Download RESEARCH_PAPER - Mr. Grande`s World History OMG History

Pre-Modern World History, Mr. Grande
Unit VII: The Renaissance—Emergence of the Individual and Revival of the Arts
Independent Research Paper: World History, Honors, Mr. Grande
First of all, I insist that your final product will be the best essay you have ever written. I’m serious. I
expect that you will work very hard on this essay and create something that you and I will be very
proud of. This is an opportunity for you to investigate and develop in-depth understanding of
something that interests you—the Buddhist arts, Aztec warfare, Tang Dynasty fashion, ancient Greek
food, etc. You will develop an expertise and own this project.
This year we have focused on 5 themes: Belief, Power, Arts, Geography and Exchange (BPAGE, as
well as Historiography), and we’ve looked at their connection to the question, ‘what is a just society?’
In this assignment, you will choose a topic—person, place, or event—and research it in-depth,
focusing on one of these themes (for example, the importance of exchange in the Song Dynasty).
You may consider connecting it to the core question but don’t have to. Ultimately you will write a 4-5
page thesis essay that makes an argument in response to a question:
 POWER: What are effective strategies used by leaders or institutions to gain and maintain
power?
Example: How did Chinghis Khan transform a lose band of nomads into a powerful empire?
 BELIEF: How does a philosophy or religion shape society?
Example: How did Confucianism impact the rise of Japanese feudalism?
 How does EXCHANGE—of goods, ideas, germs or people—impact society?
Example: how did medieval Italian trade networks with Islamic Cairo lead to the Renaissance?
 ARTS: How does cultural expression reflect the values and ideals of a society?
Example: How did the Byzantine craftsmen spread Eastern Orthodox religion by working on
palaces and religious institutions throughout the Mediterranean and Islamic world?
As you answer your research question, you will say something significant. Remember, this is not a
biography or a story—you are making a mature historical argument about why or how
something or someone was significant (significant=the causes, consequences, continuity and
changes, or why something is important).
Your topics may cover nearly anything from the ancient and pre-modern period (see suggestions
below), but it must be approved by Mr. Grande (I will not allow topics that are too difficult). Your
essay must go beyond work we have already done in class—don’t simply repeat readings or
discussion we have already covered. A great essay follows this model:
Historical topic:
Person, Place, Event
Theme
Power, Belief, Exchange or Arts
Significance
cause, consequence,
continuity or change
The research process
Choosing a Topic
You will most likely have to change, adjust or revise your topic. Brainstorm first and list a few.
Research
There’s this new way of research—it’s called “going to a library.” You are required to visit the library
multiple times and read at least 40 print pages to research your subject. You may begin with general
sources—Encyclopedia, textbook, Wikipedia. Once you’ve written your question, say “bye bye
Wikipedia.” Write a research question (see form) that you will attempt to answer. Now expect to
spend significant time reading about the topic and taking a lot of notes and citing your sources.
Taking notes
Use Noodletools to record your research—you’ll make at least 40 “cards.” Each “card” will cover one
topic from one source. Record your sources and create a bibliography from your Noodletools
account. Record interesting quotations, as well as your thoughts and ideas (analysis) that you can
insert directly into your essay later. Do keep track of page numbers for each note you take. Like
totally don’t even think about slacking on notes and bibliography, dude, or you’ll lose madd points,
aight?! Information or ideas in your essay that is not documented in your notes is considered
plagiarized (translation: Cheating=fail). Your thesis, however, is your voice, your idea.
The bibliography is part of your essay—it should not look like you copied and pasted it. Make it
consistent with the font and text size of the rest of your essay.
The writing process: theory, evidence, analysis
Before developing a thesis, develop a question first: What do you want to know about this topic? A
thesis answers the question in the form of an argument, something you need to prove with evidence.
Also, review your “writing improvement” notes before writing. Expect to do a lot of revising and
editing. Set up a thesis meeting with Mr. Grande.
Each body paragraph must provide evidence and analysis that supports your thesis. Begin body
paragraphs with topic sentences, then include detailed supporting evidence. Don’t make stuff up!
Conclude essay with an interesting and original reflection (compare or contrast topic to another
person, idea or period; find a powerful theme or idea that your writing got you thinking about and get
into it). Quotations should not be too lengthy—don’t substitute someone else’s writing for your own.
Write a paper that is your own, and is in your own words—a paper that you can be proud of!
Please read about plagiarism and citation on the weblab to avoid problems:
http://grandewh.bhsweblab.net/page/plagiarism-cheating-citation
IV. Requirements
Format and writing
Research
 4-5 pages, plus bibliography
 Minimum 40 note cards.
 1½ spaced.
 ½” to ¾” margin.
 10 point font.
 2 sided if possible.
 Perfect spelling.
 Proper grammar.
 Writing Improvement plan
Documentation
 Min. eight parenth. references
(quotes and ideas).
 Min 4 sources; 2 are books.
 Min 1 primary source (in  Minimum one citation for each
body paragraph.
addition—music, architecture,
painting, letter, etc).
 Minimum 2 direct quotations.
 Max. 1/3 websites
 Max 1/3 reference sources.
 Include images or copies of
primary sources
 Read at least 40 pages.
Please visit the classroom Green initiative on the weblab to reduce paper, ink and money: http://grandewh.bhsweblab.net/page/go-green-in-history-class
ESSAY WRITING PLAN
Name______________________________ Block_____
Step 1: Top three choices of topics: Date_________
Course Theme:
1.
2.
3.
Step 2: Set up Noodblebib assignment on your own: Date_________
Step 3: Refine topic and generate research question: : Date_________
*Teacher sign-off on topic:_________________________________
Step 4: Generate at least 9 keywords (words associated with your topic that you’ll use in searches
in databases and library catalog (ie: Mongol: Asia, invasion, Genghis Khan, Yuan D…)
Step 5: Research and not taking: : Date_________
Step 6: Create outline: Date_________
Essay title (transform research question into title):
I. Introduction
Background information:
Thesis statement (what argument are you making?
II. Body
Topic sentence #1:
Evidence/quote #1
Topic sentence #2:
Evidence/quote #2
Topic sentence #3:
Evidence/quote #3
III. Conclusion
Restate big idea:
Creative extension/counter-argument:
Step 7: Complete first draft: Date_________
Step 8: Peer edit and Revise: Date_________
Step 9: Completion Party: Date_________
Topic and Theme List
Please consider using artwork at local art museums, such as the MFA, the Gardner and Harvard’s Fogg museum
<www.artmuseums.harvard.edu/fogg/index.html>. Extra credit to anyone who visits these museums for research.
 1. POWER: What are effective—or ineffective—strategies used by leaders or institutions to gain and maintain power?
Focus your research on more specific questions about power:

