Look First- Attached is the Thesis and the bases of the paper.
Final Paper
The topics are innumerable, but you could explore the Declaration of Independence, the role of religion during the imperial crisis, how slavery shaped the colonial response and decision to revolt, the war in the backcountry, the role of the Caribbean, or individual players.
NOTE: If you choose to research a single historical figure, be sure you have an argument. Simply writing about their life is NOT a research paper. You need to have a position. So you might argue that Benjamin Franklin helped create an ideology of American success by (insert your position here).”
From there, you will explore broader themes of the American Revolution as a historical period. For example, you may consider questions such as: Was the American Revolution an example of the advancement of democracy around the world? Was the American Revolution, in fact, a conservative movement designed to promote the interests of the few at the expense of the many? Did revolutionaries fulfill the commitment to liberty, equality, and happiness or did they inevitably realize those commitments through the systematic denial of natural rights to others? How do we account for the rapid expansion of individual rights during and after the Revolutionary period while at the same time recognizing those rights were refused to women, African Americans, and Native peoples, a refusal that only ceased due to active resistance on the part of those groups and one that only occurred not too long ago. Those are only suggestions so do not feel limited in your approach or your analysis. Just make sure you have a position, a thesis, and you use evidence to argue.
The paper needs to be 1500-2000 words (not including footnotes) which is roughly 6-8 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, and have 1-inch margins all the way around, and include primary sources. Any paper shorter than 1500 words will be docked points. Any paper not following the stated formatting requests will be docked points. Whenever you quote or paraphrase, cite using Chicago Manual Style, which means, you will need to use footnotes. Papers that do not properly or insufficiently cite quotes or paraphrases will lose points. Any evidence of plagiarism will result in a 0 on the paper. A successful paper will have a clear and original thesis that provides a sophisticated argument about the Revolutionary period. The organization of the successful paper will be evident, easily followed, and have excellent transition. Further, the evidence provided by the paper will come from primary sources. That evidence will be integrated into the argument not simply placed in the paragraph. The paper will be logically argued with connections that illuminate the thesis and offer a unique perspective on the Revolutionary era. Finally, the paper will have proper grammar, diction, sentence structure, correct use of punctuation, proper citations, and generally free of errors.
