Global History Since 1500 Research Paper:
Instructions
Required to write a research paper. A detailed Research Paper Rubric is attached (See page 2).
1. Choose a research topic related to the global historical development since 1500 and find sources through individual research. A List of Research Paper Topics is attached (See page 3).
2. The paper should focus on a specific issue and support a thesis or main argument.
3. It should be at least THREE pages long, typed and double- spaced, with at least THREE reference sources (each cited at least once in the paper).
4. Please choose citation style MLA for the paper.
Research Paper Rubric:
History
Rubric for Research Paper Assignment
CATEGORY EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR
Title –Captivating & informative title with optional subtitle
–Title page with complete information on names, class, & date –Informative title with optional subtitle
–Title page with basic information on names, class, & date –General title without a title page –Unfocused title, title not correlated with thesis, or no title
Introduction & Thesis –Clearly introduces the main topic & structure of the paper
–Clearly & concisely states the paper’s thesis that is engaging & thought- provoking –Introduces the main topic & structure of the paper
–Clearly states the paper’s thesis –Limited introduction of the main topic & structure of the paper
–States the paper’s thesis –No clear introduction
–Incomplete, unfocused, or missing thesis statement
Main Body & Length –Paragraphs with logical structure, thoughtful arguments & sufficient historical facts that develop the main thesis
–Paper is three or more pages long (excluding title page and bibliography) –Paragraphs with organized arguments & historical facts that support the main thesis
–Paper is three or nearly three pages long (excluding title page and bibliography) –Paragraphs with limited arguments & historical facts that support the main thesis
–Paper is at least two pages long (excluding title page and bibliography) –Paragraphs with minimum historical facts & fail to support the thesis
–Paper is less than two pages long (excluding title page and bibliography)
–Paper is copied or plagiarized from web or other sources
Writing –Paper is virtually error free in sentence structure & word usage
–Paper is virtually error free in spelling & punctuation –Paper contains limited errors in sentence structure & word usage
–Paper contains limited errors in spelling & punctuation –Paper contains many errors in sentence structure & word usage
–Paper contains many errors in spelling & punctuation –Paper contains numerous & distracting errors in sentence structure & word usage
–Paper contains numerous & distracting errors in spelling & punctuation
Bibliography &
Citation –Three or more major references with no more than two websites
–Prepared in virtually correct and consistent Chicago or MLA format
–Citations in in-text, foot or end notes are not required but highly encouraged –Three or more references
–Prepared in consistent Chicago or MLA format with limited errors
–Citations in in-text, foot or end notes are not required but highly encouraged –At least two references
–Prepared in random format with many errors –Only one or no references
List of Research Paper Topics: Global History Since 1500
SUGGESTED RESEARCH PAPER TOPICS
1. From Prince Henry the Navigator to Captain James Cook: the Age of Discovery.
2. The legacy of Zheng He’s voyages.
3. Christopher Columbus and his “discovery” of America.
4. Dona Marina and the conquistadores in Mexico.
5. The Scientific Revolution and its impact.
6. The Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade.
7. The evolution of Ethiopia as a modern Christian state.
8. The modern decline of the Swahili civilization in East Africa.
9. Technological innovations of the Industrial Revolution.
10. The French Revolution and its legacy.
11. The legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte.
12. The Irish potato famine of 1845-1850.
13. The Sino-British Opium War and its impact.
14. The Scramble for Africa: European Imperialism in Africa.
15. China’s Self-Strengthening Movement and Japan’s Meiji Restoration: a comparative study.
16. The origins and development of modern nationalism in the West.
17. Feminism and the struggle for female suffrage in Great Britain.
18. The revolutionary in military technology from World War I to World War II.
19. The development of Zionism and postwar conflicts in the Middle East.
20. The postwar de-colonization of Africa.
21. From Marxism to Leninism: the Bolshevik Revolution.
22. The collapse of the Soviet Union.
23. Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Revolution.
24. Mohandas Gandhi and the tradition of non-violent protest.
25. Nelson Mandela and the struggle for freedom in South Africa.
26. Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.
27. From the League of Nations to the United Nations: the evolution of collective security.
28. The “Forgotten War:” Korea, 1950-1953.
29. From Mao Zedong to Ho Chi Minh: Communism and nationalism in East Asia.
30. The Vietnam War: a reexamination.
31. The origins and development of the European Union.
32. The origins and development of the African Union.
33. Nationalism and ethnicity in post-Cold War Europe: the Bosnian War.
34. The growth of globalization and the World Trade Organization.
35. The historical roots of global terrorism.