The purpose of this research paper is to increase your knowledge about a specific topic from global studies.  Organization is important!  Follow each step and you will be successful.  Detailed instructions follow for each step (Color Coded).

I: Select Topic. Select topic for paper.
A. Select a first and second choice for your research paper (list provided).
1. This is your thesis question; the information in your paper will answer this question.
a. One topic per person per class.
b. First come first serve basis.

II: Have letter signed by parent.
A. Any letters not returned will receive a phone call home.

III: Bibliography.
A. Find sources and create a bibliography.
1. This is to be typed and submitted.
2. Can be changed during your report.

IV: Take Notes.
A. Take notes from your sources.
1. Find information that will either support or disprove your thesis.
2. Write this material down and be sure to include the title of the source and the page number where you found the information.

V: Develop an Outline.
A. Now that you have gathered the information, it is time to organize it.
1. A good Harvard outline will make writing your paper much easier.
2. It should be as detailed as possible.
3. When you are finished with your outline, your paper is basically written.

VI: Final Paper.
A. Write your final paper 3-5 pages.
1. This is to be typed and proof read.
2. You may submit a rough draft to me 2 weeks before your paper is due.
 

I: Select a Topic:
The following is a list of topics.  You are not limited to these choices; however the topic must come from the curriculum of Global Studies I, be in the form of a question and must be approved by me.

Ancient Civilizations:
Why did the Mayan civilization decline?
What happened to the Indus River Valley Civilization?
Why was the Nile River or Tigris/Euphrates or Indus or Huang He, important to the development of ancient Egypt or Sumer or India or China?
What was the significance of the Rosetta Stone?
What were the main achievements of the Mayan or Inca or Aztec civilizations?
What is the significance of the pyramids to Ancient Egypt?
Why is _____________ (name your favorite pharaoh) important to ancient Egypt?
What is the significance of publishing laws (ie. Hammurabi’s code) for a society?
What is the role of the oral tradition in Greek culture? (ie. Homer)

Empires of the Ancient World
How did Asoka influence the history of India?
How did Shi Huangdi unite China?
What was the status of women in ancient China or India or Greece or Rome?
What were the achievements of Alexander the Great and how did they influence the development of society?
What led to the rise of the Roman Empire?
What led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
What does Greek or Roman mythology reveal about its culture?
How did the concept of citizenship influence democracy in Ancient Greece?
How did geography affect the development of Ancient Greece, Rome or China?
How did people in ancient worlds keep track of time?
How did the idea of trial by jury in Ancient Greece influence other legal systems?
What is the significance of comedy and tragedy in Greek theater?

Religion/Belief systems
How did the ideas of Judaism influence later religions?
Why did Christianity spread so rapidly?
How did Islamic beliefs affect art and architecture in the Muslim society?
How did Confucian ideas affect Chinese society?
What is the significance of Shintoism to Japanese culture?
How do the major beliefs of Buddhism serve to guide life?
What was the role of Olympian gods in Greek society?
How did Muhammad become the prophet of Islam?
How do the five pillars of Islam unite Muslims?
How does the beliefs of Animism reflect its followers view of nature?

Exchange and Encounter
What role did Christopher Columbus play in European history?
What was the role of women in Medieval Europe?
What was the role of chivalry in medieval society?
How did the Church dominate life in the Middle Ages?
How did the Crusades affect Western Europe?
What were the causes and results of the Black Plague?
What role did Jews play in medieval life?
How did West African rulers build powerful kingdoms?
What role did Mansa Musa play in the history of the kingdom of Mali?
What was the function of the castle in medieval life?

Global Interaction
How did Genghis Khan create a world empire?
What was the role of the Samurai in Japanese culture?
What is the significance of Kabuki to Japanese culture?
How does the works of Leonardo Da Vinci or Michelangelo, or Raphael, etc. reflect the ideas of the Renaissance?
How did Elizabeth I bring unity to England?
Why did Henry VIII break with the Catholic Church?
How did Shakespeare contribute to the Northern Renaissance?
Why did Martin Luther publish the Ninety-Five Thesis?
What were the causes and effects of the Spanish Inquisition?
How did the works of Copernicus or Galileo or Newton etc. change the way people viewed the world?

The First Global Age
How did advances in European technology aid European explorers?
What were the results of the explorations of Vasco De Gama, or Prince Henry, or Columbus, or Magellan or Cortez etc.?
What role did the church play in Spanish America?
What role did slavery play in Spanish America?
How did Akbar the Great or Charles V, or Louis XIV, or Peter the Great, or Phillip II, influence the world?
What were the causes and effects of the English Civil War?

II. Letter Signed by Guardian
A. The last sheet of this paper is a letter to your guardian(s).
1. Take this home have it read and signed by your guardian.
2. Return by the due date given.

Dear Parents/Guardians:
A mandatory research paper has been assigned to your child.  The research paper is due on Tuesday April 23rd.  Included is a checklist for you and your child to review while working on the paper to make sure they receive all deserved points.  Please sign and cut off the bottom portion for your child to return to me.  Save the top portion for your use. Your child has also received an extensive research Guide to assist them during this project.

*My paper includes a Title Page; stating my name, the topic of my paper, class title, Mrs. Bolger’s name and the date.

*My paper includes a THESIS STATEMENT.  I am simply answering the question of my research topic in a clear, concise, statement.  The remainder of my paper will be answering this question in more detail.

*My paper includes citations.  I received my information from other sources and I must give credit to those people.  I cited quotes as well as any paraphrasing.  If I do not give credit for these ideas, it is considered plagiarism and I will fail.

*My paper is double spaced, size 12 font, readable font, and one- inch borders.  It is a minimum of five typed pages and I expect to lose points if it is less.

*My paper includes a typed bibliography page.

*My paper will lose 10 points for every day that it is late and will not be accepted after Monday April 30th.

*I kept an extra copy.  It is my responsibility if the paper is lost to replace it.

*I understand that I cannot take my final if Mrs. Bolger does not receive my paper.

* I understand that I can make an appointment with Mrs. Bolger to go over any aspect of this paper.