HIS 100 Project 2 Historical Context and Introduction Guidelines and Rubric Overview “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” —Pearl Buck Your second project in this course is to complete a historical context and introduction project. The work you did on the Topic Exploration Worksheet in Modules One and Two will directly support your work on this project as well as your third longer term project—the multimedia presentation—due in Module Eight. One of the prime benefits of studying history is that it allows us to learn about who we are and where we came from. The people and events of the past can often shed light on the conditions and social norms of the present. Having historical awareness can inform various aspects of your life as well as future aspirations. Learning from past failures and successes can shape ideals and values for years to come. This is your second longer-term project designed to help you understand the fundamental processes and value of studying history. In the first project, you completed the Topic Exploration Worksheet on one of the topics or themes from the library guide. You investigated the types of research you might need to do to learn more about the topic and developed research questions. In Project 2, you will use your completed Topic Exploration Worksheet to explore the historical context and develop an introduction. You will choose one of your research questions and do some secondary source research, speculate on primary source needs, and use the information to write the introduction and thesis statement for a possible research paper. (You will not write the entire paper— only the introduction.) In the third project, you will create a multimedia presentation that explores both major developments in historical inquiry and the value of examining history. This research plan and introduction assignment will assess the following course outcome, which you focused on throughout Modules Three and Four:  Determine fundamental approaches to studying history in addressing questions about how events are shaped by their larger historical context Prompt In this project, you will write the introductory paragraph of a history paper based on one of the questions you identified in your topic exploration worksheet. To do this, however, you must first find out a bit more information about your topic and draft a research plan. This will allow you to transform your question about your topic into a thesis statement, as well as give you the background information you will need to craft an interesting introductory paragraph. You will not write the entire paper, just the introduction to the paper that concludes with a thesis statement. The following critical elements will be assessed in a Word document that combines both your research plan (Critical Elements I and II) and your introduction (Critical Element III). Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Write your introduction. A. Write your introduction. Be sure to incorporate your background information and to conclude with your thesis statement. B. Based on your primary and secondary source research, turn your research question into a thesis statement that addresses your topic and how it has been influenced by its historical context. II. Use primary and secondary sources that address the historical context of your topics to respond to the following critical elements. Be sure to cite your information using the most recent version of APA guidelines. Based on the sources you have selected, address the following questions: A. Summarize the topic using primary and secondary sources. In other words, what was going on in the world/area/society around the event? B. Discuss how the historical context impacted the topic. For instance, what was happening in the world/area/society around the event that impacted how it occurred? Project 2 Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your historical context and introduction should be 2 to 3 pages in length. Use double spacing, one-inch margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font. Use the most current version of APA style. You will use the Historical Context and Introduction Template to complete this assignment. Critical Elements Introduction: Write Introduction: Thesis Statement Historical Context: Summarize Exemplary (100%) Meets “Proficient” criteria and cohesion of expression demonstrates a mature grasp of the requirements of an introduction Meets “Proficient” criteria and argument posited demonstrates insightful connections between the event and its historical context Proficient (85%) Writes an introduction that incorporates the background information and concludes with the thesis statement Meets “Proficient” criteria and information used from research communicates a strong grasp of the historical context Explains the historical context of the topic Crafts a thesis statement based on the research question that addresses the topic and how it has been influenced by its historical context Needs Improvement (55%) Writes an introduction that incorporates the background information and concludes with the thesis statement but is cursory or has inaccuracies Crafts a thesis statement based on the research question that addresses the topic, but thesis statement does not address historical context or has inaccuracies Explains the historical context of the topic but does not properly cite the secondary sources, or explanation is cursory or has inaccuracies Not Evident (0%) Does not write an introduction that incorporates the background information and concludes with the thesis statement Does not craft a thesis statement based on the research question that addresses the topic Value 24 Does not explain the historical context of the topic 24 24 Critical Elements Historical Context: Impacted Exemplary (100%) Meets “Proficient” criteria and information used from research communicates a strong grasp of the impact of the historical context Proficient (85%) Explains how the historical context impacted the topic Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization Needs Improvement (55%) Explains how the historical context impacted the topic, but does not properly cite the secondary sources, or the explanation is cursory or has inaccuracies Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas Not Evident (0%) Does not explain how the historical context impacted the topic Value 24 Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas 4 Total 100% Running head: PROJECT 2 1 [Note: To complete this template, replace the bracketed text with your own content. Remove this note before you submit your paper.] Project 2: Historical Context and Introduction [Your Name] Southern New Hampshire University PROJECT 2 2 Research Plan Research Question: [Revised research question from Topic Exploration Worksheet.] Introduction [Include a three- to