HIS 100 Topic Exploration Worksheet

Part 1
Select a research topic area for Project 1 based on which of the following areas interests you the most.
You will explore the selected topic a little later in this theme. Mark your selection in the right-hand
column.

Topic Selection

Drafting of the U.S. Constitution X

Mao Zedong’s Rule Over China

South African Apartheid

In the space below, replace the bracketed text with a short paragraph about what you already knew
prior to this course about the topic you selected, based on your personal history or experiences. This
may include assumptions, beliefs, or values related to the topic. Be as detailed as possible.
Well the first thing that comes to mind when I think about the constitution is the preamble, which
happens to be the very first section of the U.S Constitution. Followed by the seven articles and the
amendments. There is a jingle that has never seemed to leave my head since I learned it in my
elementary school days. “ We the people in order to form a more perfect union”, starts the
constitution. In fact, with the help of the jingle I could easily recite the preamble in its entirety. I always
thought it was so cool to be from the state where the U.S Constitution was signed, Pennsylvania. In fact
it was signed on September 17th, 1787 in Philadelphia, PA. As I recall, Benjamin Franklin signed the U.S
Constitution along with George Washington.

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Part 2
Now that you have identified your topic and described what you already know about the topic, what
questions do you still have about the topic? Replace the bracketed text with your answers.

Question Response
What is the purpose of the seven articles and amendments?
Identify one question about the
topic that you are curious
about.

As a U.S citizen, this interests me because I would like to know more

about the document, which governs of our laws.
Describe why this question
matters to you personally.

This is important to our society as it lays the foundation for our

justice system.
Describe why this question
matters to society.

How the U.S Constitution came to be and who was involved?

Identify a second question

about the topic you are curious
about.

Simply because I’m not entirely sure why the constitution was
thought to be written.
Describe why this question
matters to you personally.

This could serve as a reminder how the U.S changed in history.

Describe why this question

matters to society.

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Part 3
You are now ready to complete the final part of your Topic Exploration Worksheet. You have chosen a
topic, posed some research questions, and are ready to start thinking about what kind of sources you
will need to investigate your research questions further. Using the library guide in the Shapiro Library
provided for your chosen topic, skim through the suggested resources (or find your own) and replace
the bracketed text with relevant information about your research questions.

Question
Which secondary sources would be
helpful for investigating your first
research question?
(Include the title and author of the
sources.)
Response
Conventional Wisdom: The Alternate Article V Mechanism for
Proposing Amendments to the U.S. Constitution would aide me in
learning more about the amendments and construction of the U.S
Constitution. More specifically Chapter 3, which is titled, The History of
Constitutional Amendments in the United States.

Which primary sources would be The letter from George Washington to John Jay written on May 18,
helpful for investigating your first 1786. This source might give me more insight on the amendments.
research question?
(Include the title and author of the
sources.)

Which secondary sources would be
helpful for investigating your
second research question?
(Include the title and author of the
sources.)
From the research guide, I think Liberty’s Blueprint by Michael
Meyerson would give me more than enough information to
answer this question.

Which primary sources would be The Federalist Papers might help better understand how the
helpful for investigating your Constitution came to be.
second research question?
(Include the title and author of the
sources.)

Now that you have gone through
the research, what have you
learned about your topic in one to
two paragraphs?
I learned that I am very naive to this particular topic. I now know
more about who was involved in the drafting. People like Hamilton
and Madison had leading roles in drafting the U.S Constitution. In
addition, I am aware of conversations that were taking place prior
to the drafting. George Washington and John Jay were in
communication to develop a document that would soon be the
basis for our government. Even thought I learned new information
it’s not nearly enough. I am excited to continue on with research
about the U.S constitution.