Write a brief summary of your research paper's topic (the topics are any area of American history that interests you,You can also examine something that borders America or another nation in relation to it)It should be no more than a paragraph in length, at which point you should state your hypothesis statement and the question you aim to address. An annotated bibliography must also be included. About four of the sources you looked at for your paper should be included in this. They should have a line or two explaining their topic and be correctly referenced using MLA (or Chicago Manual of Style) citations. A minimum of one scholarly source (an academic book or a source from a peer-reviewed publication) and one primary source are required.

Graded Assignment Rubric

Annotated Bibliography and Process Paper

Use or adapt the feedback in this Answer Key as you grade each student paper. Answers will vary. Therefore, you must examine each answer based upon its own merits. Representative examples are shown here.

Total Score: 75 points

(Score for Question 1: 25 points)

1. Submit your annotated bibliography according to your teacher’s instructions. It differs from a regular bibliography in that each entry includes a brief explanation about how the source was used, how it helped you understand your topic, and whether it is a primary or secondary resource. In this assignment, you will supply three of your sources with annotation.

Scoring

Points

Comment

5

Resources are clearly relevant to the research topic. Sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of all entries are correct. Annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. Complete URLs are listed for sources. Citations communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information effectively.

4

Resources are mostly relevant to the research topic. Most sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of most entries are correct. Most annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. URLs listed for sources are mostly complete. Citations communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information satisfactorily.

3

Some resources are relevant to the research topic. Some sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of some entries are correct. Some annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. URLs listed for sources are mostly incomplete. Citations communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information sufficiently.

2

Resources lack relevancy to the research topic. Few sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of few entries are correct. Few annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. No URLs are listed for sources. Citations do not communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information.

1

The entry is completely inadequate or so inaccurate as to be unacceptable.

0

There is no response or the response is unreadable.

(Score for Question 2: 50 points)

2. Write a process paper that explains your efforts during the project. Your paper should be between 300–500 words.

Scoring

Points

Comment

5

The response provides complete explanations. It addresses all parts of the assignment. It demonstrates a thorough understanding of the components of the assignment. It is detailed, specific, relevant, and complete.

4

The response provides incomplete explanations. It addresses most, but not all, parts of the assignment and/or demonstrates a less-than-thorough understanding of the components of the assignment. It contains some details and specific examples.

3

The response provides partial explanations. It fails to address all parts of the assignment and/or demonstrates a superficial understanding of the components of the assignment. It contains few details and specific examples.

2

The response provides inadequate explanations. It fails to address several parts of the assignment. It demonstrates a lack of understanding of the components of the assignment. It contains no details and specific examples.

1

The response is completely inadequate or so inaccurate as to be unacceptable.

0

There is no response or the response is unreadable.

Graded Assignment Rubric

U.S. History Research Project

Use or adapt the feedback in this Answer Key as you grade each student paper. Answers will vary. Therefore, you must examine each answer based upon its own merits. Representative examples are shown here.

Total Score: 250 points

(Score for Question 1: 50 points) 

1. Submit your full annotated bibliography according to your teacher’s instructions.

Scoring

Points

Comment

5

Resources are clearly relevant to the research topic. Sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of all entries are correct. Annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. Complete URLs are listed for sources. Citations communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information effectively.

4

Resources are mostly relevant to the research topic. Most sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of most entries are correct. Most annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. URLs listed for sources are mostly complete. Citations communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information satisfactorily.

3

Some resources are relevant to the research topic. Some sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of some entries are correct. Some annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. URLs listed for sources are mostly incomplete. Citations communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information sufficiently.

2

Resources lack relevancy to the research topic. Few sources contain complete notations. Format, spelling, and punctuation of few entries are correct. Few annotations explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. No URLs are listed for sources. Citations do not communicate student’s ability to read, evaluate, and organize information.

1

The entry is completely inadequate or so inaccurate as to be unacceptable.

0

There is no response or the response is unreadable.

Point values:

Points for Response

Point Value

5

50–41

4

40–31

3

30–21

2

20–11

1

10–1

0

0

(Score for Question 2: 200 points)

2. Submit your research project according to your teacher’s instructions.

Scoring

Points

Comment

5

The entry is historically accurate and shows detailed analysis and interpretation of the topic. It accurately places the topic in a historical context, clearly demonstrates the significance of the topic in history, and clearly relates the topic to the theme. It shows wide research and uses multiple primary sources. The research is balanced. The written material is original, clear, appropriate, organized, and articulate. The visual component is organized, historically accurate, and has a noticeable impact. If relevant, all equipment is student-run.

4

The entry is historically accurate and shows some analysis and interpretation of the topic. It accurately places the topic in a historical context, attempts to demonstrate the significance of the topic in history, and tries to relate the topic to the theme. It shows some research and uses one or two primary sources. The research is balanced. The written material is somewhat appropriate, but may be unorganized or inarticulate. The visual component is historically accurate, but has little impact or is not organized. If relevant, most equipment is student-run.

3

The entry is factually flawed and shows little analysis or interpretation of the topic. It attempts to place the topic in a historical context and tries to relate the topic to the theme, but with flaws. Little research is evident; no primary sources are used. The research is one-sided. The written material may be inaccurate, unorganized, or inarticulate. The visual component is absent, is inaccurate, or has no impact. Student needs significant help running equipment.

2

The entry shows no analysis or interpretation of the topic. Little research is evident; no primary sources are used. The written component is cursory, unorganized, inarticulate, and possibly inaccurate. There is no visual component.

1

The entry is completely inadequate or so inaccurate as to be unacceptable.

0

There is no response or the response is unreadable.

Lesson Obiectives

The paper should be 300-500 words

Conduct research and produce a presentation on a turning point in

American history before 1900.

Conduct historical research.

Explain the research process.

Cite source of where you got your information from.