Term Paper Guideline Term Paper HIST 1112, World Civilization II Term Paper as a

Term Paper Guideline
Term Paper
HIST 1112, World Civilization II
Term Paper as a Percentage of Course Grade: 20%
Due date: Monday, November 6 at 11:59 p.m.
Submission: In the D2L drop box for this assignment
Length: 5-7 pages, typed, 12 point font, double-spaced
Overview:
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 began in the United States during the First World
War. However, because of the circumstances of the war, it became a global pandemic
that killed tens of millions of people across the world, even more than the war itself. The
influenza pandemic caused tremendous difficulties for people and governments
attempting to cope with the war. The pandemic may have also influenced the outcome of
the war, the peace that followed and relations between European powers and their
colonies in Africa and Asia. The influenza pandemic was thus one of the most deadly and
influential pandemics of the modern era and has lessons for us today as we deal with the
COVID 19 pandemic.
Basics of the Term Paper:
Students will write one term paper based on the BBC film The Flu That Killed 50 Million
(2018) and Susan Kingsley Kent’s book The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919. A Brief
History with Documents. Read the introduction (pages 1-24), then read the short primary
documents that follow. Once you have read Kent’s introduction and the primary source
documents, watch the BBC film The Flu That Killed 50 Million (2018). This film should bring
your readings to life. Please be sure to take good notes both on Kent’s book and the BBC film.
After you have completed your readings and watched the BBC documentary film, choose
one of the two Term Paper topics below. Do not answer both topics. Your paper will
address ALL of the interrelated questions in the topic chosen. With respect to sources,
you must cite both Kent’s introduction a minimum of two times and the film The Flu
That Killed 50 Million a minimum of two times. You must also cite at least four of the
short primary sources in Kent’s book. Students should make sure that their name is listed
on the first page of their paper, along with their class and the Term Paper topic they have
chosen. The two Term Paper topics with their questions are as follows:
Essay Topic 1: Victims and Medical Personnel
What was the origin of the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919? How did it spread around
the world? And how did it impact some areas of the world more than others? What was
the influenza epidemic like from victims, including those who survived and those who
did not? What was the influenza epidemic like for medical personnel such as doctors and
nurses? How did they attempt to treat patients? What results did their efforts have? Who
did people blame for the influenza epidemic and why? In the end, what does the influenza
epidemic tell us about the state of the world in 1918-1919? What are its lessons for our
world today?
Essay Topic 2: Governments and World Events
How did the First World War contribute to the outbreak and spread of influenza? What
sorts of problems did the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 create for governments? How
did governments react to the influenza epidemic? What were some of the results? How
did the influenza epidemic influence the outcome of the First World War? How did it
influence events that followed the war such as the Paris Peace Conference and unrest in
European colonies? In the end, what was the overall impact of the influenza epidemic on
the world and why? What are its lessons for our world today?
Sources to use for the Term Paper:
Students should use the two main sources below for this paper.
1) BBC documentary film found on GHC Library Films on Demand (free): The Flu That
Killed 50 Million (2018)
To access this film, please use the three GHC Films on Demand links below. You
may need to cut and paste these links into your internet browser. You may also need
to indicate that you are a GHC student to open the link or use your GHC password.
The Flu That Killed 50 Million (48 minutes):
https://fod-infobase-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=187991&tScript=0
If this link does not work, you can try another browser or go to the Films on Demand
website and search for the full version of The Flu That Killed 50 Million. The link to the
Films on Demand website is as follows:
https://fod-infobase-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/nd_Home.aspx
For those who would like to read a transcriipt of The Flu That Killed 50 Million, please
click on the “transcriipt” icon on the right side of the screen once you open the film in
Films on Demand.
2) Susan Kingsley Kent, The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919. A Brief History with
Documents. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013.
ISBN# 978-0-312-67708-4
You need to purchase Kent’s book in advance either at the GHC bookstore or at an
online seller of books.
Instructions for the Term Paper:
1) When you watch the BBC film The Flu That Killed 50 Million and read the
documents in Kent’s book, pay attention to details, but do not get lost in them.
Always try and keep in mind the author’s purpose and the big historical events
related to it.
