QUESTION 1

1. An introduction is made up of two main parts. The first is a hook. The function of the hook is to make your audience want to keep reading. It might be a quote from one of the sources, a story that seems to get to the heart of your argument, or so on (primary sources are very good for hooks). The second component of an introduction is the thesis statement. This is not a summary of what you will talk about in the paper and it should not be in the form of a question. A thesis statement tells the reader the main purpose or argument of the writing. Put another way, thesis statements are complex sentences that summarize the analytical purpose of the writing. As such, they should be framed around why issues. If you are not already comfortable with thesis statements you should google “thesis statement formulas” to give you a sense of some of the most reliable ways to word them.
   For this question you need to write out a complete introductory paragraph with a hook and thesis statement for your final paper. The thesis statement should contain your topics time period, place, central argument, and a brief summary of your 3 points of evidence that support your central argument. Again, google “thesis statement formulas if you want to get a sense of how you might fit all of that in to 1-2 sentences.
   Your final paragraph should be in complete sentences and grammatically correct. Please underline the sentence in your paragraph that represents your thesis statement.

QUESTION 2

1. Directly following the introduction should be a paragraph that sets up the background of your topic. This is like the opening scenes of a movie or the pilot of a T.V. program that lets you know who the main characters are, there back stories, and/or the general starting point for the main plot. A historical context section briefly summarizes the history of your topic prior to the time period that you are going to examine in greater detail. What were major historical factors leading up to your period of interest. This section should be no more than one paragraph, so you will need to be selective about what is important for the reader of your paper to know going into your specific topic. The historical context section is typically best drawn from the secondary source book on the general history of the region you are focused on.
   For this question in outline format (bullet points or some other way of carefully noting different sections) address the following regarding your historical context section:
   • What are the three most important facts that a reader needs to know about what was going on historically at the outset of your more detailed study?
   • How do the above facts help the reader understand your study better?
   • Using a Chicago Manual of Style citation, cite the sources that you will use to write the historical context section
   While your bullet points do not need to be in complete sentences, they do need to contain enough detail that I have a clear understanding of how you will frame this section and that you have read at least some of the sources most relevant to writing this section.

QUESTION 3

1. The next three questions represent the body of your paper. You need to think carefully about the points of evidence that you choose to use for your central argument. Papers may be organized either chronologically or thematically. For this question you need to make it clear which organizational method you are using by either including the time period you are discussing in this section or the theme. Additionally, you need to think carefully about your thesis statement. All of your points of evidence should relate back to the central argument you made in your thesis statement. The best thesis statements will include a very brief summary of each point of evidence raised.
   For this question choose the first point of evidence you will discuss in your paper. If you are using a chronological organization this should represent the earliest time period you will discuss. In outline format (bullet points or some other form of abbreviation that works for you) do the following
   • Summarize the major facts related to this point of evidence (when, where, who, what).
   • In a second bullet point tell me why or how this point of evidence supports your central argument.
   • Finally, in a third bullet point use a Chicago Manual citation to indicate where your information comes from. Please Google Chicago Manual Quick Guide if you are unsure of how to write out a complete citation.

QUESTION 4

1. This is your second point of evidence You need to think carefully about the points of evidence that you choose to use for your central argument. Think carefully about your thesis statement. All of your points of evidence should relate back to the central argument you made in your thesis statement. The best thesis statements will include a very brief summary of each point of evidence raised.
   For this question choose the first point of evidence you will discuss in your paper. If you are using a chronological organization this should represent the middle of the time period you will discuss. In outline format (bullet points or some other form of abbreviation that works for you) do the following
   • Summarize the major facts related to this point of evidence (when, where, who, what).
   • Tell me why or how this point of evidence supports your central argument.
   • Finally, in a third bullet point use a Chicago Manual citation to indicate where your information comes from. Please Google Chicago Manual Quick Guide if you are unsure of how to write out a complete citation.

QUESTION 5

1. This is your third point of evidence. Think carefully about your thesis statement. All of your points of evidence should relate back to the central argument you made in your thesis statement. The best thesis statements will include a very brief summary of each point of evidence raised.
   For this question choose the first point of evidence you will discuss in your paper. If you are using a chronological organization this should represent the most recent historical (pre-1990) time period you will discuss. In outline format (bullet points or some other form of abbreviation that works for you) do the following
   • Summarize the major facts related to this point of evidence (when, where, who, what).
   • In a second bullet point tell me why or how this point of evidence supports your central argument.
   • Finally, in a third bullet point use a Chicago Manual citation to indicate where your information comes from. Please Google Chicago Manual Quick Guide if you are unsure of how to write out a complete citation.

QUESTION 6

1. The current issue section is unique to the Library Research Assignment. In this section you are connecting the past and the present. You must have at least 1 article on your current issue topic for this section.
   To complete this question outline the following:
   • Summarize the facts and information related to your current issue
   • Summarize how you intend to connect your historical topic to your current issue. Are you comparing them? If so be sure to address both similarities and differences. Does your history show how the current issue came to be? If so be sure your argument demonstrates this theme.
   • Include Chicago Manual of Style citations for all of the sources you intend to use in this section. Google Chicago Manual of Style Quick Guide if you need examples on how to do that.
   This section does not need to be in full sentences, but it needs to be detailed enough that I have a clear understanding of the links that you are making between the past and the present.

QUESTION 7

1. You have a range of choices to draw from for the conclusion to your research papers. You may opt for a traditional conclusion that simply summarizes for the reader why the evidence presented in the paper supports the thesis statement made in the introduction. Many students, however, opt to use the conclusion as a way to summarize the lessons that their research suggests for addressing their current issue in the future. The conclusion is the perfect place to discuss how learning about the past can or should affect future actions.
   In this question write a complete conclusion for your paper. This should be a minimum of 4 complete and grammatically correct sentences for full credit.