Paper 2

Overview

You will be required to write two (2) equally weighted short papers. The papers will be approximately 500-700 words each, typed, and double-spaced (no handwritten papers will be accepted). For these papers, you must find an article from a newspaper, magazine, or reputable website that relates to the topics discussed within two weeks of your assignment’s due date. You must discuss the course readings in your paper (i.e., cite and analyze them) and be prepared to talk about them in class.

In order to write these papers, you must be following politics in the news. Please feel free to cite whatever news outlet you desire as long as it is reputable. (If you are unsure of what constitutes a credible source, please feel free to email me and I will let you know.)

These papers are designed to help you see the relationship between course material and current political events, to review the readings and lectures, and to help you develop your writing skills. Each paper will be assessed on the following criteria: reference to and evidence of understanding the course material; your ability to draw on examples from current political events; and writing skills. Poor grammar, bad spelling, and incoherence will result in lower paper grades.

Papers longer than 700 words will not be accepted.

Length

Remember that your paper should be between 500-700 words, typed, and double-spaced (no handwritten papers will be accepted). While some folks may struggle to write 500 words, the hard part (in my opinion) is to not exceed 700 words. Brevity and succinctness are valuable writing skills to develop for your academic and professional careers.

Font and Margins

You can use whichever font, font size, and margins you like, as long as your paper is legible. All you really need to do is meet the word count criteria (please see above).

Citations and Citation Style

I take an agnostic approach to citation styles. Please feel free to use whatever style you are most comfortable with as long as you are consistent throughout the paper. Please remember to cite where needed (e.g., when referencing specific and not generally known facts), and your readings and/or films should be cited in addition to your news article. General paraphrasing is fine, but page numbers are needed when you use direct quotes. A good rule of thumb: when in doubt, cite!

Title and Page Numbers

Along with your name, your papers should also include a descriptive title. Page numbers are also required, but are not necessary on the first page. In addition, a title page is not necessary for this assignment.

Road Map

This refers to an outlined argument in your introduction. You need to make an argument and lay out how you propose to explain and defend that argument (i.e., previewing). Tell your reader what you are going to tell them in your introduction (e.g., “In this paper, I will…”) In the body of your paper, tell your reader by way of your presentation of supporting evidence to bolster your argument. This includes counter-arguments, qualifications, and limitations of your argument. And finally, tell your reader what you told them via your conclusion. A good rule of thumb: your reader should know what your paper is about by only reading the introduction and conclusion. The body of the paper is merely the meat for the bones of the introduction and conclusion.

Summary v Analysis

Your paper should be an analysis of the readings rather than a summary of events. While it is true that you may need to describe some parts of a reading in order to demonstrate your knowledge of the course material, you do not need to write an entire paper on the definition of terrorism (as one example). Make references to examples from the readings in order to describe how they relate to your chosen news article, but do not summarize the readings. I have read the assigned readings and assume you have done them, too. I do not need or want to re-read them. Again, your papers should be arguing a point; they should not be a regurgitation of a film or book.

Know Your Audience

Assume the person reading your paper knows nothing about your topic. Also, do not expect facts to speak for themselves. Be explicit in your arguments at all times.

Sentence Errors

This is a catchall for a variety of issues. Spelling is a problem for some folks, which is why you should always use the Spelling & Grammar check in Microsoft Word (or whatever other word processor you employ). Avoid uses of contractions, particularly in academic papers. And remember – the easier it is for me to read your papers (i.e., well-written and free of errors), the better the grade you will earn.

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