1. Historical Investigation in American History:
Topic Choice
Research Question

2. Where to begin? Guidelines of the assignment Your own interest
Your textbook

3. Examples of broad topics:
Railroads
Early Settlement
Slavery
The West
Crime
The South
Expansion
Presidents
War and conflict
Immigration
Civil Rights
Native Americans

4. Settlement
Reconstruction
The South
Post-Revolution
Antebellum

5. The South

6. Refining your choice

7. General Topic: The Role of Southern Women Before the Civil War
The role of women WHERE?
In The Home ?
In Politics ?
In Marriage ?
In Religion ?

8. General Topic: The Role of Southern Women Before the Civil War
The role of WHICH women?
Wealthy
Slave
Rural
Underclass
Urban business

9. General Topic: The Role of Southern Women Before the Civil War
The Role of Wealthy Women Before the Civil War
The Role of Wealthy, Rural women Before the Civil War
The Role of the Master’s Wife on Plantations in the Antebellum South

10. Research Question
What was the role of the plantation owner’s wife in the antebellum South?

12. The Investigation
Remember this is not a thesis essay. Approach the topic as though you are going to present to an audience that wishes to be informed, not have a particular argument proved. You will be required to explore, evaluate, reflect and question.

13. In the investigation, you are the detective asking the questions...
Unlike the thesis essay, where you are the lawyer defending a case...

14. The Assignment Read the assignment sheet carefully.
You are provided with very specific criteria for each section of the assignment. The assignment requires you to work independently and thoughtfully. Exploring your topic may prove more difficult than proving a point.