier 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) or online 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--a 15 page draft will often lead to a 10 page final paper. 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 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.
 
Your paper should consist of an introduction; a short section on historical background where you contextualize your topic; a section on the historiography of the topic (who has written about this; what have they said; and how does argument fit into the wider literature on this topic) the body where you make your argument; and a conclusion. 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.
SFSU | History Dept. | College of BSS |