HISTORY OF GERMANY

WEEK 4: RESEARCH PAPER

Assignment Overview:

      As a major activity for this course, you will have the opportunity to specialize a research topic on a specific aspect of German History from 1945 to the present day. While researching and reading, devise a common set of questions to assess how historians proceeded with their work.  The organization of their studies, the primary and secondary evidence they used, and the types of archives they visited all may be important.  

• Other questions may involve determining the individual and common faults of the authors as well as their strengths.  Also consider how the research changed over time, that is, is how the profession has developed with respect to a particular issue.  

• Determine how the authors as a group add to the understanding of their common topic.  Answering this last question will enable the author of a historiographical essay to draft the most significant element of the piece: judging what the historical profession needs to deepen the knowledge of a subject.

• This assignment will follow Chicago Style Formatting. For more info on how to structure your essay through the link provided below:

      https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html

Part A

      In a 1000-1500 word reflection (4-6 pages double spaced), formatted in Chicago Style, you will trace the progression of your topic over time as well as address how your research contributes to a broader understanding of modern German history. Your submission should include the following: 

• Provide an introductory overview on your chosen subject as well as its historical significance.
• What are the previous or ongoing academic debates about your sources? How have scholars understanding of the events or individual you are covering changed over time? 
• Establish a research question about how your topic has changed over time. 
• Provide supporting examples from at least eight articles and/or documentary non-fiction films (no maximum) that utilize your chosen topic.
  • Suggestion A: You could break this portion of the assignment into a paragraph-by-paragraph depiction of each source and how it contrasts with other depictions.
  • Suggestion B: You can outline your sources in chronological order and develop your essay as a way to show a historiographical progression in how your topic's portrayal in popular media has changed over time. 
• In your conclusion, revisit your initial research question and address whether your sources have helped to support or refute your initial assumptions. 
• For further advice on how best to structure such a research project see guidelines attached: 6-Simple-Steps-for-Writing-a-Research-Paper.pdf

Part B

      At the end of your paper (this is separate from the 4-6 page initial submission), you provide an annotated bibliography of at least eight supporting sources used in your main paper submission. 

• An annotated bibliography is a list of sources with annotations (summaries + evaluations) of sources that might be useful for your pedagogy portfolio (as background reading). As you write your annotations, you should also synthesize your sources—making connections among them, showing how they talk to and talk back to each other, and demonstrating that you are aware of the larger conversation about your proposed project.

• The following video talks further about how to write an effective annotation, including the C.R.A.A.P.* test, which can be very useful for you as you write:

            (C.R.A.A.P.: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose)

• Take careful notes as you search. Remember where you were (what database), what you were searching for (what keywords), and so on. Keep copies of useful articles as you find them; for example, you can download them onto a jump drive or email them to yourself.

• You can rely on any of the following types of sources: 

• Critical reviews of your chosen piece of media
• Academic journal entries or Op-Ed pieces on the time period of your chosen topic
• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Chapters from scholarly edited collections
• Masters’ theses and dissertations
• Selections from academic books

      What should not be used:

• Wikipedia or online encyclopedic sources. (However you can use the referenced articles on these pages if they fit the guidelines listed above. 
• Commentary pages or unaccredited critical sites. (These can be included in your paper, and if you go beyond the eight source minimum, this can also be allowed.)  

      The Bibliography Should Include the Following: 

• Chicago-Style bibliographic notations of your sources. 
• Summarize your citations. Make your summary readable and understandable even for audience members who are not as familiar with your sources as you.
• Your citation summary should be between 25-50 words each. They should entail any or all of the following: 
  • What is your opinion of the usefulness of the source? Why?
  • How well does the source relate to the topic you chose? How in-depth is its coverage of the topic? What evidence do you see of its depth?
  • What are the authors' credentials? Are they experts on the topic?
  • What connections do you see among the different sources?
  • How do the sources talk back to each other, complement each other, add different angles to the discussion, etc.?

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