HIS 135
Research Paper and Presentation
 
 
NJ Zinc Factory
This is what remains of the West Plant of the New Jersey Zinc factory in Palmerton, PA.  Thousands of immigrants, including my grandfather and other relatives, found jobs in this factory through most of the twentieth century.  The East Plant is still in operation, but both plants are on the EPA Superfund Cleanup list because of high contaminations of heavy metals.  Photo credit road_less_trvled.
 
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Well, this is kind of a research paper assignment, but it is also involves writing up a lecture or producing a website (one that future students in the course will be able to use).  First, let me show you some examples that I have already done:

Here are some possible topics, and you may suggest alternatives:

  • Theme-based:
    • Technology (atomic energy, medicine, electronics, computers)
    • Globalization
    • The environment
    • Radicalism in the Western hemisphere
    • The Alliance for Progress
    • Cold War
  • Geographic-centered
    • East Asia (Korea and Vietnam)
    • Southeast Asia
    • Central America
    • Latin America
    • Caribbean
    • Near East
    • Southern Africa
    • Central Africa
    • East Africa
  • Decades
    • 1940s
    • 1950s
    • 1960s
    • 1980s
    • 1990s

Based on the examples that I listed, I would prefer that you write up your remarks as a web page, but I will also accept a Word *.doc.  In either case, I would like for you to email me separately the images that you use in your project.  Since what you create will end up as a website, you do not have to worry about double-spacing, but please use margins and also an Arial, Helvetica or Verdana font (size 10 or 12).  I am also not going to specify a page length, but your project should not be long.  If you have a question about this while you are working on your project, please check with me by email.  Your research for this assignment can be done largely online, but it should not be just wikipedia.  You should include images in your work, and you should cite the sources for those images.  Your project will be made available to the class for everyone to read and comment upon.  You will also present your topic to the class and lead an informal discussion.

Please consult Charlie's History Writing Center for specific information on the writing requirements of this course.

Your assignment should be submitted on Blackboard following the directions for submitting assignments.

The research paper and presentation is worth a maximum of 200 points.

 
 

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