Compare/contrast empires or rulers: which more effective?
dynastic, feudal, totalitarian).

How did a leader justify his/her power?

How did an empire/s conquer or unify a large amount of territory?

What are the causes and consequences of an empire or other political system collapsing?

Did a government or culture favor intolerance or coexistence?

What kind of social structure did a culture or government establish and why? Consider gender, class/caste, etc.
Evaluate different forms of government (empire,
China, Japan, India

Dynasties: Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, other

Emperors: Shi Huangdi (Qin), Liu Bang (Han), Empress Wu (Tang), Chinghis Khan (Mongol), Qublai Khan (Yuan)

Kamakura Shogunate (Japan), Gupta Dynasty (India)
Mediterranean and Persia

Empires and City states: Athens v. Sparta, Roman, Byzantine Empires

Alexander the Great, Pericles (Golden Age of Athens), Julius Caesar, other Roman Emperors, Constantine
(Christianity in Rome), Augustine, Theodocius

Ancient Persia—law, empire, arts, conquest
Islam and Medieval Africa

Muhammad (as political leader), Asoka (Ghana), Mansa Musa (Mali), Abd al-Rahman III (Spain)

Umayyads and Abbasids (Caliphate), Almoravids/Almohads (Berber, Spain), Fatimids (Egypt)
Medieval/Renaissance Europe

Oliver Cromwell (English Civil War), Theodora, Charles Martel (“the Hammer”), Charlemagne (Holy Roman Empire),
Pope Urban II (or other Pope), Machiavelli (“The Prince”), The Medici family (merchants), Isabelle d’Este, (woman
and patron), Christine di Paysan, Lucrezia Borgia (or other Renaissance woman w/political power), Queen
Elizabeth I (Renaissance queen)

Rise of Western Europe, the “Reconquest” of Spain

Social structure: Women and inequality during the Renaissance, Sexuality/Homosexuality during the Renaissance
Ancient Americas

People: Montezuma I (Moctezuma; declared perpetual warfare) or Montezuma II (defeated by Cortes), Pachacuti
or Atahulpa (Inca)

Empires and city states: Inca or Aztec method of centralization; Mayan city states
 BELIEF: How does a philosophy or religion shape society? Consider:
Focus your research on more specific questions about belief:
 What impact Buddhism, Christianity, etc. had on the political power or social roles of an empire?
 How was a religious text used to justify power, change, etc.? (Torah, Bible, Qur’an, etc.)
 What were the causes or impact of spread of religion?
 How did a religion get adopted or change as it spread?
Sample topics: aspects of: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Renaissance Humanism, Buddhism,
 Crusades or pre-modern Islamic fundamentalist movement (ie. Wahabbis in Arabia)
 Challengers to established faith: Ibn Rushd (reason and faith); Thomas Aquinas (Renaissance theologian), Martin
Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli (Protestant Reformation characters), The Buddha, Emperess Wu (and
Buddhism), Confucius
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Monasticism (Buddhism, Christianity)
Impact of religion on architecture, gender roles, arts, music
Religion and science
The spread of Islam into Africa
 EXCHANGE AND CULTURE: How does exchange—of goods, ideas, germs, technology or people—impact a society?
Consider:
Sample research questions:
 What impact did the exchanges of goods between Indians of the Americas and Europeans have? Consider
important goods like: cocoa, cochinela and Indigo (dies), corn, potato, other.
 What was the impact and cause for the decline of exchange?
 How does culture grow and spread?
 How did a Renaissance writer or artist express Renaissance values (humanism, individualism, Secularism)?
 How did a scientific discovery or medicine impact a culture?
 How did disease or science impact the population?
Sample topics:
