Instructions
A Short Paper Assignment allows you to demonstrate your research skills to your instructor and to receive feedback that will benefit you when you write research papers for future courses. With this assignment, you will learn how to do proper research and write a short paper.
Your topic must be the the same topic approved by your instructor in Week 3.
This short paper is at least three double-spaced pages of text (Times New Roman, font size 12) and you must consult a minimum of two academically credible sources. Your bibliography and citations may be in APA, MLA, or Chicago Style format. Students majoring in history must use Chicago Style format.
The short paper needs to be turned in through the assignment section for grading. If you use any of the information from your sources word-for-word, you must cite the source by using endnotes, footnotes, or parenthetical citations. If you read the information and write it in your own words and it is not common knowledge, then you must cite the source because you are paraphrasing someone’s information.
The short paper must include a cover page with your name, course number and course title, instructor’s name, and date. You must also include a bibliography at the end of your paper. While composing your paper, use proper English. Do not use abbreviations, contractions, passive voice, or first/ second person (I, you, we, our, etc). And finally, students are not allowed to use encyclopedias or Wikipedia.
1
Name: Ray McNeal
Topic: The Impact of the Great Depression on American Society
Research Questions:
How did the Great Depression shape the lives of ordinary Americans in terms of work and
financial stability?
What were the societal and ethnic consequences of the Great Depression on American families
and societies?
How did administration strategies and programs, such as the New Deal, try to discourse the
encounters posed by the Great Depression?
Thesis Statement: The Great Depression devastated the American economy and intensely
influenced social structures and individual lives, leading to substantial changes in occupation
patterns, family subtleties, and government interference.
Sources:
Elder, G. H. Jr. (2021). The life course and the Great Depression: A cohort analysis.
American Sociological Review, 86(1), 26–50 https://elder.web.unc.edu/books/
Summary
Elder’s study employs a cohort analysis to survey how people experienced and were
pretentious by the Great Depression throughout their lives. The strength of this source lies in its
inclusive longitudinal tactic, which allows for a nuanced understanding of the long-term effects
of the Great Depression on diverse generations. However, the study’s weakness is its emphasis
primarily on quantitative data, possibly overseeing the qualitative scope of people’s experiences
during this era.
2
Fraser, S., & Gerstle, G. (Eds.). (2019). The rise and fall of the New Deal Order, 1930–1980
Princeton University Press. https://journals.openedition.org/oeconomia/16474
Summary
This revised volume provides an inclusive investigation of the New Deal era, drawing on
its origins, application, and legacy. It offers a diverse variety of scholarly perceptions on the New
Deal’s financial, political, and social magnitudes, shedding light on its accomplishments and
confines. Strength of this source is its interdisciplinary methodology, drawing on antique,
political, and fiscal evaluations. However, one area for improvement is its restricted focus on
specific aspects of the New Deal, possibly neglecting disregarded voices and views.
McElvaine, R. S. (2022). The Great Depression: America, 1929–1941 (3rd ed.). Broadway
Books. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1092816
Summary
McElvaine’s manuscript delivers a complete impression of the Great Depression epoch,
exploring its roots, penalties, and continuing legacy. Drawing on an extensive array of primary
sources and secondary works, the volume offers bibliophiles a detailed understanding of the era’s
monetary, societal, and party-political subtleties. This source’s strength is its availability and
readability, making it appropriate for both educational and general audiences. However, one
weakness is its perspective on intricate historical phenomena, which requires acute engagement
with its arguments.