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Expanding an understanding of the impact of a past event or the work of a historical figure related to an educational policy

Sociology

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Expanding an understanding of the impact of a past event or the work of a historical figure related to an educational policy. I am looking at the change of public school vs private schools over Microhistory (small-scale, limited timeframe).

General Requirements:

Identification: Name and Page numbers in the top right-hand corner of each page
Typical length: 5,000-8,000 words with 3 - 10 published sources. At least 3 sources must be research articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

Mix of secondary sources that are peer-reviewed articles, scholarly books and including some primary sources in your research. Annotate 4 sources (include annotation in the reference list, after the source entry) Proofread: Ensure that spelling, grammar, & punctuation are correct, and that your paper is complete and flows logically with in-text citations & list of References.

[H]istory is only a confused heap of facts." (Stanhope, P. 4th Earl of Chesterfield, 1750, Letters to His Son, #CIV, http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3354/3354.txt) Those “facts” are human constructs, interpretation derived from innumerable past events & inevitable omissions (lost or unfound records of events), which accounts for the confusion. The challenge, when writing about the past, is to organize those facts in some meaningful way. In other words, “HISTORY is . . . a continuous process of interaction between the historian and his facts, an unending dialogue between the present and the past” (Carr, 1961, p. 35). What is history? This assignment offers an opportunity for you to have that sort of dialogue with the past, about an educational issue that interests you. Even where your interests are more sociological or philosophical, all issues are rooted in a historical context. So whatever issue you choose to study, historical research can help. Your research for this paper should focus on expanding an understanding of the impact of a past event or the work of a historical figure related to an educational policy or practice, or how some educational policy or practice came to be and has changed over time. Gathering data from multiple sources & critical analysis are crucial in building your own interpretation of the impact of past events. As Spring illustrates our text, The American School (2018), researchers investigating the same topic, often using the same evidence, can develop very different interpretations and conclusions. Considering multiple points of view will help you support the case you are making. Please be mindful of the time limits inherent in a semester project. Avoid Big History (large-scale, long timeframe) in favor of Microhistory (small-scale, limited timeframe). For instance, consider focusing on a single era, an individual, or organization. Beyond that, you have a lot of flexibility in your approach this assignment. Basic Format & General Requirements: Identification: Name and Page numbers in the top right-hand corner of each page Typical length: 5,000-8,000 words. (Excellent papers have been submitted at either end of this range.) References: 10 published sources, minimum. At least 3 sources must be research articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Look for a good mix of secondary sources: peer-reviewed articles, scholarly books (histories, biographies, autobiographies, etc.). Be sure to include some primary sources in your research (e.g., books, artifacts, photos, school board reports, legal materials like statutes & court cases, etc.) Information from personal interviews you conducted may be used, & can add much to understanding your issue, but do not count toward the 10-source minimum. Use APA style for in-text citations & the reference list Annotate 4 sources (include annotation in the reference list, after the source entry) Proofread: Ensure that spelling, grammar, & punctuation are correct, and that your paper is complete and flows logically. Proofread: Ensure correlation between in-text citations & your list of References. Papers without a list of references will receive 0 credit. Organization INTRODUCTION (Usually about two paragraphs in a paper of this length) The Introduction should provide an overview of the paper: what you were curious about, what you learned, and the main point you want to share. An introduction should catch the reader’s attention and provide a basic outline of how the paper is organized. Consider starting with a quotation, cartoon, photo, or statistic that highlights your topic. Introduce the issue or problem you researched & explain why you chose that topic. Define the parameters of your study (time frame, geographic context, etc.). Share the research question/s that guided your exploration. And be sure to provide a clear thesis statement (your main point); this is what you want to explain or prove in the paper. Then outline how you will proceed. BODY (Main portion of the paper; length will vary) The Body of your paper builds a narrative & presents the support (evidence & analysis) for your main point. Use subtitles to identify subtopics. Evidence: This is the "raw data" or information you gathered from your research on the topic. (As you collect information and analyze data, working explanations will emerge but eventually you will identify an answer to your research question.) Sift through the data you collected to find the strongest supporting evidence to present in the paper. Be sure to include supporting evidence for each claim, assertion, or interpretation you make as you build a case for your thesis/main point. For instance, if you say that certain policies increased in the 1960’s, or that a subject was cut from curriculum, or that certain people supported a particular policy, include supporting examples and cite your source/s. Include at least ten (10) independent sources. Look for a mix of formats, both primary & secondary sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, oral histories, legal documents, etc.). Cite Wikipedia or a dictionary, if used (e.g., for basic definitions, etc.), but these don’t count toward the 10 sources. Analysis: Remember, the data you present should never stand alone. Just as claims need to be supported with data, data must be analyzed & interpreted. Follow each piece of raw data (statistics, events, quotes, etc.) with an explanation of how it supports the point you are making in that paragraph or relates to your main point. Don’t just tell us some bit of interesting information; explain how it relates to your narrative. Remember to seek out different interpretations (think back to how Spring, 2018, & Dougherty, 2004, compared interpretations of several historians). Consider why the data was interpreted differently but identify weaknesses in those interpretations. Anticipate critiques & explain why your interpretation is credible. CONCLUSION (Usually two or three paragraphs long) Summary: Briefly, summarize your study. Restate your main point and highlight key evidence you used for support. Significance: Explain why your study is of interest. How does it contribute to our understanding (& possible solution of) a current educational issue? Limits: Identify aspects of the topic you weren’t able to address &/or barriers you encountered. Suggest areas for future study to expand your work.