Trade, trade routes and important centers of commerce
 Silk Road, Trans-Saharan Trade, Indian Ocean trade, Slave Trade, Grand Canal, Royal Road (Persia)
 Cities: Cairo, Venice, Florence during Renaissance, Tenochtitlan (Mex. City), Xian (Changan), Bukhara and other
Silk Road cities, Baghdad, Cordoba, Constantinople
 Commercial Revolution in Renaissance Europe
Conquest
 Crusades, Mongol Conquest, Colonization of Americas (Columbian Exchange),
 Disease (ex. Impact on Americas)
Exploration and travel
 Naval voyages of Ming Dynasty (Zhen He), Ibn Battuta, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci (Brazil),
Bartolome las Casas (Spanish priest in New World), Magellan, Vasco de Gama
 Venetian and Genoese merchants
Commerce, food and farming:
 Arab-Islamic finance, Convivencia, new finance during Renaissance, Dutch tulip industry,
 Changes in farming (Song movement South, late Middle Ages), Columbian Exchange of new foods
 Medici bankers of Florence
 Spices: Pepper, cinnamon, etc in Pacific Ocean; website: http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm
Cultural exchange:
 Islamic Spain, Arabization in Persia or Africa, Pax Mongolica, Pax Romana
 Medieval European fairs
Philosophy, Technology and science:
 Ancient Greeks (Ptolemy, Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras, Galen, etc.)
 Johann Gutenberg (printing press), Renaissance medicine, Francis Bacon (scientific method), Galileo Gallilei ,
Vesalius, William Harvery, van Leeuwenhoek (anatomy); Gerardus Mercator (map maker), Copernicus, Brahe,
Kepler (astronomers); medical science in medieval Islam or the Renaissance; Descartes, Volataire, Montesquiue,
Locke, Rousseau, Hobbes (Enlightenment); Adam Smith (Economics); Cesare Beccaria (judicial reform); Mary
Wollstonecraft (women’s rights).
 ARTS: How does cultural expression reflect the values and ideals of a society?
Research question: How does the art, architecture, music, or theater reflect the values or ideas of a culture?
Art and Artists
 Italian Renaissance: Giotto (painter), Donatello (sculptor), Leonardo di Vinci: (painter and inventor), Michelangelo
(painter, sculptor), Raphael (painter), Titian (Venetian painter), Ghiberti (sculptor), Brunelleschi (architect); Bernini
 Northern Renaissance: Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Durer (engraving), Vermeer (Dutch painter), Hans Holbein
(German printmaker),
 English Renaissance: Shakespeare
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Byzantine mosaics (used in Christian and Muslim sacred buildings)
Mayan or Aztec art and architecture, including temples and city design.
Indian art: Buddhist or Hindu sculpture (ie Ghandhara Buddhist statues); Hindu temples
Islamic art: Architectural styles of Umayyad or Abbasid mosques (or comparison); The Alhambra in Southern
Spain; Arabic calligraphy.
Textiles (rugs, clothing): The Indian textile trade with Europe in the 17th-18th centuries; Native American textiles;
Islamic and Central Asian textiles traded along the Silk Road.
Music: Role of court music or musical change during the Renaissance, Dynastic China, etc.
Writers/Philosophers
 Medieval Islamic world: Maimonides, Ibn Rushd or one of the many, many other important Muslim scientists
(optics, hydrology, medicine, astronomy)
 Renaissance: Dante, Erasmus (Christian humanist), Diderot (the Encyclopedia), Thomas Hobbes (English), Mary
Wollstonecraft (women’s rights), John Locke (rights), Cesare Beccaria (torture and imprisonment),
 Jim Spaghetti Parmesan, owner of first cyber café (back when “cyber” meant communication through tubes, like
spaghetti noodles, hence the name).
Name_____________________________ Date__________
Grading rubric and check list
I. Research and notes (10)
A. Noodlenotes completed correctly (quotes, ideas, page numbers)
+

