short paper roman empire history class

Topic: Cleopatra in Roman History

For your short paper assignment, read these instructions carefully. For additional details, consult the syllabus.

Papers should be analytical in nature and not merely a narrative of events (e.g. Hannibal’s conquest of Italy). You must confer with your instructor before you settle on a topic and begin your research.

For each short paper, select A SPECIFIC TOPIC, more detailed than the suggestions provided below, to analyze the problem presented, marshal the evidence, and then present your own reasoned conclusions, which must be supported by the evidence and documented in the endnotes or footnotes.

Sources

When researching and writing your paper, you should use at least one of each of the following types of sources: 1) a primary source; 2) a monograph; 3) an article from an academic journal; 4) a piece from a reputable internet site.

Articles, and some books, can be accessed through the online databases available at the UMUC Library: Databases.

With regard to websites, keep in mind that a website is not reliable simply because it exists on the Internet. If you are not certain about a web site, click on this link and read the Library’s guide to evaluating web sites.

Encyclopedias are useful consulting tools, but they should never form the basis of a research paper. Encyclopedias are guides, not major sources.

Format

The paper must be 6-8 double-spaced pages, excluding works cited. Pages should be numbered at the top right-hand corner. There are a variety of reference tools in the Library to assist you with your research.

Your paper should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins, in 12-point type.

Include endnotes or footnotes and a bibliography.

Your paper should follow the Chicago style throughout. Instructions on the Chicago style can be found at style examples or in A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Please consult with your instructor if you wish to use a different professional format.

References

The general rule to keep in mind is that you should avoid using a large number of endnotes/footnotes.

Conversely, whenever you use an idea which is not yours and is not considered common knowledge you should add a footnote or endnote. (Common knowledge: a fact or argument mentioned in multiple sources.)

Also, even if a fact or argument is common knowledge but you want to draw attention to a particular person’s use of it you should use an end note or footnote.