ABSTRACT
A research paper is the Holy Grail of social studies authentic assessment. Just like the Holy Grail, however, the authentic research paper is not so easy to uncover in the high school classroom. The research paper became the high-stakes assessment. Thus, the quality of the final product, more than the authenticity of the process itself, turned into the pot of gold. A student might develop a question based around an interview of a grandparent. Or students who love sports might do a paper on soccer, cricket, and British colonialism. Once students have books and journal articles in their hands, they need to decide whether to “read” or to “raid” them. Reading a book means going from cover to cover, and taking it all in. When students submit their revisions, all changes or additions must be done in red ink or red font and they must resubmit their first draft with the rubric.
