1. Research Paper Tips #1
World History 9
St. Anne’s-Belfield
Monday, February 4, 13

2. Of [two rulers], who was the more
effective leader?
✤ To mount an thoughtful, analytical argument
on the relative “effectiveness” of two leaders,
you must compare “apples to apples.”
Monday, February 4, 13

3. Choosing Leaders
✤ YOU MUST HAVE A BASIS FOR COMPARISON!
✤ Choose two leaders who share points of comparison (researchable
evidence exists for BOTH RULERS). This will make your
assessment more persuasive and the argument more effective.
✤ Compare “apples to apples”
✤ DO NOT choose two leaders who were polar opposites
Monday, February 4, 13

4. Apples to Apples
✤ ex. effectiveness of teachers-
✤ COMPARE LORET TO KLAUS RATHER
THAN LORET TO SWAIN (both teach 9th
grade history)
✤ ex. COMPARE OBAMA TO LINCOLN,
NOT TO CLINTON (both presided over
periods of war)
Monday, February 4, 13

5. Areas of Comparison
✤ Areas of effectiveness should be
chosen through research
✤ Choose areas common to both
leaders
ex. Choose FOREIGN POLICY not military experience if comparing
Obama and Washington (both engaged in foreign policy, only
Washington had military leadership experience)
Monday, February 4, 13