History paper

Paper 3 - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ____________________(1866 – now)

Using the Walker Library, you will conduct research on any American of your choice, from 1866 to modern times, who has made any kind of impact on history, or society in general. You may pick someone local (whom you know), or an historical,

or contemporary figure.

Task:

1. Firstly, you will investigate your person’s personal, historical, and cultural background by exploring various sources, e.g. Newspapers, academic databases and books (or personal interviews) to create an original account of that person’s life.

2. To conclude, you will reflect on why you chose them, and what their impact has been on you.

You are going to get to know your person really well! Use the following questions to guide your research:

1. What is your person’s historical context: What was life like in America (or a specific city) during this time? Note the major events of the time.

2. What was/is this person’s personal background? How did they fit into society, based on what you know about the times?

3. What were your person’s specific emotional, mental, physical, and/or social

behaviors, idiosyncrasies, and traits? Were they likeable/unlikeable?

4. What are the events in your person’s past, such as schooling, home life, employment, and/or trauma that have significantly molded them to be the person they were or are today?

5. What were your person’s roadblocks, problems, and hurdles that they had to

overcome to achieve their goals?

6. What significance did they have on their specific field, and society during their lives?

7. What is their legacy? How have they influenced others? How can we learn from

them?

8. Why did you choose them, and how have they impacted your life?

AWES OME

NEWS !

Sample - Life and Times Outline: Introduction

• Identification of the person who you will be writing about. • Thesis

Body: (as many paragraphs as you need)

• Historical context • Personal background • What were they like (point 3 above) • Events that changed/moulded them • Accomplishments & hurdles • Why they are special or interesting

Legacy

• How they have influenced others, and what we can learn from them? Reflection

o Why did you choose them, and how have they impacted your life? Bibliography (MLA Format)

GUIDELINES • DUE: Friday, November 22nd, 11:30 pm • MLA format –

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_ style_guide/mla_general_format.html

• 12-point font – Arial or Times New Roman • Double spaced • Length: 1000 – 1300 words • DO use in-text citations when quoting (use at most 2 short sentences, not blocks

of text) https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_ style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html

• You must include a Work Cited Page/Bibliography. • You must use a minimum of 5 sources • You may include pictures (properly cited) • Create a title for your paper.

o Do not include a title page o Do not include section headers o Do not use footnotes or end notes