Prof. Greg Hall

Department of History

Spring 2008

History 491

Research Paper Guidelines for the Prospectus

Topic: The paper topic must treat some aspect of American Environmental history. 

Prospectus: The prospectus is a plan of action for the research paper.  Here, you will explain what you intend to research and why.  You may present specific questions that you hope to answer with your research.  When formulating in your mind your research project think in terms of purpose, scope, methodology, and thesis.  (You are not expected to articulate a thesis until you write the first draft, but it is worth pondering possible arguments at this stage.)  The prospectus is worth up to 20 points.* 

Sources: Primary and secondary sources are required for this assignment.  Primary sources are original documents that include, but are not limited to, newspapers; federal, state, county, and city government reports, records, and other official documents; photographs; diaries; memoirs; personal papers; unpublished manuscripts; letters.  Secondary sources tend to be an analysis of original primary sources.  They include, but are not limited to, monographs; journal articles; documentary films.  

Form: I want your prospectus to be organized as follows: 1) provide a descriptive title and subtitle for your project 2) state your research objective and purpose of your project 3) explain the scope of your research, i.e. timeframe, region, themes, etc. 4) briefly provide historical context or background for your topic 5) historiography, i.e. what has been written on this topic and what do you hope to contribute with your research and paper 6) methodology, i.e. explain the historical methods that you will use such as forms of analysis, research tools, and primary sources; moreover, explain why these primary sources are essential to your project

7) bibliography, include a list of primary and secondary sources that you will use in the research and writing of your paper   

Style: Use Chicago Style for your prospectus bibliography.  See Turabian, A Manual for Writers or some other Chicago Style source.

Due Date: Thursday 3/6

Late Penalty: Five points per day that the assignment is late regardless of excuse.   I will not accept a prospectus more than five days late. 

*Warning, I will not accept a first draft of your paper without a prospectus that was turned in and graded.