Term Paper
Nov. 18, 2020
Term paper prompt is available in “Files.” The paper is due at 6 p.m. on Dec. 9, 2020 (EST).
HIST137 Term paper prompt 2020.pdf
* The following is a copy of the text of the Prompt:
Term Paper Prompt
Task:
Defining China
To use what you have learned in HIST137 (from pre-imperial era to the Qing Dynasty) to interpret the concept of “China.”
For those who had never learned about the history of China before taking this course: To present what you have learned about the history of China and your perception of “China.”
For those who had learned about the history of China before taking this course: To demonstrate your new improved understanding of the history of China.
Requirements
Length: Double-spaced 1,500 words; no more than 4,000 words. Cover page and bibliography page are not required.
Page format: In a 12-point type, 1-inch margins.
Structure/Format: Has a specific and clear title, an organized introduction, and an organized conclusion.
Argument: Your paper should have a clear argument. The argument should be articulated in the beginning of the paper. A paper that does not have a clear argument or randomly talks about some issues regarding China can receive a D at best.
Materials: To use materials, including assigned texts and readings, to efficiently support your argument. Without using materials will lead your grade to a D at best. Using academic databases is encouraged, but citing online information from some public websites, such as Google.com, Wikipedia, Britannica, org, YouTube, Facebook, Baidu, and Douban, will lead your essay to an F. Students are not encouraged to use non-English materials for this essay.
Use of historical events/cases: To incorporate appropriate historical events in your analysis and use them efficiently in the historical contexts you provide.
Quotations and footnotes/endnotes: To use footnotes or endnotes in term paper; make the proper use of quotations and citations, and do not let quotations and citations replace your voice. Citing your HIST137 lecture notes is not encouraged, but if you do so the citations must clearly indicate lecture date and topics. Too many citations of lecture notes will lead to a C at best. To have correct Chicago/MLA format for footnote or endnotes (You may visit “Canvas”->“Files”->“Quoting and Documenting Sources Mary L. Rampolla-2007” for your references; pay attention to pp. 134-137). The issue of quotations can be related to academic integrity (see below), so do remember to follow the rules on quotations. The documentary information of Canvas materials could be found in HIST137 syllabus.
Notes, Rules, and Deadline
Clichés: A paper repeating clichés, such as “China is great,” “the Tang Dynasty is great,” “the Chinese civilization is among the longest civilizations in the world,” “the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China,” “pre-modern China is stagnant,” and “the Chinese feudalism prevented China from developing capitalism,” would not receive a decent grade.
Academic integrity: Violations of academic integrity, in particular plagiarism, lead to a failing grade in this essay AND in this course. This course has a 0 tolerance policy toward plagiarism, as HIST137 syllabus articulates.
For students who violate UD academic integrity rules in term paper: The cases will be directly reported by the professor to UD Office of Student Conduct (OSC). The OSC will be contacting the students directly for further procedures. Hearings could be involved. Once the OSC rules that the students are responsible, the students would receive an F for this course (which will appear on transcript) in addition to other discipline from the OSC.
Document format: Your electronic copy shall be in a “.doc”, “.docx”, or PDF format only. No online .doc/.docx file would be accepted. The file shall be named this way: HIST137_TP_Your full name.
Deadline and submission: Uploading an electronic copy of your term paper to Canvas by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 9, 2020. No extension. Late submission has no excuse and will NOT be graded.
Grading Rubric and Grade Samples from A to F
A level (27-30 points):
Content Rating
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Argument
√
Forma/Title
√
Format/General Structure
√
Topic Sentences
√
Introduction
√
Conclusion
√
General Demonstration/Narration
√
Use of Primary Source
√
(√)
Use of Secondary Source
√
Syntax/Mechanics
√
Chicago Format or MLA Format for footnotes/endnotes
√
B level (24-26 points):
Content Rating
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Argument
√
Forma/Title
√
Format/General Structure
√
Topic Sentences
√
Introduction
√
Conclusion
√
General Demonstration/Narration
√
(√)
Use of Primary Source
√
(√)
Use of Secondary Source
√
(√)
Syntax/Mechanics
√
(√)
Chicago Format or MLA Format for footnotes/endnotes
(√)
√
(√)
C level (21-23 points):
Content Rating
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Argument
(√)
(√)
√
Forma/Title
(√)
(√)
√
Format/General Structure
(√)
(√)
√
Topic Sentences
(√)
(√)
√
Introduction
(√)
√
Conclusion
(√)
√
General Demonstration/Narration
(√)
√
(√)
Use of Primary Source
√
(√)
Use of Secondary Source
√
(√)
Syntax/Mechanics
√
Chicago Format or MLA Format for footnotes/endnotes
(√)
(√)
√
D level (18-20 points):
Content Rating
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Argument
(√)
Forma/Title
(√)
Format/General Structure
(√)
Topic Sentences
(√)
Introduction
(√)
Conclusion
(√)
General Demonstration/Narration
(√)
√
(√)
Use of Primary Source
√
(√)
Use of Secondary Source
(√)
√
Syntax/Mechanics
(√)
√
Chicago Format or MLA Format for footnotes/endnotes
(√)
(√)
√
F (0-17 points):
Content Rating
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Argument
√
Forma/Title
(√)
√
Format/General Structure
(√)
√
Topic Sentences
(√)
√
Introduction
√
Conclusion
√
General Demonstration/Narration
√
Use of Primary Source
√
Use of Secondary Source
√
Syntax/Mechanics
√
Chicago Format or MLA Format for footnotes/endnotes
√
