The research paper can be on any topic in Italian Renaissance history. Papers are to be analytical and interpretive; they should present a thesis and develop an argument. You are encouraged to use primary sources, and you are expected to examine the historiographical context of your topic. First drafts may be limited to sources available in the Duggan Library, but you are expected to use Interlibrary Loan to obtain additional sources for the final draft. You should include with your first draft a bibliography based on a universal search for sources.
The grade of each draft will be based on the quality of the thesis and argument, the quality of the evidence and logic, and the quality of the writing. You should consult with me about your paper at least a week before each draft is due.
The Electronic Database page on the History Web Site may prove helpful in bibliographical searches. The Encyclopedia of the Renaissance (Duggan reference CB361 .E52 1999) is a good recent reference work. Links to internet sources can be found on the Italian Renaissance page of the History Department's Internet Archive of Texts and Documents.
3. Class participation (10%)