Research Proposal

Guidelines for Hist Mock Research Proposal (Final Assignment)

Value: 75 Points

The purpose of this assignment is for you to provide a detailed outline, also called a “mock proposal”, for a research essay that you could write at a future date focused on a historical problem. You will not actually write the essay but rather present the introduction, “thesis statement” or hypothesis, and a detailed bibliography with annotations. It is a detailed outline for an essay you could write in the future. Hence it is called a “mock” proposal.

The due date is included in our syllabus on eCampus. I cannot accept late submission because I must complete final semester grade calculations shortly after this date. The assignment is worth 75 points. You will submit it on eCampus as a Word file.

Earlier for your Midterm Assignment you chose a historical “problem” that you wanted to research for the mock proposal. Continuing with that topic you should now expand it to include the three sections listed below.

The only specific formatting directions I have are that you use college writing expectations meaning complete sentences and correct grammar and punctuation, together with a title, your name, class number, and the separation of each section by paragraphs. Please write your mock proposal using Times New Roman Size 12 font and double space the text.

You can number each section if that helps you organize it better. For in-text citations and for the bibliography I would like you to use APA format. (For this I will provide a citation guide for APA style.) Last, you should compose your mock proposal on a Word file or a file format that is compatible so that I can open it in eCampus.

Below please see a detailed description of the sections of the mock proposal and the information each should contain together with a length requirement next to each:

1. Introduction Section (2-3 Pages).

2. Thesis Statement or Hypothesis Section (1 Paragraph).

3. Bibliography with Annotations Section (2 Pages).

1. Introduction Section (2-3 Pages):

A. This is the part of your mock proposal where you will have to write the most. In this portion of your mock proposal you will lay out the main historical problem you are researching. Why is it a problem? For example, if you are researching some facet of Reconstruction (HIST 1302) tell me why it is problematic according to the values, ideas, traditions, history, etc., of American history? In other words, why is this historical problem worth analyzing? For example, it can be argued that Reconstruction was a problematic period in United States history because the federal government tried but failed in empowering key minority groups with basic civil rights. The emergence of segregation in the South ensured this. Show me this by comparing which value, idea, aspect of history, etc. the “problem” clashes with. This part of your mock proposal should also describe in detail the general background of the problem you are researching.

B. After describing the basic outline of the historical “problem” write in detailed analysis about 2 of the historical sources you have researched. For this section of your mock proposal, you can use any 2 of the sources you have identified. You should write this part of your mock proposal using standard college writing expectations prose. This means complete sentences and correct grammar and punctuation. The 2 sources should be 2 of the sources you have researched for your mock proposal and included in your bibliography (more about this in the section about your bibliography below). Try to place the 2 sources in “conversation”. Write a few sentences describing what each source said about the historical problem. In other words, how did each of the 2 sources you identified describe the historical problem? Did the 2 sources agree? Was there any disagreement? If so, why? Basically, you should tell me in some detail what these sources say about your historical problem and how they relate to the overall “big picture” of your research questions and thesis. The purpose of this is to establish the foundation for research about the topic.

After writing your introduction and describing 2 sources and placing them in dialogue, it is time to move onto the thesis statement or hypothesis section of your mock proposal.

2. Thesis Statement or Hypothesis Section (1 Paragraph):

A. This is the part of your mock proposal where you must think the deepest about your research. This part of your mock proposal only has one section, but it is very important. This is because in this section you will write a paragraph telling me what you think is the cause of the historical problem you are researching, and also possible solutions. This part is where you get to make your own original historical argument about the problem !! Do not merely pose a question. Rather try to provide an explanation or answer to why the historical problem emerged in United States History.

Questions you might consider for this section: Why did the problem arise? Could it have emerged differently? Who or what were the main “agents” of the problem? Was it the economy, the national development, social values, cultural emphasis on race, gender, or politics? Was it trade, conquest, or individuals who had plans to carry out an idea or plan? What was the motive? Try to be as specific as possible in this section. Think about the sources you have researched and think about how they point to your argument. Remember you have already “zeroed” in on a historical problem in American history. Now with your thesis statement try to tell me what the cause and possible solution are.

3. Bibliography with Annotations Section (2 Pages):

A. In this part of your mock proposal, after having provided a general outline of the history and details of the “problem” you are researching, together with a possible explanation of its cause and possible solutions, you will now list the sources on which to build your hypothetical research essay (Remember: you will not actually write the completed essay.)

Remember: In your introduction section, you will have already described in detail 2 of the same sources below. This was the section where you placed the sources in dialogue to describe the background and provide some in-depth analysis of the historical problem you are researching. Now you will include those 2 sources in your bibliography with notes.

I would like for you to find 2 each of the following sources:

· 2 primary sources.

· 2 scholarly books including e-books online.

· 2 academic history articles with an author (not Wikipedia or history.com); I would like you to search for online history articles in the Dallas College Library Database.

B. After you identify 2 each of these sources, list them in a “Bibliography” section (which you can label number 3) using APA format for the citations. Under each source write 1-2 sentences describing in some detail why you believe each will assist you in researching your historical problem. This is like an “annotated bibliography” only simpler. Describe why each source is essential to your research? How will it contribute to the understanding of the historical problem, its causes, and possible solutions?

Again, I will also upload on eCampus a guide to citing sources using APA format. APA is a type of “parenthetical” citation format for in-text and uses a specific order for the bibliography.

Last Part: After completing each of these sections you will have created a mock proposal containing the outlines of a well-researched document focused on a historical problem with an introduction, thesis statement, and sources. Now at a future date (not in my class !) you are ready to write the research essay which will more fully demonstrate or help you to clarify if your thesis statement about the historical problem was accurate !! Please submit it on eCampus by the due date.

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