Write a paper that argues for an interpretation of your research topic. The paper should go hand-in-hand with all of the content on your website’s gallery: the content on the gallery should provide evidence that supports the paper’s argument, and the paper’s argument should provide context that allows someone visiting your site to appreciate the materials on the gallery.

The paper will be graded based on the following features:

  • Argument
    • The argument is clear, fresh, narrowly focused, and insightful. All subsidiary parts of the paper from the title to the concluding sentence either clearly develop the argument or consider counterarguments. The stakes of the argument are clear (that is, the argument has a clear point to it) and the paper shows how and why that argument matters to its target readers.
  • Analysis
    • The paper provides an intelligent, thorough, and instructive interpretation of the issue, including close readings of artifacts and clear explanations of data visualizations. Both the paper’s own argument and counterarguments are evaluated closely.
  • Evidence
    • The paper incorporates sufficient evidence to support its argument. No plainly relevant evidence is omitted, and no extraneous evidence is provided.
    • At a minimum, the evidence provided should include:
      • Three artifacts/primary sources, which should be accessible on the website’s gallery.
      • Three secondary sources, at least one of which is a scholarly source.
      • Three data visualizations, such as graphs, word clouds, trees, timelines, or maps, which should be accessible from the website’s gallery.
    • Note: the paper does not need to treat all of this evidence equally. Some may be cited in a single sentence, while others may be brought up multiple times, or analyzed closely for one or more whole paragraphs.
  • Organization
    • The paper is structured in a logical manner. Ideas throughout the body of the paper appear in an order that makes sense and is easy to follow. Transitions from one idea to the next are smooth. The introduction is attention-getting and leads naturally into the argument, and the conclusion provides a sense of closure to the argument.
  • References
    • The paper cites all of its sources and contains a Bibliography/Works Cited that is formatted using either APA or MLA style (either is acceptable, but the paper must contain complete and consistent citations).
  • Mechanics
    • The paper contains few if any style and grammar errors.
  • Length
    • The paper is at least 1,600 words long, not counting the Bibliography/Works Cited. This is roughly five full pages, double spaced. The paper may be as long as it needs to be, so long as its length is not because the argument is too broad, or because the paper is presenting evidence that is extraneous.

See this rubric for more information on how your paper will be graded.

The final draft of your paper should be posted to the “Paper” page on your website by noon on December 14, 2023.