2) You may find it useful to underline important passages or take some notes as you
read. Before you begin writing, you may also want to make an outline to organize
your thoughts.
3) When you write your paper, make sure you completely answer the questions. The
best papers fully answer the questions and do not significantly veer off the
subject.
4) Please keep in mind that this is a Term Paper assignment and not a book report.
Book reports simply sum up a book while term papers seek to answer more
substantive questions. Although your term paper will to some degree sum up the
book, you should only do so in ways that help answer the questions.
5) You should have a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement is a sentence or
two in the introductory paragraph that gives the paper’s main argument. It will tie
the paper together from the beginning to the end. You should refer back to it again
in your conclusion. For example, with essay topic 2, you could argue in your
thesis that the influenza epidemic had a major impact on the outcome of the war
and the Paris Peace Conference. Or, you could argue in your thesis that the
influenza epidemic only had a minor impact on the outcome of the war and the
Paris Peace Conference. Your thesis statement should reflect your views, although
whatever they are, you should have a clear thesis statement and evidence to
support it.
6) You need to have evidence for your argument to be convincing. This includes
giving specific examples and citing sources. Papers that do not cite and quote
from the text are almost always weaker than those that do. You may sum up
information from a source or directly quote from it. As a rough rule of thumb, you
should have at least one or two source citation per paragraph. For quotations that
are several sentences long, use block quotations. However, please avoid using
excessive citations, and especially numerous lengthy or block quotations as this
will clutter your paper and drown out your voice, causing you to lose significant
points.
7) You should cite the page numbers where you found specific information or
quotes. Please use the Turabian Style of citation (otherwise known as the Chicago
Manual of Style) as it is the standard citation style for the discipline of History.
Do not use MLA. More information on this citation style is given below under the
heading “Citation Style.”
8) You will find it useful on occasion to directly quote from a source to illustrate a
point. Please do not simply quote to fill space, but instead give specific relevant
and credible information to address the term paper questions. When you include
direct quotes, use the ICE method of Introduce, Cite and Explain. First, do not
simply drop quotes into your paper. Rather, introduce each quote with an
introductory or stock phrase. Examples of introductory phrases to use just before
a quote are as follows:
According to Susan Kingsley Kent, “being quotation here”
Kent argues that “begin quotation here”
As the film The Flu That Killed 50 Million notes “begin quotation here”
Kent suggests that “begin quotation here”
The film The Flu that Killed 50 Million shows that “begin quotation here”
In Kent’s view (or opinion) “begin quotation here”
Kent’s research shows that “begin quotation here”
For Kent “begin quotation here”
Next, at the end of the quotation, cite your source using the Turabian style of
citation. Finally, after using a quote, briefly explain or expound upon it in your
own words. This helps the reader understand the quote as well as why you have
included it. Moreover, it ensures that your writing “flows” well. In the end, the
ICE method gives you a chance to analyze the material a bit and hopefully tie
back to your thesis statement.
9) Solid papers are well-organized and well-written. Your paper should have an
introduction, main body, and conclusion. The main body should be organized in a
logical fashion and the paper should be generally free of spelling, grammatical,
and stylistic errors. Papers should use complete sentences and paragraphs. Papers
should intent at the beginning of each paragraph.
10) Papers should be 5-7 pages, typed, 12 point font and double-spaced. Please do not
add extra space between paragraphs in attempt to fill space. Short papers will
invariably not fully address the questions. The instructor will not count off for
papers that run a little over seven pages. However, students should strive not to
ramble with their papers and thereby go well beyond six pages.
11) A cover page is optional, but you should have your name on the first page of your
paper and your essay topic. You should also have a Bibliography at the end. A
Bibliography is simply a separate listing of sources in alphabetical order at the
end of your paper. For more on how to properly list sources in a Bibliography
using Turabian, see the section on “Citation Style” below.
12) Avoid using first person, i.e. “I” “me” or “my” in your paper. This paper is not
based on your own personal experiences.
13) While you may use your lecture notes or the Video Textbook for background
material, by far the main focus of your paper should be the BBC film The Flu
That Killed 50 Million and Kent’s book. Remember, that you are required to cite
at least four of the short primary source documents found in Kent’s book, at least
two citations from the introduction to her book and at least two from and the film
The Flu That Killed 50 Million.
