WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR WESTERN CIVILIZATION;

AN INTRODUCTION₃   

 

      The Western Civilization course has a unique writing assignment that bridges all four quarters of the school year.  This paper is intended to apprise you of that assignment and start you on the process.

 

      The goal of this Western Civilization assignment is to make you an historian of Weston High School.  By doing this it is hoped you will better understand the research-history writing process.  Therefore I strongly suggest you follow the directions carefully, consult me often, and start your work as soon as possible.

 

      The final product of this assignment, due in May 2006, is to have you produce a "paper" that will consist of 5-10 pages which researches one past aspect of Weston High School and write a brief history of that topic/person/event/issue.  Your first task therefore is to select your topic.  Select wisely for a wise selection will save you a lot of time.  Select one area, team, person, event, or part of Weston High School that interests or intrigues you.  Have you ever wondered what the first WHS yearbook was like?  What was the first school newspaper?  Who was the first Student Council president? Where was the first WHS Prom?  The list of these questions is endless:  who was the first WHS principal?  You could select a specific sport team (e.g. the WHS Girls soccer team of 1990, the WHS football team of 1989.  What was the first play, musical concert?  Select any department (e.g. music, science), an event (e. g. the origins of Homecoming or why our school colors are blue and gold), a person (e. g. Coach Grocki's first field hockey season) or some other club or activity. Students have written papers about all aspects of the school’s history.  Take the rest of the summer to think about what topic you will select for this paper. My only suggestions are:  make it something you are really interested in, something that you will enjoy researching, and something that can be researched in a reasonable amount of time.  I do have a few parameters:  This event must be at least FOUR years old.  All choices must be cleared with me before you begin you active research.  You may change your choice but remember, a bad choice will lead to lost time and effort.

 

      The second job, and quite frankly the most difficult task for the whole assignment, will be to research that topic.  For that reason make a wise choice in the topic you select.  As I have already said, select a topic you are interested in, will enjoy researching, and will have some hope of success.  Do you have an older brother or sister?  Do you know a former teacher or graduate of WHS?  You need sources, especially people to complete this assignment.  Your final paper must contain a MINIMUM OF SEVEN SOURCES- people, books, articles, newspaper stories, etc, any combination- to be accepted by me.  Make sure you select a topic/subject that will allow you to find at least seven sources.  Making a wise choice, a choice on which you can find adequate information, will allow you to complete your task quickly and more efficiently.

 

      Part one of the paper will be selecting a topic.  The task of researching your topic will take the bulk of the year.  It will  include three papers; (parts two, three and four) and it will cover three school quarters.  The composition and due dates are listed in the second half of this paper.

 

      Another of the issues you will need to deal with is your interview skills.  Some of you have interviewed a person for information.  Most of you have not.  The Language Arts Department and I have agreed to help you in this process.  Mastering this process and the set of skills that go along with it, we in the Social Studies and Language Arts Departments feel will help you now and later in your school/work career.

 

      Your last job is to write a short "history" of this significant topic/season/production or event.  Including  the research accumulated over the year, your paper should weave into it all the following, though not necessarily in this order or with the same degree of importance

 

      a)  What were the accomplishments/records of the team/program?

      b)  Mention one major controversy or problem that was dealt with and how it was resolved.

      c)  Identify one fact or issue that two of your sources disagreed over.  Mention                         which version was correct and how you discovered or determined that truth.

      d)  Include pictures, photocopies where appropriate and helpful.

      e)  Include all your sources.

      This is your story; you select the angle (thesis) and write the paper.

 

      For the purposes of grades and due dates this paper will be divided into six parts.  PART ONE will be a report on the topic you have selected, the issues you have identified and the sources you have and have yet to consult.  As I stated, PART ONE must contain: 1) the topic with some explanation of that topic,  2) It must also include a report on the specific sources you will use or have used,  3) Examples of questions asked and answers given should be included.  This part will count as a homework grade.   PART TWO is a report on your first source.   It should not be thought of as a first draft but more like a progress report.  I do not want all your notes but do include enough for me to see the types of questions you are addressing and the answers you have recorded.  I want to see your work!  The more you do the better your grade will be.  I would suggest the paper to be at least three typed pages.  PART TWO will be essay grade #1 for the SECOND QUARTER.

 

      PARTS THREE and FOUR will be reports on additional sources.  PART THREE will be essay grade #2 for the SECOND QUARTER.  PART FOUR will be essay grade #2 for the THIRD QUARTER.

 

      PART FIVE is the final paper.  This is the completed paper, including a bibliography, footnotes and a title page.  PART FIVE will be essay grade #1 &2 for the FOURTH QUARTER.

If you decide to re-write the paper it will be PART SIX.   It would be a second essay grade for the FOURTH QUARTER. A rubric will be given to you for the final paper. All papers will be turned in through “Turnitin.com”.

     

      Two people may work on any one area; both will receive the same grade.  However, no more than one person or group will be allowed to work on any one area or team.  Topics are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis (starting after our first class).  I will be available for help at any time during this process and I suggest you use me often.

 

      A copy of this paper together with other helpful information can be found on Mr. Sidoli’s WEB site:   www.chrissidoli.50megs.com.  Familiarize yourself with it.  Follow the links for “History WHS Paper.”

 

      Here are the parts of the paper and their tentative due dates:

      1.   PART ONE  - Select a Topic/Area DUE DATE- October 1, 2005 

      2.   PART TWO  -  FIRST Source                                  DUE DATE- October 20, 2005   

      3.   PART THREE  -  THREE Sources                         DUE DATE- December 12, 2005 

      4.   PART FOUR  -  Another THREE Sources         DUE DATE- February, 2006 

      5.   PART FIVE  -  the FINAL PAPER                        DUE DATE- May 16, 2006  

      6.   PART SIX  –  the RE-WRITE                                   DUE DATE- June 1, 2006.