Historical Investigation in American History:

Topic ChoiceResearch

Question

Where to begin?

Guidelines of the assignment

Your own interest

Your textbook

Examples of broad topics:

The South

Railroads

Slavery

Expansion

Crime

Presidents

War and conflict

The West

Civil RightsImmigration

Native Americans

Early Settlement

The South

Settlement

Post-Revolution

Reconstruction

Antebellum

The South

Refining your choice

General Topic: The Role of Southern Women Before the Civil WarThe role of women

WHERE?

In The Home ?

In Religion ?

In Politics ?

In Marriage ?

General Topic: The Role of Southern Women Before the Civil War

The role of WHICH women?

Wealthy

Rural

Slave

Urban business

Underclass

General Topic:

The Role of Southern Women Before the Civil War

The Role of Wealthy Women Before the Civil War

The Role of Wealthy, Rural women Before the Civil War

The Role of the Master’s Wife on Plantations in the Antebellum South

Research Question

What was the role of the plantation owner’s wife in the antebellum South?

The Investigation

Remember this is not a thesis essay. Approach the topic as though you are going to present to an audience that wishes to be informed, not have a particular argument proved. You will be required to explore, evaluate, reflect and question.

Unlike the thesis essay, where you are the lawyer defending a case...In the investigation, you are the detective asking the questions...

The Assignment

You are provided with very specific criteria for each section of the assignment. The assignment requires you to work independently and thoughtfully. Exploring your topic may prove more difficult than proving a point.

Read the assignment sheet carefully.