PROJECT ASSIGNMENT: TOPIC EXPLORATION
Guidelines
Overview
"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday." -Pearl Buck
Your first project in this course is to complete a topic exploration worksheet. The work you do on this topic exploration worksheet will directly support your work on two other projects-a research plan and introduction and a multimedia presentation-that are due later in the course.
One of the prime benefits of studying history is that it allows us to learn about who we are and where we came from. The people and events of the past can often shed light on the conditions and social norms of the present. Having historical awareness can inform various aspects of your life as well as future aspirations. Learning from past failures and successes can shape ideals and values for years to come.
In this course, there are three longer-term projects that that will help you understand the fundamental processes and value of studying history. In the first project, you will choose a topic that is interesting to you from the options provided, complete a topic exploration worksheet that asks you to break down the event, investigate the types of research you might need to do to learn more about it, and develop research questions. Please note: You can choose a topic outside of the options provided with permission from your instructor.
In the second project, you will use this worksheet to complete a research plan and introduction. You will choose one of your research questions and do some secondary source research (using the sources provided in the library guide or resources you locate yourself), speculate on primary-source needs, and use the information to write the introduction and thesis statement for a possible research paper. (The entire paper is not completed-just the introduction). In the third project, you will create a multimedia presentation that explores both major developments in historical inquiry as well as the value of examining history.
This topic exploration worksheet assignment will assess the following course outcome, which you focused on throughout Theme 1:
• Develop questions about foundational historical events that inform personal assumptions, beliefs, and values using evidence from primary and secondary sources
Prompt
Choose one of the provided topics that intrigues you. You can find more information about each topic in the library guide. Answer the questions in the Topic Exploration Worksheet template. You will do some preliminary research on your topic, as well as create a plan for what else you might need to learn.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Describe what you already knew about the topic prior to this course, based on your personal history or experiences. This may include assumptions, biases, beliefs, or values related to the topic. Be as detailed as possible.
II. What questions do you still have about the topic that you would like to explore? From these questions, identify two questions about the topic that you would like to explore further in this course. Be sure to address why these questions are important to you personally and to society.
III. Identify which secondary sources would help you address these questions.
IV. Identify which primary sources would help you address these questions.
V. Based on this research of your topic, detail what you have learned about it.
WORKSHEET
Part 1
Select a research topic area for Project 1 based on which of the following areas interests you the most. You will explore the selected topic a little later in this theme. Mark your selection in the right-hand column.
Drafting of the U.S. Constitution
Mao Zedong's Rule Over China
South African Apartheid
Choose Your Own Topic (insert pre-approved topic here)
In the space below, write a short paragraph about what you already knew about the topic you selected prior to this course, based on your personal history or experiences. This may include assumptions, beliefs, or values related to the topic. Be as detailed as possible.
Part 2
Now that you have identified your topic and described what you already know about the topic, what questions do you still have about the topic that you would like to know? Place your answers in the right-hand column.
Identify one question about the topic that you are curious about.
Describe why this question matters to you personally.
Describe why this question matters to society.
Identify a second question about the topic you are curious about.
Describe why this question matters to you personally.
Describe why this question matters to society.
Part 3
You are now ready to complete the final part of your Topic Exploration Worksheet. You have chosen a topic, posed some research questions, and are ready to start thinking about what kind of sources you will need to investigate your research questions further. Using the library guide in the Shapiro Library provided for your chosen topic, skim through the suggested resources (or find your own) and complete the following information for your research questions.
List which secondary sources would be helpful for investigating your first research question.
List which primary sources would be helpful for investigating your first research question.
List which secondary sources would be helpful for investigating your second research question.
List which primary sources would be helpful for investigating your second research question.
(Continued on next page)
Now that you have gone through the research, describe what you have learned about your topic in one to two paragraphs.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.