B. Sufficient research (min. 40 cards, mostly books & online databases)
Total
II. Introduction (10 points)
A. Clear thesis statement that reflects your theory.
B. Open essay with interesting lead sentence
C. Provides accurate historical background info; clearly states main ideas.
Total
III. Body (40 points)
A. Evidence: Strongly argues 3 ideas with historical detail (incl. dates!)
B. Evidence: Use of primary source
C. Analysis: Arguments reflects thesis statement.
D. Demonstrates in-depth understanding of topic
E. Body paragraphs have clear focus and topic sentences
Total
IV. Conclusion (10 points)
A. Restate thesis statement in different words; summarizes main points.
B. Value, opinion, reflection that relates to essay theme or counter-arguments
Total
V. Writing mechanics (10 points)
A. Proper sentence structure (capital letters, punctuation)
B. Verb tense agreement; plural versus singular.
C. Spelling (no excuse for incorrect spelling!)
D. Transitions between paragraphs
E. Essay is thoughtfully organized
Total
VI. Assignment (10 points)
A. Did you apply your writing plan to this essay?
B. Design: typed, indented, 1 ½ spaced, ½ in. margins, no space btw ¶’s, 10 pt
C. 4-5 pages
D. Thoughtful or clever title (based on research question)
E. Submitted complete Writing Plan (2 sided sheet)
Total
VII. Citation (10 points)
A. Bibliography (format properly, alphabetical, no bullets/numbers, indented)
B. Parenthetical refs.: min 8 (1/paragraph) in correct format for quotes and ideas
Total
Days late______ (5 points will be deducted for every day late)
Lost rubric -2 points
Grade
-