⚠ Academic Integrity Notice
This planner is a scaffolding tool — it is designed to help you organize your own thinking, not to substitute for it. Every field you complete should reflect your own analysis of the primary sources you examined in your Research Notes. Do not use AI tools to generate, rewrite, or complete any portion of this assignment.
Complete your Research Notes before beginning this planner. Your thesis, evidence, and analysis here should grow directly out of that research.
Write your main argument in one clear, arguable sentence. Your thesis should take a position on whether McCarthy's accusations were substantially correct, largely unfounded, or something more nuanced. You may copy and paste your draft thesis directly from the Final Summary section of your Research Notes form and refine it here. You will return to this sentence in your introduction and conclusion.
Your introduction should move through four beats in order: (1) open with the standard textbook "witch hunt" narrative — what most Americans believe about McCarthyism; (2) introduce McCarthy's "I have in my hand" claim as the focal moment of the controversy; (3) state your thesis clearly; (4) provide a brief road map — identify the 2–3 specific cases or lines of evidence your paper will use to support that thesis. The road map tells your reader exactly what the paper will argue and on what grounds.
Briefly summarize the standard narrative: McCarthy as reckless demagogue, innocent victims, Salem witch hunt comparisons. You may quote the dictionary definition of "McCarthyism" here.
Briefly introduce the 1950 Wheeling speech and what McCarthy claimed. Keep this to 2–3 sentences — you will develop the evidence in a body paragraph.
State your argument clearly. You may copy your thesis from Step 1 or refine it slightly for the introduction.
Identify the specific cases, cables, or archival findings your paper will use to support your thesis. This is not a list of topics — it is a preview of your actual argument. Name the individuals and sources. 2–4 sentences.
Combine all four beats above into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 175–225 words.
Write 3 body paragraphs that build your core argument from your archival findings. Each follows the structure: Topic Sentence → Evidence → Analysis → Full Draft. A fourth paragraph addressing the McCarran Committee is optional but recommended — it adds important historiographical depth. A fifth paragraph addressing counterarguments is also optional.
Combine topic sentence, evidence, and analysis into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 150–200 words.
Combine into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 150–200 words.
Combine into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 150–200 words.
Combine into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 150–200 words.
Acknowledge McCarthy's flaws, exaggerations, or cases where the archival evidence is weak or absent. A strong essay addresses complexity rather than ignoring it — showing you can hold the evidence accountable even when it supports your thesis makes your argument more credible, not less. If you skip this paragraph, your essay is still complete.
Combine into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 150–200 words.
Your conclusion should do three things: (1) restate your thesis in different words — do not copy it verbatim; (2) briefly summarize your two or three strongest pieces of evidence; (3) end with a broader statement about what the Soviet archives ultimately reveal about the "witch hunt" myth and its legacy.
Name your 2–3 most compelling findings — the cases with the clearest archival confirmation.
What does this evidence ultimately tell us? What should we make of the "witch hunt" label in light of the archives?
Combine the three parts into a single flowing paragraph. Aim for 120–180 words.
List every source you cited in your essay. Include specific Venona cables (with date and sending office), Vassiliev Notebook references (notebook number and page), and the Congressional Record entry for McCarthy's speech. Add any secondary sources you consulted. Use Chicago, MLA, or Turabian format — be consistent.
Do not write generally about what you learned about McCarthyism. Instead, describe one specific moment during your research when something surprised you, confused you, or changed your mind. Name the source, name the person you were researching, and describe exactly what you found and why it mattered to you. 3–5 sentences is enough.
Your essay is already written in pieces above. Now assemble it into a single continuous document. Copy your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion into the field below in order — then read it through once and smooth the transitions between paragraphs. This is your submitted essay. Aim for 600–900 words for a standard submission; longer is fine if your argument requires it.
Assembly order: Introduction → Body Paragraph 1 → Body Paragraph 2 → Body Paragraph 3 → Body Paragraph 4 (McCarran, if used) → Body Paragraph 5 (Counterargument, if used) → Conclusion. Your Works Cited goes below the essay, not inside this field.