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TERM PAPER AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY


    

  1. The Term Paper (5-7 pages) will be a research project focusing on a historical
problem chosen by each student.  The paper and annotated bibliography must 
be handed in on time (see the schedule for the due dates for each item). 
The paper must conform to a standard term paper Stylesheet. Helpful 
    guides for conceptualizing and writing papers can be found in 
    Paisley Currah's Writing Guide.
    2. 

  2. Papers must relate to course content. See the instructor for suggestions.
    3. 

  3. After you have done some preliminary reading, formulate the THESIS STATEMENT you 
intend to defend in your paper. 
NOTE: A thesis statement seeks to summarize in one or two sentences the argument 
you will make in your paper, e.g. "Louis XIV's policies advanced royal power at the 
expense of the nobility both by expanding the scope of state power and by giving over
the administration to bourgeois state officials". Your paper would then consist of 
arguments to defend this thesis and to refute objections. 
To summarize: you have a THESIS, the thesis is backed up by a number of ARGUMENTS,
the arguments are supported by FACTS, the facts, especially important ones, 
are reinforced by CITATIONS AND NOTES. 
    4. 

  4. Using the bibliographical resources of the Library, and the suggestions of your 
textbook, create a typed bibliography of at least eight items. 
    5. 

  5. Annotated Bibliography: Your paper must include an annotated bibliography.
There are innumerable books and article on all of the topics listed in the course
outline. Your task is to chose the 8-10 books or articles most relevant to your subject. 
Each bibliographical item is to be accompanied by a two to three sentence annotation 
on its relevance to your chosen topic. Bibliographic items can include books and
journal articles. Do not include items taken from newspapers or encyclopedias. 
Do not include collections of articles, although you may list and annotate individual
articles.  Citations must be in alphabetical order and follow standard MLA or Turabian 
style (you must specify which style at then end of the bibliography).
Please note that you do not have to read thoroughly every book or article you list. 
You only have to understand what its point is. 
    6.