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History Paper

Make an outline, bibliography, and write the paper.

Preferred Topics: 15, 22, and 23.

Authentic assessment paper (30%)

You are encouraged to find topics of interest to you. I will suggest a list of possible paper topics. The paper should be 12-15 pages, double-spaced, using standard fonts. The outline and bibliography are due at the end of week 3, Feb. 1 (5%). Final paper is due at the end of week 8, March 8 (25%). I will provide you with detailed directions and guidelines.

Sources

A minimum of four scholarly sources, meaning scholarly books and/or essays in academic journals (academic journals are available online through the UMUC library). At least one-third of your citations must be of scholarly sources. Encyclopedias and other reference works, general books and textbooks, popular magazines, or general Internet sources are not acceptable in lieu of scholarly sources, but they can be supplementary sources.

Citations

You must cite sources for all materials other than generally well-known information, using the footnote system (consecutively numbered citations at the bottom of each page following the Chicago Manual of Style). Do not place notes at the end of the paper or in parentheses inside the text. You must footnote all materials taken from the sources, not just quotes.

Grading Rubric for Papers

A (90-100): Thesis is clearly presented in the first paragraph. Primary and secondary sources are used to support main points. Style and form are correct. All cited works are done in the correct format. Paper is almost free of misspellings, comma and semicolon errors, etc.

B (80-89): Thesis is clearly presented in the first paragraph. Primary and secondary sources are used to support main points. Style and form are correct. Some cited works are done in the correct format. Paper may have some errors of spelling or grammar, comma and semicolon errors, etc.

C (70-79): Paper states a thesis and provides minimal evidence for it. Secondary sources are used to support some points. Style and form are not correct. There are major errors in citation style and spelling.

D (60-69): Thesis is not clearly stated. Secondary sources are used to support some points. Paper demonstrates lack of comprehension of style and form. There are substantial errors in grammar and citation style.

Suggestions for topics

Pick a topic that interests you. You can narrow the scope of suggested topics.

You will be living with this paper for several weeks. I realize that it is hard to choose at the beginning of the course. You are not restricted to this list. Send me an e-mail if you have other suggestions.

