write a 6-8 page paper on a topic of your choosing from American history prior to 1870. This week, you will prepare for your Week 5 project by brainstorming your topic and completing an introduction and outline.
Part 1: Topic
Be very specific and very narrow. For example, the US Civil War is too broad, while the Gettysburg Battle is appropriately narrow. You can select a person, an event, a cultural phenomenon, an invention, etc. For example, you might write on the religion or musical traditions of enslaved persons or the influence of the Caribbean Islands on slavery in the South. You could also choose to do a biography, such as a study of Hamilton, Franklin, Jefferson, Sojourner Truth, or Frederick Douglas. The invention of the cotton gin, steam power, the railroad, and the McCormick reaper are good examples of inventions you might discuss in your final project. Submit a brief summary of your topic for approval that adheres to the following format:
Paragraph 1: State your topic (person, place, thing or event that happened before 1870) and explain why you’ve selected this topic.
Paragraphs 2–3: Write two paragraphs describing the historic period during which your topic arises.
Paragraph 4: Explain why your topic is of interest to the larger study of history. Title your paper: Lastname_Firstname_W3_FinalProjectTopic and submit to the dropbox.
Part 2: Write an introduction and then an outline for your final project.
Include a list of references that lists at least five research sources (including the course textbook). Your introduction for your final paper should explain why your topic is important in early US history. Your introduction should go from the general to the specific. Then have a Thesis Statement or your argument which is your theme. Following your introduction and drawing from research, develop an outline for your paper. The outline should include topic sentences (headings) for body sections and subheading topics that include potential article examples to be used. Your outline will be the basis for developing a 6-8 page paper in week 5, so plan accordingly with your outline. Finally, provide a list of at least 5 specific research sources that you will use in your final paper. You must follow APA guidelines. Remember to use supporting citations from the textbook and online lectures. (Here is a guide to help you with APA-style citations.) All facts and quotes (no more than 5% of the total paper) must have a citation. Each citation must have a reference.
