Greg Hall

Department of History

History 420 (G)

Research Paper Guidelines for the First Draft

Prospectus:  Use your graded prospectus as a guide to develop your first draft.  If you have any questions about the critique of your prospectus please see me.  We need to be on the same page when it comes to where you will proceed from here. 

First Draft:  In your first draft you will articulate a thesis and begin to defend that thesis with supporting evidence based on your research.  You should write at least eight to ten pages of useable text.  I’m expecting the first draft to need a rewrite, but what you have written to this point must be readable.  Obviously, you will still have more research and writing to do.  In your paper you can write parenthetical explanatory notes, which would let me know what you are still working on.  Also, you can write an explanatory note at the end of your essay, letting me know what to expect in the final draft.

Style: Use Chicago style for your first draft of your research paper. Chicago style citations are extremely important to successfully completing this assignment.  See Kate Turabin, A Manual for Writers.   I’m expecting citations. 

Due Date: Tuesday 11/6

Grading:  The first draft is worth 30 points or 30% of the overall research paper grade. 

Late Penalty: Three points per day that the assignment is late regardless of the excuse