Milestones in American History

Research and Argument Writing Project for 8th Grade

Third Marking Period
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Computer Classes

This third marking period you will be researching a selected topic from
American history between the years of 1700 and 2000. These centuries were a
time of tremendous change in the United States and the world. Many events,
inventions, scientific advances, social movements, and people had a hand in
shaping the history of America
It will be your job to decide how the topic you research impacted the
course of history and the lives of people. Did it contribute to the best or worst
of times; was it a triumph or tragedy? Did it change the course of history in
America? What effect did it have on the lives of all Americans?
A research paper is more than a report of factual information. We expect
you to choose a topic that is open for debate or where people have different
opinions, gather information from a number of credible sources, and develop
claims or your own unique position (thesis statement) on the topic. This will be
supported with evidence and will include a counter argument and rebuttal.
After writing your research paper, you will make an oral presentation using
formal language to the class of the significant results of your research.
You will have class time to work on research and writing, but you will also
need to devote time at home.
YOU WILL NEED TO DEVOTE TIME TO THIS PROJECT OUTSIDE
OF CLASS.

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Research Project Learning Targets:

Students will

Identify a topic that has caused debate in society and choose a side of the argument.

Read efficiently to gather information from at least six (6) sources.

Use a research process that includes note taking from a variety of credible sources.

Write a well-organized 5-8 paragraph paper to support your argument with textual
evidence using proper MLA style references and works cited list (minimum 500 words).

Determine when research information or data should be quoted and/or cited. You must
cite at least four (4) different sources within your paper using in-text citation.

Demonstrate an understanding of the topic and present your argument in a formal style,
including an oral presentation.

Demonstrate command of Standard English grammar and usage.

Assignment Grading
In Language Arts students will be graded on the following:
1. Organization.
2. Conventions and sentence fluency will be graded on the first (3) three
paragraphs.
In Social Studies students will be graded on the following:
1.

A five-minute oral presentation of research findings to the class in

length.
2. The validity and accuracy of your paper.
In Computers students will be graded on the following:
1.

Correctly written works cited page that follows MLA style.

2. Notes from at least six (6) different sources. Citations from at least
four (4) within your paper, Proper documentation of research.
3.

Quality and amount of research.

In Science students will be graded on the following:

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1.

Parenthetical documentation (in-text citation) properly placed

throughout paper.

2. Parenthetical documentation aligns with works cited page.

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SELECTED RESEARCH TOPICS

1. Explain the activities of the Sons of Liberty and give examples of what they did
to protest policies and actions of the British government in the colonies. Do you
think the Sons of Liberty were heroes or terrorists?
2. Explain Benedict Arnolds treason, what he did, and his reasons for making those
choices. Was he justified in his actions or does he deserved to be called a
traitor?
3. Research Thomas Jeffersons role as a Patriot, a Son of Liberty, and as a writer
in the American Revolution. Does he deserve or does he not deserve to be called
one of our founding fathers.
4. Choose one of the Bills Of Rights, explain its importance, and prove why it is still
needed today.
5. Research the assassination of President Lincoln and determine if John Wilkes
Booth acted alone or not.
6. Explain why the 1800s reformers saw a need for a public school system. Should
America offer free education at the college level as well?
7. Explain why slavery was used more in the Southern states and did it affect the
entire nation in a positive or negative way?
8. Explain the treatment of the American Indians in the new United States of
America during the 1800s and whether it is still affecting the country or not.
9. Was the secession of the Southern States and the formation of the
Confederate States of America justified or not?
10. Was it the battle tactics or medical practices that led to such a high death toll
during the Civil War?
11. Which one of these new technologies impacted everyday life in the U.S. the
most during the late 1800s, electricity, telephone, radio, typewriters,
interchangeable parts in manufacturing, railroads, steam engines? Give examples
of how life was changed.
12. Research the history of immigration and the treatment of immigrants in the late
1800s. Decide whether immigration reform is necessary today.
13. Research the Polio vaccine and determine the impact it had not only in the
United States, but globally as well. Should the polio vaccine still be necessary?

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14. Should vaccines be necessary for students to enter the public school system?
15. Should the Confederate Flag be allowed to be flown at state and government
offices?
16. Research the assassination of JFK. How did his death affect our nation? Did
Lee Harvey Oswald act alone?
17. Determine how Title 9 impacted students in our public school system.
18. Explain the reasons the United States entered the Vietnam War and the impact
on the citizens of our country.
19. Understand the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. to the Civil Rights
Movement and what impact the Civil Rights Movement had on our country.
20.Who was Malcolm X and did he play a positive or negative role in the Civil Rights
Movement?
21. Research Amelia Earharts historic flight and its influence on aviation. Decide
whether you think she actually landed or crashed in the ocean.
22.What is the Space Race and should the U.S. have gotten involved? Should the
U.S. continue to financially fund the space program?
23.Which musical performer or group of performers had the biggest impact on the
American Music Culture after the 1950s? Include examples of how they
changed the culture in America.
24.Research the Womens Rights Movement in America. Do you think women have
reached common ground with men or do they still need to fight for equal rights?
25.What happened in 1929 on what is called Black Tuesday that caused the Great
Depression?
26.Who or what should be given credit for pulling America out of the Great
Depression?
27.Determine if the government or the people were at fault for causing the Dust
Bowl and its effects to the lives of Americans.
28.Research the invention of the Atomic bomb. Was the U.S. justified in using it on
Japan during World War II?

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TIMELINE FOR PROJECT COMPLETION Follow This Schedule Carefully

Date
Feb 5, 2016

Description

Select research topic in Mr. Hales Social Studies class

Discuss proper research documentation (how to take notes) in

Computer class

In-class research in Science, Social Studies, and Computers,:

includes the Internet and library

Discussion of thesis statement (claim) and elements of an

argument paper (claim, counterclaim, and rebuttal) in ELA.

In-class research in ELA, Science, Social Studies, and Computers.

Develop thesis statement counterclaim, and rebuttal and work on

outline. *This must be completed before starting your rough
draft
In-text citation, citing textual evidence : ELA
Continue work in Science, Computers, and Social Studies

Feb 8, 2016

Feb 9, 2016

Feb 10, 2016

Begin work on rough draft in ELA, Computers, Science, and Social

Studies (Only if the thesis statement (claim), counterclaim and
rebuttal are completed within the outline).

Feb 15, 2016

Discuss MLA formatting and works cited page in Computer class

Work on rough draft of paper in ELA, Science, and Social Studies.

Feb 16, 2016

Edit rough draft in all classes.

Begin work on works cited page in Computers

Edit and revise paper and finish works cited page in Science, Social
Studies, Computers, and Language Arts classes.
Have paper ready to be printed on Feb 18th.

Print paper in Computer class

Turn in entire paper (including works cited) to Mr. Cooper by the

end of Computer class

Print off and turn in an extra works cited to Mr. Cooper by the
end of Computer class

Feb 11, 2016

Feb 17, 2016

Feb 18, 2016

If your paper is not turned in by 3:00 PM

on Friday, February 19, 2016 it will not be accepted.
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