This assignment assesses CO-6.  [content page]

Federal laboratories, Universities, or Industrial Laboratories? Based on the course readings, which institutional setting contributed most significantly to the development of physics in the 20th century? Explain your rationale with examples. Additionally, did 20th century physicists have more significant achievements on earth or in space (including all institutional settings)? Explain why. Finally, which physicist made the greatest contribution? Explain how, and cite a primary source written by him or her.

Paper Outline (Use Subheadings for Parts A, B, and C):

1. Title Page

2. Part A: Institutional Setting Answer

3. Part B: Earth or Space Answer

4. Part C: The Selected Physicist

5. Bibliography

Length: 250 to 500 words (not including title page or bibliography).

Format: APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style. For assistance visit:

1. Writing@APUS-APA

2. Writing@APUS-MLA

3. Writing@APUS-Chicago-Notes/Bib

Paper Requirements:

1. Cite the readings for the week, indicating how they informed your answer.

2. Cite ONE primary source written by your selected physicist. As a reminder, a primary source “is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event.”  Click here to  learn the difference between primary and secondary sources .

3. Cite ONE scholarly source from peer reviewed journals or books found in the APUS library. What is a secondary source? “A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event.” Web sites are not approved research for this assignment. There is to be NO USE OF WEBSITES in your answer under any circumstances for this part of the assignment. Scholarly and peer reviewed research only. Click here to  learn what makes a source “scholarly” : Click here for  how you find peer reviewed or scholarly sources :

4. Include a bibliography.

I will submit all of the papers into TurnItIn which is a plagiarism checker. If I find evidence of plagiarism, I will give you a zero for the paper. To ensure this does not happen make sure you familiarize yourself with the meanings of plagiarism (see the policies section of this syllabus), take careful steps in your note taking process to avoid a potential for a mistaken plagiarism, and then finally submit your own paper to TurnItIn prior to the course deadline. This review will serve as an important check for you. To  learn how to avoid plagiarism in your research  and then select “Quoting and Paraphrasing.” Read the  university policy on plagiarism on Academic Dishonesty

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

This is a tightly structured analytical paper. With a 250–500 word limit, precision and clarity are essential. Let’s break this down step by step.

Step 1: Choose Your Position Strategically

You must make three clear arguments:

Part A – Institutional Setting

Choose ONE:

• Federal laboratories (e.g., Los Alamos National Laboratory)

• Universities (e.g., University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory)

• Industrial labs (e.g., Bell Labs)

Pick the one you can defend with strong historical examples (atomic research, quantum theory, transistor development, radar, etc.).

Your paragraph must:

• State your thesis clearly in the first sentence.

• Provide 1–2 concrete historical examples.

• Reference course readings directly.

Step 2: Address Earth vs. Space

You must define what “significant achievements” means.

Examples of Earth-based achievements:

• Quantum mechanics

• Nuclear physics

• Solid-state physics

• Medical imaging

Examples of space-related achievements:

• Satellite technology

• Space exploration

• Astrophysics discoveries

If arguing space, you may reference institutions like NASA.

Be analytical — not descriptive. Explain impact on humanity, technology, or global power structures.

Step 3: Select the Greatest Physicist

Choose carefully. Strong options include:

• Albert Einstein

• Niels Bohr

• Marie Curie

• Richard Feynman

Then:

1. Explain their contribution clearly.

2. Cite ONE primary source written by them (e.g., Einstein’s 1905 paper on relativity).

3. Cite ONE peer-reviewed scholarly secondary source from your university library.

Remember: NO websites for research sources. Use academic books or journal articles only.

Step 4: Structure Within the Word Limit

Your structure should look like this:

Introduction (2–3 sentences)

Brief thesis preview.

Part A (1 paragraph)

Clear institutional argument with evidence.

Part B (1 paragraph)

Earth vs. space evaluation.

Part C (1 paragraph)

Physicist argument + primary source reference.

Conclusion (1–2 sentences)

Reinforce your overall claim.

Step 5: Avoiding Plagiarism

• Paraphrase carefully.

• Cite immediately after paraphrased ideas.

• Use quotation marks for direct quotes.

• Run your draft through TurnItIn early.

University plagiarism policy resource:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/avoiding_plagiarism/index.html

Step 6: Formatting Help

APA Guide:
https://apastyle.apa.org

MLA Guide:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style

Chicago Guide:
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org

Pro Tips for an A Paper

• Take a strong, defensible position.

• Prioritize analysis over summary.

• Integrate course readings explicitly.

• Use precise historical examples.

• Keep writing concise and focused.

Because the word count is limited, every sentence must support your thesis. Think like a historian: argue, support, conclude.