1. Ancient World History – Mr. Iannacone
Prep 9 – Summer 2015
Research Paper Project Guide
Classical Antiquity
Research Paper Guide
Research papers are an integral part of a student’s academic career. This project will
prepare you to read, research, note-take, outline, draft, cite sources, and revise an original
research paper. At its core is a bold thesis: a main or claim that is essential to understanding the
topic under examination. This project will introduce you to the thinking, writing, and editing
skills you need to write winning research papers. Further, a strong writer is a strong thinker.
Bold and resourceful thinkers navigate life with ease; this is an important life-skill.
Classical Antiquity is a field of study called Classics. Your research paper will explore the
many topics and areas of interest that Classics scholars and writers have pondered for thousands
of years. What was life like for Roman women? How did the Greeks develop their myths and
stories? Did leaders like Caesar Augustus bring peace and prosperity to all of Rome or just a
select few? Questions like these will be explored in your paper. Twenty (20) topics are provided.
It is your job to develop an interesting thesis that will drive your paper. In addition, your paper
should inform your reader and shed new light on an area of study.
At Lawrenceville, the library and research facilities will be an excellent resource.
Researching, reading, note-taking, out-lining, drafting, citing, revising and revising again will be
a slow and deliberate process. You will have the help of advisors, librarians, and teachers.
Follow this guide and do your best!
TOPICS:
1. Ancient Greek Philosophers
2. Greek Gods & Religions
3. Pericles
4. Ancient Greek Women
5. Ancient Greek Architecture
6. Ancient Greek Literature
7. Ancient Greek Sculpture
8. Ancient Greek foods
9. Ptolemaic Egypt
10. Alexander the Great
11. the Roman Republic
12. Roman Religion & Gods
13. Julius Caesar
14. Caesar Augustus
15. Ancient Roman Architecture
16. Ancient Roman Literature
17. Ancient Roman Soldiers
18. Ancient Roman Laws
19. Ancient Roman Women
20. Early Christians in Rome

2. Ancient World History – Mr. Iannacone
Prep 9 – Summer 2015
Research Paper Project Guide
RESEARCH PAPER DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS
NOTE CARDS, WORKS CITED PAGE, AND THESIS:
At least 50 note cards are required. You are to hand in the note cards gradually. (See attached page
for format for note cards.) The following are the due dates:
Summary: Mon, July 20
 Using an encyclopedia provide a basic factual summary of your person, group or event.
 It should be 1 to 2 pages.
First 10 Notecards: Tue, July 21
 From at least two sources.
Middle 20 Notecards Wed, July 22
 10 must be from your primary sources. All your cards must be relevant to your thesis question.
Final 20 Notecards Thu, July 23
 10 must come from one chapter of the major book that you are using.
Thesis: Fri, July 24
 State your thesis question at the top of the paper. What are you going to be showing in your paper?
What question are you answering?
Outline: Thu, Jul 30
Your outline should include the following:
 A full introduction with an underlined thesis statement
 Topic sentences for FIVE body paragraphs
 Two pieces of evidence to support each topic sentence
Works Cited Page: Tue, Aug 4
 Your works cited page must consist of at least FIVE sources. Be sure that you have some primary
sources as well as secondary. Cite your woks cited in full – Author, Title, (Where published,
Publisher, Date).
 If you have a selection from an edited work, then follow this format: Author, Title of Selection
with quotations “around the title”, Title of edited book, Editor, and then (Where published,
Publisher, Date).
ROUGH DRAFT: Wed, Aug 5
 Only a complete paper will be accepted.
FINAL DRAFT: Mon, Aug 10
 Length: Typed 6 to 7 pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins, Times New Roman, Font size 12.

3. Ancient World History – Mr. Iannacone
Prep 9 – Summer 2015
Research Paper Project Guide
FORMAT FOR TAKING NOTECARDS:
Heading/Main Idea Bibliographic #
Information that supports your main idea.
Just one piece of information is enough.
Page Number
The following cards after this passage from Socrates on Trial illustrate how you should do your sample
cards.
SOCRATES’ ASSOCIATES #1
Socrates’ associates included Critias, Alcibiades, and other men who were hated. Many
believed that it was Socrates’ influence that spoiled these men. (They were “right-wing
aristocrats” who hated democratic government.)
P.43
Make a page of your sources. Keep adding to your sources as you go along. For the final draft you will
need to cite from at least three secondary and two primary sources. Here are some examples:
Source #1 - Kraut, Richard. Socrates and the State. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983.
Source #2 – Finley, M.I. “The Greek City-State.” in Ancient Civilization. Eds. Norman F.

4. Ancient World History – Mr. Iannacone
Prep 9 – Summer 2015
Research Paper Project Guide
OUTLINE EVALUATION
INTRODUCTION (10 pts.)
 Time/Place/Historical Context:
 Stated what you are going to be covering in paper:
 Thesis stated clearly, conveying full scope of inquiry:
FIVE TOPIC SENTENCES (2 pts. each)
 Linked to thesis, establishes focus for paragraph, and not too general.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4th.
5th.
TWO PIECES OF EVIDENCE FOR EACH TOPIC SENTENCE (1 pt. each)
COMMENT
GRADE (Out of a possible 30 pts.) _______________

5. Ancient World History – Mr. Iannacone
Prep 9 – Summer 2015
Research Paper Project Guide
NAME __________________________________ ROUGH DRAFT EVALUATION
Citations from 5 sources, including 2 primary sources (10 pts.):
Format Followed -
Meets Length Requirement (10 pts.):
Content (30 pts.);
Total:

6. Ancient World History – Mr. Iannacone
Prep 9 – Summer 2015
Research Paper Project Guide
FINAL DRAFT CHECKLIST
COVER PAGE____________
 At center is title of paper (with picture if you like).
 In left corner of paper put my name (Mr. Iannacone) and your name.
PROPER FORMAT ____________
 12 Font
 Times New Roman/Arial
 1” margins, start your first written page 1” from the top
 No big gaps between your paragraphs
SOURCES CITED PROPERLY___________
 For footnotes and end notes: cite in full the first time you use a source, then author’s last name
and page #.
 For in-text citations: all you need is author’s last name and page #.
 Provide a full works cited page at end of paper.
ATTRIBUTION GIVEN _______________
 Check to see if you have given attribution for all ideas, interpretations, facts, and stories that you
have gotten from your sources.
CROSS REFERENCING ________________
 Have you looked at the views of your different authors on the main themes of your topic?
 Are there differences of opinion and interpretation?
IS THIS ALL MY OWN LANGUAGE? __________
THESIS CLEARLY STATED __________
TOPIC SENTENCES LINKED TO THESIS _________
IS MY PAPER COHERENT? _________
 (Paragraph organization, smooth transitions between paragraphs, grammar, sentence structure,
spelling)
ROUGH DRAFT IS SUBMITTED WITH FINAL DRAFT _________
 (An important part of your final grade will be based upon the extent to which you have revised
your paper.)