Term Paper Calendar: AP U.S. History (Mr. Klipfel) and AP English Language (Mr. Del Rio)

ASSIGNMENT (20% of semester grade): Choose an influential figure from American history responsible for a significant primary work (speech, novel, poem, etc.) and assert, argue, and prove the following:

MOVEMENT I: What shaped your person and her/his essential arguments and actions relevant to her/his primary work?

MOVEMENT II: What were her/his essential arguments in the primary work that you selected? And, analyze the rhetorical strategies and other elements employed by your person in her/his work.

MOVEMENT III: What were, are, or are likely to be the legacies of her/his primary work on American society?

Like most term paper projects, this task will be completed in stages.  Each stage must be completed before you can be given credit for a subsequent stage.  If a step is handed in after the due date, you will not receive credit for it; however, we will give you feedback.  You are strongly encouraged to hand each step in early to avoid any complications.  Remember, the due date listed for each step is the last date you may hand in the step for credit, EVEN IF YOU ARE ABSENT THAT DAY (see schedule below).  

 

Term paper information:                        Details:                                                                                                                    Dates:

Preliminary introduction                         Introduce and explain the term paper process, topics, and grade value.                13-14 August

Thesis/topic description and topic selection discussion.                                      

 

Topic selection list due                        Put your name on the list and number your top 30+ choices.                               17 August                                                              

 

Prep for trip to LAPL                            Permission slips, costs, form for library card                                                         Information explained: 19 August

and preliminary research                         Demonstrate use of lapl.org (25 bib cards)                                                             Assignment due: 24 August

Infotrack and initial research assignment explained                       

Investigate topic, narrow topic, and find related topics.       

 

Bibliography cards explained………………………………………………………………………………………..            TBA

In-class check for list of 10 to 25 sources from lapl.org……………………..………………………………………           27 August

Research: trip to LA Library………………………………………………………………………………………           Saturday, 29 August (FIELD TRIP)

On-line research demonstrated (for additional lapl sources)…………………………………………………………          31 August

Bibliography cards due (at least 25) and Source Audit (information coming from Mr. Del Rio)……………….                 4 September

Outline (to be modeled on 4 September) due…………………..……………..………………………………………         11 September

Last outline revisions due……………………………………….……………………………………………..……            22 September

Note cards #1 (to be introduced 18 September) due (at least 60)……………………………………….……………..       2 October

Note cards #2 due (120 minimum with at least 60 additional new cards)…………………………………………...           16 October

Term paper due: Typed, double-spaced, 10+ sources, 9 page maximum:      Parts I and II (for bonus)………          Wednesday, 21 October

                                                                                                                                Part III (for bonus)……….…….          Monday, 26 October

                                                                                                                                Entire paper and works cited….         Thursday, 29 October

Graded term paper returned and web page project introduced…………………………………………………………      2 December

Final revisions and web page construction (P building computers available outside of class time.)…….……………         TBA / 3-8 December

Final draft due: Graded draft, hard copy of final revised draft, and flash drive with web page……………………….        9 December

Web page modifications          : Fixing links, images, and other problems………………………………………….....         11 December

 

IMPORTANT: Students are responsible for renewing their LAPL materials online by the due dates.  Books that are no longer needed or that can’t be renewed must be brought to class by the 9/11, 9/25, and 10/9 (or: 9/17, 10/8, and 10/29 if three weeks).  The teachers will return them.  Late books are 25 cents a day per book.  Don’t get fined!

***Students who do not bring the books to us by 10/9/9 must return their own books to the Los Angeles Public Library (Sylmar is close)!

***Students who drop our classes must also get us their books by these dates.

 

STUDENT’S NAME _______________________________________PARENT’S SIGNATURE____________________________________________