Assignment – Ronald Reagan’s war on the mafia

Assignment – Ronald Reagan’s war on the mafia

Subject: History    / General History
Question
Assignment on Ronald Reagan’s “war on the mafia”. The rubric is below: (No cover letter or abstract needed)

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH PAPER PROJECT

You are asked to write a 6-8 page (double-space, 12-pt. Times-Roman font) research paper. It is worth 35% of your semester grade.
The paper should include at least one illustration or a map [not included in the 6-8 pages], and all sources will be footnoted. See suggested Citation Guide below..
The intent of the paper is to explore further a topic of particular interest to you related to the class. You may also choose to include a summary paragraph that relates the historical material to current events today..
This is a short paper but it must show that you have done research beyond what we learned in class. Try to find an unusual angle or perspective (your thesis). Formulate your own opinion and back it up with sources. Don’t forget to look for primary sources.
You should use at least 3 academic sources in your paper. Avoid television shows or documentaries, and DO NOT USE student websites or Wikipedia.
If you use web-based sources, be sure it is an academic or scholarly source, or a footnoted article from a museum or research institute. You can also use sites like the Library of Congress, FBI or CIA published documents, Congressional hearing reports, reputable newspaper articles, etc.
Aim for two citations per page. But ALL information should be referenced, not just quotations.
Because this is a short paper, you must write concisely. Check out “Writing concisely” on the GMU Writing Center page at http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-concisely
The research paper is worth 100 points, like an exam, and counts as 35% of the final semester grade.
THE RESEARCH PAPER IS DUE on Blackboard no later than 11:59 p.m., on Sunday, April 30.

Citations: I recommend the Turabian Citation Guide (Quick Guide) athttp://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html. For example, #1 (below) is the first time you cite a source; #2 is the second time you cite it. Every specific quotation or information from another source must be cited. All quotations must be in quotation marks. Avoid long quotations. Try to write in your own words. See the Quick Guide also for multiple authors, etc. If you get started and have questions, please email me. (Dr. Hook)

. 1. Malcolm Gladwell ,The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference    (Boston: Little, Brown, 2000), 64-65.

2. Gladwell,Tipping Point, 71.