How to write a historical research paper
In this course students will learn how to write a historical research paper from the beginning to the end: from writing a good research question, through the research and drafting, and all the way to assessing the quality of their work.
What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentAssignments
2-4 hours per week. Each week will have a specific goal, from finding sources, to drafting a thesis, to constructing different parts of their argument. Student assignments will revolve around these goals.Assessment
3-6 throughout the classLetter Grade
1 after class completionClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 12
Intermediate Level
There is an advantage to writing a research paper outside of a subject-specific class, like American History, or World History: Our focus is exclusively on learning to write the paper, the paper is not a side project in a class with a different focus. In other words, we have the time to learn how to write the paper with attention to every step in the process, instead of only what we can fit between the cracks of the other instruction we're getting in our history subject. We'll begin by asking how to write a good historical research question, and how to write a tentative thesis in response to that question. Accordingly, students will get the best results from this process if they're also taking a corresponding history course they're interested in, so they can draw inspiration from the subject of that class to find a question they want to research. This will reduce the time they'll have to spend researching the subject they choose for their research paper. Join us in this eight-week course to learn everything from how to think like a historian, to how to work with source material, to how to structure your thoughts into a well-considered and tightly-written argument that directly supports the thesis. Check out the course syllabus to see the planned course outline . Most of the content students need to learn each week's new concepts is included in the course, as a pre-recorded video, an downloadable assignment, or an assigned reading. The outside reading will come from Mary Lynn Rampolla's A Pocket Guide to Writing in History (students can use any edition). I am available for questions via the Outschool messaging system throughout the week.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to define a "thesis" and articulate a strong thesis in response to their own research questionStudents will be able to conduct sophisticated research in a variety of places, from Google to online databases
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
What does a good research question look like?
What makes a good research question in history? 1 assignment
Lesson 2:
How do I research my question?
How do I do research in search engines, journals, and databases? 1 assignment
Lesson 3:
How do I turn my notes into an argument?
How do I take all of my research and turn it into structured ideas? 1 assignment
Lesson 4:
When I'm ready to write, where do I start?
What are the norms—do I start at the beginning, middle, or end? When do I worry about perfection? 1 assignment
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course will use a third pary tool for access to class materials. We do not collect user data, learners cannot connect with educators on the third party tool. All learner communication is on the Outschool platform
Supply List
The one outside book students will need is Mary Lynn Rampolla’s A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. It is available used on sites like Amazon, thriftbooks, or AbeBooks. It may also be available through your local or university library. I will be referring to the 6th edition, though other editions will also work, with some work to match updated sections and page numbers.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined May, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a teaching certificate
Utah Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
1 teacher has a Graduate degree
Master's Degree in Social Work from Temple University
2 teachers have a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in History from Brigham Young University
Bachelor's Degree in Human Development Family Studies from Brigham Young University
BA in History
BA in Philosophy
Teaching certificates in history and English
A decade of teaching experience in charter schools and international schools, utilizing the A-level and IB curriculumsReviews
Self-Paced Course
$35
weekly8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Choose your start date
Ages: 14-18
