Your paper MUST cite at least TWO BOOKS about your subject. You can, of course, read and cite even more if you wish.[3]
You should also look for and cite at least one scholarly journal article about your subject
Structure
Thesis: The most important part of any essay. It is your argument, your contribution to history. It should appear at the end of the first paragraph, and should be as concise as possible, 1-3 sentences. Above all, it must be clear and argumentative. It should be in your introduction paragraph that opens the paper and outlines what you will be writing about.
Body: This is composed of a series of paragraphs. Every paragraph needs a topic sentence. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. Think of the topic sentence as a mini-thesis; it gives the reader an idea of what the paragraph is going to be about. The supporting sentences need to be about the idea presented in the topic sentence. Each topic sentence should be supported by evidence (from the sources) and analysis (your take on the evidence). Make sure you balance the author’s evidence with your own explanation. Finally, each paragraph needs a strong concluding sentence that will lead into a new topic sentence (and hence, a new paragraph). A good test is to read the first sentence of each paragraph in succession to see if there is a clear flow between them and that they help support your main thesis.
Conclusion: In one paragraph, summarize your argument/major points and tell the reader why what you have said is important.
Your task is to research Pat Buchanan and to try to determine how they fit in our story of the American Dream. What were the person’s core beliefs? How did his actions/ career/life reflect those beliefs? And what influence, good or bad, did your subject have on American life?
Your task is to write a 7 page term paper (approx. 1,750 words) which contains a strong thesis statement about what vision of the “American Dream” your subject’s life/works/views/actions represent.
Your paper should provide a brief summary of your subject’s background (no more than two paragraphs), but the rest of the paper should be a thoughtful analysis of your subject’s views/actions/works and how his or her actions influenced, for better or worse, American society.
Your analysis should include the following:
A discussion in separate paragraphs of THREE things your subject said/did/created (etc.) that you think best reflect your subject’s vision for America (e.g. specific speeches, books, songs, protests led, bills passed, buildings designed, paintings painted, battles fought, organizations founded, etc.);
At least one paragraph summarizing the views of those who were/are critical of your subject;
A discussion of how your subject’s life fits within the themes of this class;
A paragraph or so expressing your views of the contributions of (or, in the alternative, damage done by) your subject.
At least one paragraph assessing whether the issues about which your subject was concerned are still with us today.[2]
use footnotes to cite evidence, place footnote AFTER the period and quotation marks:
Ex: According to Lemann, “DuBois rightly perceived that the Civil War had been fought over slavery.”[4]