HIS 241 Milestone One: Paper Topic Submission Guidelines and Rubric
Overview: For the final project for this course, you will write a thesis-driven research paper on a historical argument that demonstrates an understanding of
World War Two. For your first milestone, due in Module Two, you will submit your paper topic. As you have only just begun your project, you may not have a
large research base, but you should be developing your topic idea with an eye towards the primary and secondary sources needed to prove your argument. Your
topic submission should move beyond a general idea (“I want to write something relating to the German air force”) and should show that you are drawing your
paper topic from your own general interests as well as critical research.
Prompt: To begin, you will choose a topic around which you will base your thesis statement. Your thesis statement will establish a historical argument that will be
the focus of your paper.
Some possible topics for your final paper include, but are not limited to:
x The failure of international peacekeeping organizations to restrain the outbreak of a second world war
x Analysis of the differing pre-war diplomatic maneuverings of major and minor powers
x The diplomatic and strategic working relationships between the Axis and Allied powers
x Interwar technological developments and their effect on the outcome of the war
x The Versailles Treaty and the rise of rightist parties in Germany
x The relationship between World War One and fascist ideology
x Colonialism and its influence on the cause and conduct of the War in the Pacific
x Differing war economies and their respective effectiveness
x The relationship between intelligence (Enigma and MAGIC programs) and Allied military success
x The factor(s) that led to Allied victory and/or Axis defeat
x The importance of ideology in tactical and strategic mobilization
x The Holocaust and the relationship between the war and its development/progress/goals
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
x Topic Selection: Select a topic related to World War Two that will develop into your thesis statement/historical argument.
x Research Methods and Sources: Provide a short summary of how you intend to research primary and secondary sources (with at least some indication of
what sources you will use and what they will provide).
x Plan: Include a plan for how you will narrow your topic into a thesis-driven paper.
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: The topic of submission should follow these formatting guidelines: double-spaced, 1-page Word document, 12-point Times New
Roman font, one-inch margins, and Chicago-style citations. If you do not receive “Proficient” on the first critical element, you cannot earn points for this
assignment. Please see the feedback provided by your instructor and re-submit, as needed.
Instructor Feedback: This activity uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade Center. For more information,
review these instructions.
Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Topic Selection Selected topic is appropriately
within the domain of World
War Two history and the
assignment
Selected topic is not within the
domain of World War Two
history and the assignment
20
Research Methods
and Sources
Provides a detailed summary of
proposed research methods
and cites sources that will be
used
Provides a summary of research
methods but does not cite
sources that will be used
Does not provide a summary of
research methods
30
Plan Includes a plan for how the
topic will be narrowed into a
thesis-driven paper
Includes a plan, but plan does
not explain sufficiently how the
topic will be narrowed into a
thesis-driven paper
Does not include a plan for
narrowing the topic into a
thesis-driven paper
30
Articulation of
Response
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, or syntax
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, or syntax that
negatively impact readability
and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, or syntax that prevent
understanding of ideas
20
Total 100%
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