Fall of the Western Roman Empire
CHECKLIST FOR MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER
Format and Submission
Is your paper formatted in the proper file format (MSWord .doc or docx or .rtf file)?
Does your paper include a separate cover page that includes assignment name, student name and student number, course name, professor name, date and institution?
Is your paper formatted with one inch margins and using New Times Roman 11 or 12 point font?
Is your paper double-spaced?
Is your file submitted using last name first name course and assignment?
Example: SmithWilliamHIST302MajorPaper).
Introduction and Thesis Statement
Did your essay include an introduction and clear thesis statement at the end of the introduction?
Did you bold your thesis statement?
Organization and Body of essay
Is your essay well-organized with topic sentences and supporting detail that reinforces your thesis?
Did your essay meet narrative word count requirements? Narrative word count is word count without citation and bibliography.
Historical Analysis
Did you construct your essay using quality academic sources (specifically Required and Optional readings from Lessons and book or peer-reviewed sources from our Online Library or other university, governmental, museum, or research websites)? Do not use tertiary sources (encyclopedias) as sources in your research. See Source Requirements and Restrictions on Homepage underneath Welcome Letter.
Did you include relevant historical support, including historical examples that reinforce your thesis?
Did you include chronological context in your essay and include important dates or date spans?
Conclusion
Did you include a well-developed conclusion to your essay that restates your thesis and is well-supported?
Writing Style and Grammar
Is your essay composed using formal English (no use of slang) and using proper capitalization, grammar and spelling rules?
Is your essay presented in academic third person (does not use “I”)?
Did you refrain from using abbreviations and contractions in your analysis (use “do not” instead of “don’t”)?
Use of Footnotes/Endnotes and Bibliography
Did you consistently follow the citation and bibliographical requirements of Chicago or Turabian manuals?
Did you cite your sources in the narrative of your essay using computer-generated footnote/endnote numbering? Remember citation takes place immediately after each use of direct quote and after paraphrasing of information.
Did you include a separate bibliography with your essay? Did you separate primary and secondary sources into two lists beginning with primary sources?
Is the bibliography alphabetized and includes all relevant information depending on source type? Remember accessed date for online sources.
GRADING RUBRIC FOR SHORT PAPER AND MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER
Please see the following grading rubric for more information on how you will be evaluated on your reading reports and major research paper.
Format/Submission (5 points): Paper neatly typed and formatted according to assignment guidelines. Title page with student name, course section, assignment, and date clearly indicated. Question to be answered restated before essay verbatim. Paper saved according to standard guideline –lastname.firstname.course.assignment as .doc, .docx. or .rft file. Example: SmithWilliamHIST301MajorPaper
Introduction and Thesis Statement (10 points): Topic is appropriate for paper length; thesis is focused and argument is fully supported by carefully chosen and weighed facts in each paragraph; evidence of comprehension of historical context and causality.
Organization and Body of Essay (20 points): The organization of the paper logically supports the purpose or argument in the introduction, body, and conclusion; ideas are logically sequenced from one paragraph to another and clearly linked to each other; the reader can easily follow the line of reasoning.
Historical Analysis and Use of Sources (30 points): Two or more sources used demonstrating in-depth research related to thesis; no tertiary sources used (especially encyclopedias); research clearly incorporated into the argument in paper; use of information clearly supports the argument and shows, in-depth analysis of a significant topic; author gained new knowledge about the topic and significance of events.
Conclusion (5 points): Sound conclusion that summarizes content and reinforces thesis; fully supportable.
Writing Style and Grammar (10 points): Spelling, grammar and sentence structure all used effectively.
Use of Footnotes/Endnotes and Bibliography (20 points): Footnotes/endnotes are correctly cited and bibliography follows the correct rules for citing sources.