	Topic	Suggestions
1	The rise of the Qing dynasty	Discuss the rise of the Qing dynasty, whose ethnicity was not Chinese but Mongolian, and the nature of their relations with their Chinese subjects. Discuss the economy of China and how it was able to become perhaps the largest vibrant economy in the world. Additionally, the rise of neo-Confucianism as the dominant philosophy could be discussed.
2	Christian missionaries in nineteenth-century China	Discuss the role of Christian missionaries in nineteenth-century China and Japan. Consider both the obvious influence of the missionaries (westernization, spread of European languages and education through missionary schools) as well as the unintended influences such as the Taiping rebellion.
3	The Opium War and the unequal treaties	Describe the Treaty of Nanjing, the treaty port system, and the concept of extraterritoriality. Discuss the symbolic and emotional impact of these and the subsequent treaties with Britain on the Qing government, how it viewed itself, and how it was viewed by the people of China.
4	The Taiping Rebellion	What internal Chinese problems led to the rise of this movement? What role did Hong Xiuquan play? What were the rebellion’s consequences?
5	The Boxer Rebellion
6	China and the Foreign Devils	Discuss why the Chinese felt superior to the outsiders. This was clearly an example of ethnocentrism— considering one’s own culture superior to others. What are the advantages and disadvantages of holding such views? In the case of China it certainly proved disastrous; would the outcome be any different elsewhere?
7	Ci Xi	Describe the character of Ci Xi and what she reveals about the roles of women in Qing China. Discuss both how she is an example of the limitations on Qing women and how she is an exception to those limitations. Also discuss why she opposed the westernization of Qing China.
8	The role of women during the Ming and Qing dynasties.	Examine the role of women during the Ming and Qing dynasties. How was foot binding representative of the changing social and gender worlds of China? Compare and contrast the situation in China to the role of women in other societies studied so far.
9	Footbinding
10	The Rape of Nanjing	What were the wartime goals of the Japanese? Why are these atrocities less well known than those perpetrated by the Germans in Europe?
11	Mao Zedong	Examine the philosophy and career of Mao Zedong. Was his variety of communism different from that practiced in the Soviet Union? How successful was Mao?
12	Gandhi, Sun Yatsen, and Mao Zedong	Why were these leaders and movements more successful than others? What conditions lead to the success of their movements, in general?
13	Jiang Jieshi and Mao Zedong	What were their main philosophies? What was their relationship to Sun Yatsen? How did they influence Chinese history?
14	Sino-Soviet Split	Discuss the various factors–personal, ideological, and other–which led to the dispute between the Soviet Union and Communist China in the late 1950s and 1960s as well as how that dispute changed the dynamics of the Cold War. How did the split between Communist China and the USSR complicate the Cold War and its effects?
15	A gender imbalance in China	Describe how consumerism and new technology have contributed to a gender imbalance in India and China. Discuss what the long-term implications for both women and men of that gender imbalance, such as how a shortage of brides for future generations of men might lead to increased immigration and cultural shifts.
16	Madame Chan Kai Shek
17	The man who lost China: Chan Kai Shek
18	Deng Xiaoping	Discuss the policies adopted by the new leadership headed by Deng Xiaoping. Concepts such as Market Socialism, better compensation plans for workers, and political relaxation should also be discussed. The reactions to Deng’s policies by the hardliners and the consequent repression should be noted. The rise of Market Leninism as the dominant ideology of the new leadership must be discussed.
19	Zhou En Lai	Who is Zhou En Lai? Discuss the important role Zhou En Lai played in Chinese foreign policy.
20	The domination of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)	Discuss the dominant role of the CCP in government decision making and understand the traditional importance of informal status and connections, as well as how formal status has become more important since the death of Deng. Consider the central role of party structures in policy-making and especially the centrality of the Politburo and the General Secretary Standing Committee.
21	Two student movements in China	Critically compare and contrast the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and the 1989 student movement at Tiananmen Square in terms of their ideologies, motivations and results. You might wish to specifically examine the roles of the students involved and what impelled them to act as they did.
22	One-child family rule policy in China	Discuss China’s one-child family rule. What would drive the Chinese to take such a drastic step? Have there been any unexpected problems associated with this rule? Compare this rule to actions taken by Indira Gandhi to slow India’s population growth. How difficult is population control to enforce?
23	Population in China	Discuss why the population of China exploded during the modern era. What factors, many of them coming about because of this age of greater global interaction, explain this phenomenon? Consider what problems growth of this magnitude could bring. Would any of these problems still haunt China today? How do you govern a country that large? What level of standard of living can be expected?
24	Cultural homogeneity of China	Review China’s long history as a nation characterized by cultural homogeneity. Explore how cultural homogeneity has contributed to China’s political stability and the ability of the CCP to continue to govern.
25	Renewed demands for liberalization	Tibet and Xinjiang.
26	Taiwan	Describe the relationship between the native Taiwanese and their Chinese colonizers. Explain why the Guomindang (GMD) party succeeded in Taiwan after failing in China. Describe Taiwan’s changing relationship with mainland China.
27	China in the 21st century	Describe the major challenges facing China for the future. Given the growth of capitalism and the deepening of market values among its citizenry, can China still be considered a communist country?
28	China in global perspective	Discuss the growing expenditure of oil and other natural resources by China. Will China’s demand make the allocation of scarce resources become an even greater part of international relations than it is today? Consider the population crisis. Will the population density of China ultimately limit its economic growth?
29	Economic growth and environmental pollution in China	Will a burgeoning population survive as toxins in the air, soil, and seas continue to rise? Discuss China’s heavy utilization of coal and urban pollution.
30	China and India	Compare/contrast the economic changes of China to those of India in the second half of the 1900s.
31	Understanding Sino-Japanese Relations
32	U.S.-China relations	How would you characterize the relationship between China and the United States in recent decades? What are the issues that divide these two nations? What are the issues that bind them together? Should the United States challenge a rising China?

Outline

Carol Berkin and Betty Anderson teach how to write an outline for a paper.

