history paper

AMH  2010:  PAPER  #3  SAMPLE  OUTLINE  

The  following  is  a  sample  outline  of  the  midterm  paper.  Please  note:  

-­‐ This  is  not  the  only  way  to  approach  this  paper.  In  fact,  I  strongly  encourage  students  to  attempt   more  adventurous  approaches  to  the  task  at  hand.  

-­‐ Students  should  avoid  adopting  the  specific  language  of  this  outline.  I  will  be  happy  should  you   choose  to  adopt  this  as  a  model,  but  I  do  not  want  to  see  papers  that  parrot  the  language  of  this   outline  back  to  me  directly.  

 

I. INTRODUCTORY  PARAGRAPH   a. 1-­‐2  sentence(s):  statement  of  paper  topic   I  will  examine  the  role  of  

[TOPIC]  in  shaping  the  history  of  colonial  North  America  and  the  United  States  between   1492  and  1877.  

b. 1-­‐3  sentence(s):  summary  of  response  to  Point  1  ( [TOPIC]  is  [HISTORICAL  DEFINITION   OF  TOPIC]  that  impacted  [4-­‐5  MAJOR  EVENTS,  DEVELOPMENTS,  OR  IDEAS  ASSOCIATED   WITH  TOPIC].    

c. 1-­‐2  sentence(s):  summary  of  response  to  Point  2   [TOPIC]  played  the  most  important   role  in  shaping  American  history  during  this  period  because  [TWO  OR  MORE  REASONS   WHY  YOUR  TOPIC  PLAYED  A  MORE  IMPORTANT  ROLE  IN  SHAPING  AMERICAN  HISTORY   THAN  ANY  OTHER].  

d. 1-­‐2  sentence(s):  summary  of  response  to  Point  3   The  influence  of  [TOPIC],  however,  is   not  limited  to  the  past.  Today,  it  continues  to  influence  [DESCRIPTION  OF  HOW  YOUR   TOPIC  CONTINUES  TO  INFLUENCE  THE  PRESENT].    

II. BODY  PARAGRAPH  ONE  /  RESPONSE  TO  POINT  1   a. 1  sentence:  topic  sentence  /  statement  ( [TOPIC]  is  [HISTORICAL  DEFINITION  OF  TOPIC]  

that  impacted  [4-­‐5  MAJOR  EVENTS,  DEVELOPMENTS,  OR  IDEAS  ASSOCIATED  WITH   TOPIC].  

i. 2+  sentences:  Offer  a  more  detailed  historical  definition  of  your  topic.   ii. 4+  sentences:  Offer  a  more  detailed  description  of  4-­‐5  major  events,  

developments,  or  ideas  associated  with  your  topic.    

III. BODY  PARAGRAPH  TWO  /  RESPONSE  TO  POINT  2   a. 1-­‐2  sentences:  topic  sentence  /  statement   [TOPIC]  played  the  most  important  role  in  

shaping  American  history  during  this  period  because  [TWO  OR  MORE  REASONS  WHY   YOUR  TOPIC  PLAYED  A  MORE  IMPORTANT  ROLE  IN  SHAPING  AMERICAN  HISTORY  THAN   ANY  OTHER].  

i. Argument  1   1. 2+  sentences:  Describe  the  first  major  reason  why  your  topic  played  a  

more  important  role  in  shaping  American  history  than  any  other.  

ii. Argument  2  and  beyond  [if  necessary]   1. 2+  sentences:  Describe  the  second  major  reason  why  your  topic  played  a  

more  important  role  in  shaping  American  history  than  any  other.    

IV. BODY  PARAGRAPH  THREE  /  RESPONSE  TO  POINT  3   a. 1-­‐2  sentences:  topic  sentence  /  statement   The  influence  of  [TOPIC],  however,  is  not  

limited  to  the  past.  Today,  it  continues  to  influence  [DESCRIPTION  OF  HOW  YOUR  TOPIC   CONTINUES  TO  INFLUENCE  THE  PRESENT].  

i. Argument  1     1. 2+  sentences:  Describe  the  first  major  way  in  which  your  topic  continues  

to  influence  the  present.   ii. Argument  2  and  beyond  [if  necessary]  

1. 2+  sentences:  Describe  the  second  major  way  in  which  your  topic   continues  to  influence  the  present.  

V. CONCLUSION   a. 2-­‐3  sentences:  briefly  summarize  the  foregoing  arguments  or  claims  of  the  paper  and/or  

make  some  brief  comments  that  build  upon  the  foregoing  paper.