Students are given an opportunity write one of two types of research papers using a given website as a guide.
ANALYTICAL - In an analytical research paper, you do research to become an expert on a topic so that you can restructure and present the parts of the topic from your own perspective.
ARGUMENTATIVE - In direct contrast to the analytical paper, your approach here is to take a stand on an issue and use evidence to back-up your stance, not to explore or flesh out an unresolved topic.

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Recently retired, primarily middle school, after 43 years! My entire career has been in Westport, CT. It was terrific to go to work each day, knowing that the students would be receptive to the lessons. My major driving thought came from the book, Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman, where she at one point notes, "Let it be a challenge to you." So over the many years of teaching, I tried to imagine how I might challenge my students to "own" their education with respect to American studies. Whether it was in the delivery of a lesson, the format of a test, the requirements of a project, or the classroom climate, my goal, my challenge was to get the students engaged. Hopefully, I succeeded in some small way.
