The Major Research Paper (MRP) is modeled on a scholarly journal article of approximately 30-50 pages (excluding bibliography). The MRP is expected to be completed in one year (3 semesters). Under special circumstances a student may be permitted to take one more semester to complete the Major Research Paper.
Sample Major Research Paper Topics
- The Development of Early Settler Identity in Southern Rhodesia, 1890-1914
- Communist China in Canadian-American Relations, 1957-63
- A Treatise on Female Ruin: Thelyphthora and its Controversy
- Narratives of Victimhood: National Identity and the Historiography of the Second World War in the Yugoslav Republics of Serbia and Croatia
- Succumbing to History: How Specific Government Policies Have Contributed to the Decline in Native Health in Canada since 1940
Major Research Project Proposal Guidelines
Due Date: March 15 of the first year of study
The proposal is designed to help you think through your research project in some depth and detail. Writing this proposal should help you develop an understanding of the critical questions involved with your topic and help you form a plan of research. A good proposal will allow your supervisor to ensure that your research is heading in a promising direction and that your goals for the MRP are manageable. It also gives your supervisor a chance to provide you with feedback on possible sources and suggest questions for you to consider as you pursue your research. In writing your proposal, it will be helpful to keep in mind the requirements for the MRP. As the History M.A. program regulations explain: The Major Research Paper will be modeled on a scholarly journal article. It will be approximately 30-50 pages long, excluding notes and bibliography.
The proposal should be approximately 4-5 double-spaced pages in length (excluding bibliography) and should address the following issues:
- Research Questions: This section should explain the goals and significance of your research project. You should identify the specific problem or research questions that will be the focus of your study. In addition, you should explain why the topic is important and what scholarly contribution you hope to make.
- Historiography, Methodology, and Theory: Although you do not need to include a full literature review or historiographical discussion, you should position your project in relation to other scholarly works on the topic. You should also discuss the research methodology and/or theoretical frameworks that will inform your analysis. Why have you chosen these particular methods and theories, and how will they contribute to your project?
- Research and Sources: Provide a brief summary of the primary sources you plan to investigate (such as archival materials, correspondence, newspapers, magazines, literary texts, government documents, visual sources, oral histories, etc.). Also, comment on the availability of sources and whether you anticipate encountering any problems accessing these materials.
- Bibliography: Attach a preliminary bibliography that provides information about both the primary and secondary sources that you have located thus far in your research. You should list the primary and secondary sources under separate headings.
Finally, please note: If your project involves research with human subjects (such as oral history), then you will need to apply for approval from Trent’s Research Ethics Board (REB). You should start this process as soon as possible, as you must have REB approval before conducting research with human subjects.
Evaluation
The Major Research Paper will be assigned a numerical grade based on the average grade assigned by the supervisor, second reader, and the external reader.