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Research Project – Topic Brainstorming US History II

Before you can begin your research paper assignment, you need to pick a subject that you will focus on to answer the prompt. A first step is determining some things that interest you.

Prompt:

A recurring theme in American history is the classic struggle between personal convictions and public opinion. For instance, a personal cause, a political belief, a desire for change, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other personal passion or drive may conflict with the norms of society at the time.

Choose a historical figure or movement in American history since 1877. Did he/she/they stand up for a point of view that went against American opinions at the time? Were his/her/their actions effective at making a change?

Read the prompt, and in particular focus on the section that is bolded/underlined above; brainstorm some individuals or groups that fit that description, or some time periods during which challenges were made to prevailing opinions. Choose 3 things that interest you, then read the Wikipedia or other general encyclopedia entry on each subject. Use the information you read to fill in the chart below. This is not your final topic, but is a first step to helping you decide on one.

|Subject |Ways this topic addresses the prompt |Things I find interesting about this topic |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

SOME SUGGESTED TOPICS/TIME PERIODS TO LOOK AT TO FIND A PERSON/GROUP:

|BROAD TOPICS TO CONSIDER: |TIME PERIODS TO CONSIDER: |

|feminism |Progressive Era (reformers) |

|immigrant rights |Civil Rights Movement |

|Black American civil rights |women’s rights (early 1900s or 1960s-70s) |

|American indian rights |changes during WWI or WWII |

|Hispanic/Chicano rights |recent history (who’s been important in the last 20ish years?) |

|LGBTQA... rights |ANY time since 1877 when there has been people standing up for something |

|other minority groups’ rights | |

|labor unions/worker’s rights | |

|environmentalism | |

|political reform | |

|pioneers (the “first _____” to do something) | |

|USEFUL PROMPTING QUESTIONS: |

|What interesting/important changes have been made to society that have made things better? |

|What kind of courage does it take to stand up against majority opinions? |

|What does it mean to be a leader? to show leadership? |

|What groups are still not included in society as they should be? Is anyone working to fix that? |

|What cultural “things” do you find interesting? Has someone done important work within that area of society? (ex.: sports, movies, comic books, entertainment, |

|etc.) |

|FAQ: |

|I can’t find a topic - what should I do? |

|You can write about pretty much ANYTHING - start by really considering what you find interesting, and then look there to see if there are any groups/people that|

|might fit the prompt. |

|Should I just choose what seems easiest? |

|NO!!!!!! You will be miserably bored if you choose a topic you find boring just because it seems “easy” and your project will end up being more work in the long|

|run. If you are interested, it will be much easier to stay engaged with the assignment. |

|Can write about the same person/group as someone else? |

|Sure! However, keep in mind that if you pick a topic that many other people are also writing about, your paper will be stacked up against everyone else who |

|wrote about it; only choose a “popular” topic if you are really passionate about it. |

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