Name: _____________________ AP US History

Date: ______________________ Mrs. Waters

Final Essay!

For your final paper, you have a choice of topics, whose breadth you may narrow down
to a specific focus area of your choosing. You may write about either the development
of political institutions or a pressing problem in American history or international
relations. All of what we have learned this year is fair game, as are current events, as
long as your paper is driven by a historical parallel (therefore incorporating the past into
an evaluation of the present). We will brainstorm ideas in class!

This paper must be three full pages minimum. I will not read past four! Following the
guidelines bulleted below, it should be printed, stapled and 3-hole punched ready to be
collected at the start of class Friday May 23
rd
.

Remember that you must have a thesis statement! Put it right out there in the first
paragraph, then defend and support your position with examples from history. Dont
forget that vague is the enemy!

Also, you will have learned how to use footnotes, and must practice them in this paper
this is in addition to a bibliography. We will likely have a brief peer editing exercise on
Wednesday before it is due to make sure youre on the right track, so be prepared with a
draft.

Guidelines
minimum of 3 pages, no longer than 4
includes a title displayed left or center justified
has a proper heading in the upper right hand corner
page numbers starting with 1 on first page of content
page numbers found in the lower right hand corner

Page Formatting
12 point default font, 1 margins
no spaces, correct indentations
all paragraphs a minimum of 3 sentences
all paragraphs broken up appropriately, no run-ons

Thesis Statement
can be found in the first paragraph
answers the question being asked of you definitively

Bibliography
separated by category, alphabetized and 2
nd
line of citation indented
footnotes used in paper must come after end punctuation
uses correct MLA formatting for the type of source