Write an Outline for the Whole Paper Don’t start writing immediately; make an outline of the main points you plan to present. Each section of the paper should analyze a different aspect of your paper. In other words, each section of your paper should answer a different aspect of your question. Organize your notes according to the outline. If you’ve used note cards, pile them in different areas of the room, depending on where they go in the outline. If they’re in the computer, collect them under the relevant outline heading. For the sample research paper, the outline could look like this:

I. Introduction (Thesis)

II. Short History of the Revolutionary War and the Writing of the Articles of Confederation A. Victory in the Revolutionary War B. Political Opinions of the Political Leaders 1. Fear of Creating an Authoritarian Government 2. Power of the States 3. Different Views of Citizenship, Political Rights, Democracy a. John Adams b. John Dickinson C. Provisions of the Articles of Confederation

III. Financial Problems under the Articles of Confederation A. Postwar Depression 1. Costs of Rebuilding After the War 2. Speculators 3. Destruction of Markets during the War B. Problems of Tax Collection

C. War Debts Owed by the Articles Government D. The Articles Government’s Inability to Impose Federal Tariffs E. Economic Problems and the Northwest Ordinances

IV. Diplomatic Crises under the Articles of Confederation A. British Support for Indian Resistance in the Ohio Valley B. Spanish Concerns with American Settlers in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee C. Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean

V. Shays’ Rebellion A. Causes of the Rebellion 1. Land Rights Issues 2. Economic Problems in the Postwar Period 3. Inflation B. “Stay” Laws

VI. Constitutional Convention A. Members B. Political Differences of the Members 1. States’ Rights versus the Power of the Central Government 2. Slavery Issues C. U.S. Constitution

VII. Conclusion (Reiterate the Thesis)

This outline highlights the reasons why the Articles of Confederation had to be revised; it does not provide a narrative of events. Throughout the paper, utilize both primary and secondary sources. Use secondary sources for analysis and primary sources to highlight the real voices of the people concerned with these events.

HELPING HAND: Always keep your thesis in mind while you’re organizing the paper so that every part of the outline answers part of your question. If a point in the outline has nothing to do with your thesis, delete it.

See more in Carol Berkin and Betty Anderson, The History Handbook (Boston: Wadsworth, 2012), 80-82.

This book teaches students both basic and history-specific study skills such as how to read primary sources, research historical topics, and correctly cite sources.

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How to Write an Outline

An outline breaks down the parts of your thesis in a clear, hierarchical manner. Most students find that writing an outline before beginning the paper is most helpful in organizing one's thoughts. If your outline is good, your paper should be easy to write.

The basic format for an outline uses an alternating series of numbers and letters, indented accordingly, to indicate levels of importance. Here is an example of an outline on a paper about the development of Japanese theater:

OUTLINE	NOTES
I. Thesis: Japanese theater rose from a popular to elite and then returned to a popular art form.	The thesis is stated in the first section, which is the introduction.
· II. Early theatrical forms · A. Bugaku · B. Sarugaku · C. Primitive Noh · D. Authors and Audience · III. Noh theater · A. Authors · B. Props · 1. Masks · a. women · b. demons · c. old men · 2. Structure of Stage · C. Themes · 1. Buddhist influence · 2. The supernatural · D. Kyogen interludes · E. Audience · IV. Kabuki · A. Authors · B. Props · 1. make-up · 2. special effects · C. Themes · 1. Love stories · 2. Revenge · D. Audience · V. Bunraku (puppet) theater · A. Authors · B. Props · C. Themes · 1. Love stories · 2. Historical romances · D. Audience	The body follows the introduction, and breaks down the points the author wishes to make. Note that some section have subdivisions, others do not, depending on the demands of the paper. In this outline, II, III, & IV all have similar structure, but this will not necessarily be true for all papers. Some may only have three major sections, others more than the five given here.
VI. Conclusion	Your conclusion should restate your thesis, and never introduce new material.

See more at: Susanna Fessler, Department of East Asian Studies, University at Albany, State University of New York, http://www.albany.edu/eas/170/outline.htm