Western Civilization
Biographical / Historical Argument Due date: 2/13 – 2/17
Purpose: To learn to research and write an argument paper in history. Each person on this list are on the top 50 most influential people in Western History, and indeed play a major role in our course topic this year. Aside from learning to write a historical argument, objective of this report and presentation is for you to gain a greater understanding of an individual that has made a great impact on the History of His/Her country or organization. It will also clarify the reasons and causes for the events of a specific country that occur before and after this person’s life.
Requirements:
1) 1250 words +/- 10%
2) 1” margins
3) in Times New Roman or Arial font
4) Double spaced
5) Must include a properly cited Bibliography (Chicago Manual of Style Format) of at least three different resources this includes web sites, books, magazine articles, journals, no encyclopedias please. Websites should be credible, ie. Usually but not always, ending in “.edu” or “.org” or “.gov”
6) Properly cite at least 15 endnotes (Chicago Format)
7) This paper must answer a question of your own design. This question will start with the word “Why”. It will require a little research beforehand.
a. a brief Biography emphasizing their achievements and accomplishments
b. Answer your question! (This is the argument phase, prove your point!)
8) Cover Page (Chicago Format)
9) Poster, Time line, Diorama, Power Point (choose one)
10) 3-5 minute oral presentation - you will demonstrate the knowledge you have gained on this topic by giving a mini-lesson to the teacher and your peers, actively use your prop (ie. Poster, power point etc) to get your message across. Following your presentation there will be a question and answer period. This is where you show what you know, don’t let yourself down. You will also be my “go to” person when we reach the era in history in which your person lived, you will give the class your knowledge once again.
11) See page 2 for the stages and timing of the assignment
We will draw lots to determine who your Historical figure will be. Potential biographies will be:
1. Sigmund Freud 2.Joan of Arc 3. Ulysses S. Grant 4. Napoleon Bonaparte
5.Mohandas K. Gandhi 6. Elizabeth I (ENG) 7. Henry Ford
8. Karl Marx 9.Edward I (ENG) 10. George Washington 11. Simon Bolivar
12.John Calvin 13. Mary Wollstonecraft 14. Christopher Columbus
15. Louis XIV 16.Thomas Jefferson . 17.Frederick the Great 18.Charles Darwin
19.Elizabeth Cady Stanton
21. Rene Descartes 22. Eleanor of Acquitaine
23.Martin Luther 24.Leonardo Da Vinci 25.Jean Jacques Rousseau 26. John Locke
27. Magellan 28.Peter the Great
Timeline and stages of the assignment
Week 1: 12/14 – 12/21 “Pre - search” the topic and find some facet you find interesting
Due: 12/21 Approval of “Why” Question
Week 2: 12/26 – 1/ 2 Collect Materials from local library, through CWMARS, or the online databases through our Library
Week 3: 1 /2 – 1/6 Begin Note taking from source material
Week 4: 1/9 – 1/13 Study for Midterm Exams ( If possible continue Note Taking from source material)
Week 5: 1/16 – 1/23 Study / take Mid Term Exams!
Due : 1/16 Initial Bibliography
Week 6: 1/24 - 1/27 writing the rough draft of your argument
Week 7: 1/30 – 2/3 Edit Rough Draft, reread, Edit again. Begin Final Draft
Week 8: 2/6 – 2/10 Finish Final Draft, Work on Powerpoint, poster, etc.
Week 9: 2/13 – 2/17 Finished arguments and presentations due