History Research

In the text-box, copy this below and fill out the information about your paper topic. This doesn’t need to be long, I just need to check that you have a right idea about it.

Broad Paper Topic: (Federalism, Presidency, Legislative Branch, etc.)

Potential Issue to Research: (Sanctuary Cities, Presidential Power, Supreme Court Politicalization, etc.)

Why do you want to explore this Issue?: (2-3 sentences)

What do you expect to find in your research?: (2-3 Sentences)

One reliable source of research on this issue: (MLA or Chicago Style)

Choosing a topic: Your topic will be a specific contemporary event or issue that you can analyze using a chapter in your textbook. Many of your sources will be newspaper articles. The topic should be broad and important. Ideally this topic will have been addressed in numerous news publications. You do not want a topic that is so small it was discussed once, in one newspaper.

Examples: (and yes, you can use these topics)

Broad Paper Topic

Potential Issue to Research

Federalism

Federal vs state government and the regulation of marijuana/ Sanctuary cities

Civil Rights/Liberties

Gay rights vs religious liberties/ Black lives matter movement

Congress

This most recent Congress has been so deadlocked it has accomplished LESS than ANY other Congress in US history; refusal to appoint new Supreme Court judge

Presidency

Presidential authority, executive order, and overstepping presidential authority (Is it a good thing if Congress blocks new president? Is it good if President bypasses Congress?)

Judiciary

Accusations that the Supreme Court, which is not supposed to be politicized (it’s supposed to be neutral) is in fact very politicized; Senate supermajority rule changes for supreme court nominations.

Political Parties

The Republican party is at an ideological crossroads; future of GOP

Elections

Voter ID laws and impact on elections