Comprehensive Writing Program

The History department has developed a well-organized, comprehensive, graduated, fair
and challenging writing requirement for its students.  The department bases its formal writing
style on the 5 paragraph "Knockout" essay and the Modern Language Association (MLA)
style for term papers.  All faculty members of the History department have been issued the
"MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers" written by Joseph Gibaldi (1995). 
All Sophomores will be required to purchase, "Essentials of MLA Style" so that they will
have a  resource to aid them in their formal writing.  

Short papers 3-5 pages must include a formal bibliography-works cited page.  However,
if the teacher includes proper instruction, he/she may also require a formal outline and citation
of sources.  All 10 page papers must include an outline, bibliography and citation of sources. 
Footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical notation are all acceptable under the MLA style, it is the
responsibility of the teacher to inform and properly instruct his/her students as to the required
method of citation.  Students are required to write formal papers using proper English usage,
grammar and spelling.  All formal papers must be typed.

Freshman are required to complete at least three formal "Knockout" essay
papers.  First quarter writing expectations will be devoted to developing proper
note taking and short answer essay skills.

Sophomores are required to complete two "Knockout" essays and two 3-5 page short papers.

Juniors are required to complete one "Knockout" essay, one 3-5 page short
paper and one 10 page term paper.  The successful completion of the
term paper project was a requirement from the previous administration
for a junior to graduate from the United States History course. Currently, the term paper
accounts for 1/3 of a student's fourth quarter grade.  Failure to
complete this project requires that a student attend Summer School, no matter
what numerical grade was achieved.  The student is still required to complete the
project in order to pass Summer School. 

A.P. Juniors currently write eight 3-5 page short papers, but no 10 page
term paper.  These reason for this is that A.P. Juniors are practicing for the
Document Based Question (DBQ) requirement on the A.P. exam. Similar to a
research paper, these DBQs test a student's ability to organize a successful
argument based on cited factual information.

Seniors currently write three 3-5 page short papers and one 10 page term
paper. Plus they complete the Junior Achievement company creation 
project and a stock tracking project.

A.P. Seniors currently write four 3-5 page short papers and two 10 page
term papers.  Each of the term paper requirements include an oral
presentation/defense component.