A Brief Guide to Preparing an Undergraduate Research Paper in African History. Occasional Paper 75-2.

A practical guide to preparing an undergraduate research paper in African history is provided. Since the common problems of choosing a topic and locating needed resources often require more time than is necessary, suggestions which increase efficency in these stages are emphasized. A short annotated list of African history textbooks with clear opinions and controversial generalizations are suggested as suitable materials for leading a student to a topic for research. The fundamental controversy in African historical writing today is over the degree of continuity or change from precolonial times, through colonial rule, to the present. This controversy can lead to specific questions which are suitable for research papers. In the process of defining a topic, the student should move from an assumed generalization to the testing of a hypothesis about the generalization. Nine assumptions and possible hypotheses are suggested for further study. Relevant bibliographical aids include instructions on how to use the card catalog, indexes, handbooks and encyclopedias, bibliographies, the human relations area file, scholarly journals, maps, and atlases. (Author/DE)