14) You need not do any outside research for this paper and should only use sources
assigned to you by the instructor. The use of any other sources, especially internet
sources (with the exception of the textbook), is strictly forbidden for this
assignment.
15) Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism on the term paper
will result in an “F” in the course. If you have any questions about what
constitutes cheating and plagiarism, please see the syllabus, which describes it in
great detail. You should also speak with the instructor if you have questions about
what constitutes plagiarism.
16) Papers are due in the D2L drop box for this class. To access the D2L drop box,
please go to the D2L page for this class. Then, click on “Assessments” and
“Assignments.” You will see the drop box for term paper submissions there. You
do not need to submit a hard copy of your paper. The instructor will grade the
term papers within the drop box and will leave feedback there, with the grades
entered in the D2L gradebook. Papers are late once the due date and time is
passed. Late papers will be penalized 10 points each day, and will not be accepted
after two days (48 hours after the day/time the paper is due). Students who do not
submit a paper after 48 hours of the day/time the paper is due will receive a zero.
17) Papers are graded using a rubric with categories for issues related to the term
paper assignment such as Thesis statement/overall insightfulness, Answers the
questions using specific examples, Citation of sources and Use of language and
organization. Students can find a complete rubric with full descriiptions at the end
of this document and under the drop box for this assignment.
18) Students who struggle to write their papers are encouraged to seek help. While it
is optional, students who wish the instructor to read a rough draft and provide
feedback prior to the deadline for the paper may do so. However, the sooner they
send a draft of their paper to the instructor via his GHC e-mail address, the better
feedback he can provide. Also, students who find writing difficult are encouraged
to go to the GHC Tutorial Center for help. The Tutorial Center will not write your
paper for you. Nonetheless, it will look over a draft in order to provide feedback,
especially to help with organization and to correct grammatical errors. The
Tutorial Center’s services are free to all GHC students. You can find more
information about the Tutorial Center at the following link:

Tutorial Center Homepage

Students may also find it useful to contact Harold Campbell at the Tutorial Center.
Citation Style:
Students must use Turabian, otherwise known as The Chicago Manual of Style as the
citation style for this paper. You may find a brief online version of the Chicago Manual
of Style at the following link:
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
Below are two examples of the proper use of this citation style:
Film (BBC film):
Footnote/Endnote: The Flu That Killed 50 Million, directed by Andrew Thompson (BBC,
2018).
Bibliography: The Flu That Killed 50 Million. Directed by Andrew Thompson. BBC,
2018.
Book, single author, Kent’s book (the introduction):
Footnote/Endnote: Susan Kingsley Kent, The Influenza Pandemic. A Brief History with
Documents (New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013), 15.
Bibliography: Kent, Susan Kingsley. The Influenza Pandemic. A Brief History with
Documents. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013.
Book, single author, Kent’s book, short primary source document:
Footnote/Endnote: Erich von Ludendorff, “The Offensive in the West,” in The Influenza
Pandemic. A Brief History with Documents, ed. Susan Kingsley Kent (New York:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013), 103.
Bibliography: Ludendorff von, Erich. “The Offensive in the West,” In The Influenza
Pandemic. A Brief History with Documents, ed. Susan Kingsley Kent, 102-103. New
York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013.
Textbook:
Footnote/Endnote: Bronson Long, “The First World War,” in Video Textbook, World
Civilization II, eds. Steve Blankenship, Jayme Feagin and Bronson Long (Rome, GA:
Georgia Highlands College, 2018), Module 5.
Bibliography: Long, Bronson. “The First World War.” In Video Textbook, World
Civilization II, eds. Steve Blankenship, Jayme Feagin and Bronson Long, Module 5.
Rome, GA: Georgia Highlands College, 2018.
Lecture notes:
Footnote/Endnote: Bronson Long, “Class lecture.” October 22, 2018
Bibliography: Long, Bronson, “Class lecture.” October 22, 2018.