five-sentence discussion of background information about your historical event to capture the interest of your audience. Write a two- to three-sentence thesis statement based on your research question that addresses your historical event and explains how your event has been influenced by historical context.] Historical Context: [Include a three- to five-sentence explanation of your event’s historical context, citing sources one and two. Use primary and secondary sources to discuss what was going on in the world, area, and society surrounding the event.] Impact of Historical Context: [Include a three- to five-sentence discussion of how historical context impacted your event, and cite your sources.] PROJECT 2 3 References [Include any references cited in your paper in full APA format. Don’t forget to include in-text citations as well.] HIS 100 Topic Exploration Worksheet Part 1 Select a research topic area for Project 1 based on which of the following areas interests you the most. You will explore the selected topic a little later in this theme. Mark your selection in the right-hand column. Topic Selection Drafting of the U.S. Constitution Mao Zedong’s Rule Over China • South African Apartheid Choose Your Own Topic (The Cost of Apartheid in South Africa) In the space below, replace the bracketed text with a short paragraph about what you already knew prior to this course about the topic you selected, based on your personal history or experiences. This may include assumptions, beliefs, or values related to the topic. Be as detailed as possible. While studying history, the topic area of South African apartheid is bound to pop up. Prior to this course, I was aware that South Africa apartheid was one of the most extreme forms of racial segregation in the world. I likened apartheid to the Jim Crow laws implemented in the United States where racial segregation was legalized. This topic is also of interest to me because I have always been a keen advocate for equality. People should not be discriminated against based on the color of their skin. From the recent ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) protests, it is clear that institutional and systemic racism continues to be a problem long after Jim crow and Apartheid. Apartheid wedged a gap between people of color and whites by establishing laws that ensured segregation in schools and access to government services. 1 Part 2 Now that you have identified your topic and described what you already know about the topic, what questions do you still have about the topic? Replace the bracketed text with your answers. Question Identify one question about the topic that you are curious about. Describe why this question matters to you personally. Describe why this question matters to society. Response [What factors, both local and international, led to the dawn of apartheid in South Africa?] [This question is important to me because I want to understand how different factors around the world and in the country led to the establishment of divisive laws. This question is also important to me because I want to understand the conditions that precede discrimination. ] [This question is important to society because it is paramount that the society understands what factors can lead up to divisions. It is in the interest of society to remain united and hence understanding the factors that encourage disunity can help avert this problem. Policies and strategies to avoid racial segregation can be guided by the findings of this research question. ] [What was the cost of apartheid?.] Identify a second question about the topic you are curious about. Describe why this question matters to you personally. Describe why this question matters to society. [This question is important to me because it helps me to understand the overall impacts of the society. This question also helps me understand what discrimination can do to a society.] [This question is important to society because it seeks to shows what the society will lose or gain by instituting divisive laws and policies. This question will also seek to educate the society on the costs of an uprising against discrimination. In a world that is becoming increasingly divided, the society needs to understand what a divided society means for its future. ] 2 Part 3 You are now ready to complete the final part of your Topic Exploration Worksheet. You have chosen a topic, posed some research questions, and are ready to start thinking about what kind of sources you will need to investigate your research questions further. Using the library guide in the Shapiro Library provided for your chosen topic, skim through the suggested resources (or find your own) and replace the bracketed text with relevant information about your research questions. Question Which secondary sources would be helpful for investigating your first research question? (Include the title and author of the sources.) Response 1. South Africa - The Present as History: From Mrs Ples to Mandela and Marikana by John S. Saul and Patrick Bond Which primary sources would be helpful for investigating your first research question? (Include the title and author of the sources.) Second letter from Nelson Mandela to Hendrik Verwoerd by Nelson Mandela Which secondary sources would be helpful for investigating your second research question? (Include the title and author of the sources.) 1. Neoliberalism and Economic Justice in South Africa: Revisiting the Debate on Economic Apartheid by Geoffrey E. Schneider. 2. Racism After Apartheid: Challenges for Marxism and AntiRacism by Khwezi Mabasa 3. Nelson Mandela and the Process of Reconciliation in South Africa by Yadav, A. K Which primary sources would be helpful for investigating your second research question? (Include the title and author of the sources.) 1. Apartheid has no future by Nelson Mandela 3 Now that you have gone through the research, what have you learned about your topic in one to two paragraphs? Going through the research, it is clear that a number of both local and international factors played a role in the establishment of apartheid and its consequent development. Colonialism was a major theme at the period which apartheid occurred in South Africa. From research, it is also clear that leaders such as Nelson Mandela endured a lot of hardships in their quest to end apartheid in the country. The anti-apartheid movement was motivated by worsening economic conditions and a need for basic human rights. Years after apartheid, it is clear that South Africa is still paying the price for apartheid. Though leaders had a clear vision of post-apartheid South Africa, shades of discrimination still exist in the economy. The education sector also took a blow. Years after it was abolished, Apartheid’s legacy in South Africa still persists. 4 
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