Islamic Civilization
Term Paper: Review of Historical Writing
Learning Objectives
• Compare the perspectives of historians in their treatment of a common topic, including the assumptions, theoretical approaches, and research methods shaping their works.
• Compose a historiographical review essay based on secondary source research.
• Apply standards for academic writing in the field of History to written work.
Assignment Description
For your final paper in HIST 113, you will be writing a review of historical writing on a topic of your choice related to Islamic Civilization. Identify and read at least three academic books or journal articles (no online sources) on your selected topic and write a six to eight page comparative analysis of those texts. This is not a topical paper. Your focus should be on analyzing the field of historical writing about this topic, and not just the topic itself.
Directions
1. Identify a topic related to Islamic Civilization that you would like to explore in greater detail. This is your chance to build on your general knowledge of Islamic Civilization and complete an applied project on an issue of personal, professional, or academic interest.
2. Do a thorough literature search on topic in the Cunningham Library electronic databases, including WorldCat, JSTOR, and Academic Search Complete, and present a one paragraph prospectus, or research proposal, and list of 3-5 sources on Blackboard for review by 3/25.
3. As you read your sources, look for how each author covers the topic in a different way. Use the handout "Analyzing Historical Arguments" as a guide to identifysome themes you can use to compare the approaches of the authors you have chosen.
4. In the introduction to your paper, you must present a clear argument in the form of a thesis statement. Your thesisstatement is a brief summary of the conclusions you have drawn from your source materials (in this case, historical writing). Do this in one clear, concise sentence.
Example: While the prophet Muhammad remains at the center of scholarship on the rise of the Islam,more recent studies stress that the religious traditions of the Near East were also an important factor inshaping Islam as world religion over time.
5. Structure your paper around your thesis, and stay on point! Putting together a thorough outline before you begin writing is a good way to keep everything focused.
6. As you write, provide evidence to back up what you are saying through frequent citation of the texts.Express your ideas clearly and directly. Avoid vague and subjective language.
Formatting and Guidelines
• The main text of your paper should be 6-8 pages double-spaced, plus a bibliography.
• Use the Chicago Manual of Style to format footnotes and bibliography.
• Use 12 point font, double spaced with reasonably standard margins (approximately 1").
• Give your essay a descriptive title. Ex.: "Historical Writing on the Rise of Islam"
• Refer frequently to your sources and cite them appropriately throughout.
• Be sure your essay contains an introduction with a thesis statement, well defined paragraphs covering subtopics in support of your thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes your essay.