**Note: Students are allowed to use an electronic version of Kent’s book such as on
a Kindle instead of the hardcopy. However, students who do so must note this on
their citations as the page numbers of electronic versions differ slightly from the
hardcopy.
How to insert footnotes/endnotes and use Turabian:
You should cite the source of specific summary information and direct quotes that you
use in your paper with either endnotes or footnotes at the very end of the sentence.
Choose either endnotes or footnotes and use them consistently throughout your paper.
Footnotes are easier to read, although endnotes are permissible. To insert an endnote or
footnote in Microsoft Word, go to the tabs at the very top under “Insert” and scroll down
until you see “Footnote.” Your cursor should then automatically create a number within
your paper and then take you to the bottom of the page (hence the term “footnote”). You
will type in your citation information there. As a reader, with the Turabian citation style,
you simply match the numbers in the text to the numbers below to read what sources are
cited. If the instructions above do not work for your version of Microsoft Word or
another word processing program that you use to write your paper, please search on the
internet for how to insert footnotes using the specific word processing program on your
computer.
Please note that for footnotes and endnotes, after you cite a source once, you should not
give the location of publication and the publisher the next time you cite the same source.
Rather, all you need to cite is the author, title and page number. Also, in footnotes and
endnotes, if you cite the same source two or more times in a row, for all times after the
first citation you should cite the source as Ibid (Latin abbreviation for “the same place”)
instead of giving all the information.
Example Paragraph using the Turabian Citation Style:
Below is an example paragraph, both with a direct quote and summary citation, of how
your paper should look citing sources with the Turabian citation style. Please use this
example to have a better understanding of what your paper should look like in citing your
sources. Please look both at the paragraph and the footnotes below it that correspond to
the citations.
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 began in Kansas. It spread across the United
States and then to Europe as American troops traveled to the western front during the
First World War. It then became a global pandemic.1 According to Kent, “unlike its
predecessors, which tended to take infants and the elderly, this strain of influenza
preferred men and women aged fifteen to forty-five, victims in the prime of their lives.”2
As the influenza epidemic struck towards the end of the war, this included soldiers.
German general Erich von Ludendorff especially noted that “influenza was rampant, and
the army group of Crown Prince Rupprecht was particularly affected.”3 This played a role
in the failure of the German offensive in the spring of 1918.4
1 The Flu That Killed 50 Million, directed by Andrew Thompson (BBC, 2018).
2 Susan Kingsley Kent, The Influenza Pandemic. A Brief History with Documents (New
York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013), 2.
3 Erich von Ludendorff, “The Offensive in the West,” in The Influenza Pandemic. A Brief
History with Documents, ed. Susan Kingsley Kent (New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s,
2013), 103.
4 Ibid.
Grading of Term Papers:
Insightful, thought-provoking papers which meet the basic requirements for the
assignment, are well-written, well-organized, have a clear thesis statement and uses
supporting details to completely answer the question will receive a letter grade of “A” for
the term paper. Papers will be graded on a sliding scale. Papers will lose points according
to the degree in which they do not meet the standards listed in this guideline. The
instructor will grade Term Papers in the D2L drop box. He will make brief comments to
provide feedback and will use a rubric both to grade the papers and give further feedback
to students. Students are strongly encourage to read this feedback so that they can
improve their writing skills. So that students have a full understanding of how papers are
graded, the grading rubric is below.
Grading Rubric for the Term Paper:
Term Papers will be graded using an online rubric within D2L. This rubric provides
students with extensive comments on their work. It should also give them a good sense of
how they received their grade for the assignment. The rubric for the Term Paper is
composed of four categories, namely Thesis statement and overall insightfulness, Answers
the questions using specific examples, Citation of sources and Use of language and
organization. Full descriiptions for these categories, as well as the grades assigned for each
is below:
Thesis statement and overall insightfulness
Superior (A):
Paper has a clear thesis statement and highly original analysis.
Good (B)
Paper has a good thesis statement with some original analysis.
Acceptable (C)
Paper has a vague thesis statement with little original analysis.
Poor (D)
Paper has an unclear thesis statement with no original analysis.
Failing (F)
Paper makes no effort at a thesis statement or original analysis.
Answers the questions using specific examples