History 3000 

Research Proposal

The Proposal should be 2-3 pages and should contain:

• A research question and explanation for your choice of question.
• What is the significance of your research -- what contribution will it make? What is original about the research?
• Information about how you are going to answer the question -- who are you going to consult, what archives are you going to visit, etc.
• What scholarship is already in print about this topic? -- citations of 5 texts.
• What primary sources will you be using -- where are the archives? Cite 5 texts.

The final research proposal must include the signature of the librarian you consulted in finding sources which will help you answer your research question.

The proposal will be evaluated using the first 3 steps of the  Information Literacy Value rubric:

1. Topic is identified and student has determined the extent of information needed. Student is asking a sufficiently narrow research question.
2. Student has accessed information needed to answer the research question. Student has found scholarly materials relevant to the topic. Student has found primary materials relevant to the topic.
3. Sources are evaluated as to their scholarly credibility, relevance to topic. Some sources are providing historical context.

The senior paper will include the next two steps:

4. Information has been used effectively in answering the research question. Sources are not over-quoted or over-paraphrased. There is reliance on multiple sources.
5. Information has been used ethically and legally. Sources are cited.