For this research paper you are going to investigate a topic of African American history. You will focus on creating a historical investigation paper that synthesizes or combines information from various sources. Include conclusions you draw about that information based on logical analysis. Your tone should be formal and objective, written in the third-person point of view. Do not use I or Me, or phrases such as I think.

(You may use phrases such as the following to insert your opinion. i.e. It is the opinion of this writer, or in conclusion this researcher believes …… based on…….and reinforced by….)

Your topic can be an historical event, person, place, idea, or thing. A single record of a historical topic represents only one perspective, or point of view, on that topic. So, to better understand it, you will need to examine a wide variety of resources representing all relevant perspectives of that topic.

You will be expected to use references in the form of books, newspapers, online/print articles, web pages and website, etc.). You must use at least (4) different sources in this paper and your paper must be a minimum of 3-5 pages formatted in MLA Format with a works cited page. (Double-spaced)

Potential Topics

• African Continent: You can write a research paper on any of the African Kingdoms in the literature or the effect of the slave trade on the economic and political structures of African Kingdoms
• Transatlantic slave trade: Its Impact on the Africans and the Diaspora and the Global Economy
• Slavery in Colonial America:
• American Revolution: What were the direct impact to slavery from the American revolution?
• The United States Constitution: Did the framers construct the constitution for all people?
• Abolitionist movement in the United States
• Catalysts to the Civil War
• Reconstruction/Post-Civil War Black Accomplishments
• African Americans in the Great War
• Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro
• African Americans and the Great Depression; Black cultural movement 1930-1950
• African American involvement in World War II
• Emergence of the Civil Rights Movement 1940-1960
• Rise of militancy and Black Nationalism (Look at black organizations such as Black Panthers, US organization, and SNCC)
• Legislative gains of the Civil Rights movement
• Contemporary issues: #BLM or Over policing in Minority areas, or the school to prison pipeline

*Please take note that these topics are only suggestions you are free to choose another topic, if you need help please reach out for assistance.

Essay Structure

All essays and research papers consist of three parts:

• An Introduction
• Body Paragraphs
• Conclusion

Introduction

●       General statement about the topic

●       Background information for your reader (Remember when writing you are writing as if your audience knows nothing about the topic)

●       Thesis (This is the blueprint for your essay it describes the direction of your essay)

Body

●       First Paragraph - Main Point

●                   Supporting Details

●                   Supporting Details

●                   Concluding Sentence

●                   Transition

You can devote 2 or 3 paragraphs to each main point

●       Second Paragraph - Main Point

●                   Supporting Details

●                   Supporting Details

●                   Concluding Sentence

●                   Transition

●       Third Paragraph - Opposite Point

●                   Supporting Details

●                   Supporting Details

●                   Explanation of why your point is stronger despite the opposing evidence

●                   Transition to conclusion

Conclusion

●       Wrap it up: Summary of the main points used to prove the thesis

Conducting Research

When you are conducting your research after you choose your topic you are going to want to formulate research questions to explore your topic.

The follow are example of some research question you may ask yourself to analyze your topic.

• Who was involved, what kinds of people is he/she or they? Why?
• What exactly happened? Location, date and who were involved? Why?
• When did the idea come up and when did the effects stop? Who created this idea how did it become widespread?
• Where did the people come from? Where did they go and how?
• How was this organized? How did they get results? How did the people react? How did the government react? Who was involved?

For your own focus you should be focused on the following:

1. What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and concise in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to research.
2. Why do you want to do it? Be sure to answer the "So what? question.
3. How are you going to do it? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having trouble formulating a research topic you may want to move on to the next,

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise; being "all over the map" without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite your resources
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research.
• Failure to stay focused on the research question; going off on unrelated tangents.
• Sloppy or imprecise writing. Poor grammar.
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues.

MLA Reference

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html (Links to an external site.)

Research Paper Rubric.pdf

AAS History Research project.pdf