Analytical Research Paper

should be eight to ten (8-10) typewritten pages in length (double-spaced) and must be based, in part, on primary sources, not merely on secondary analyses.  The paper should deal with some aspect of Diplomatic Studies. For example, the student may decide to compare and evaluate the various theories of and approaches to the study of Diplomacy, or to use a research question to illustrate the theoretically based arguments developed in the literature. Regardless of the topic selected, the student should deal with it analytically, not merely descriptively.  This means that the paper should address a specific question and develop and support an argument.  It should draw upon the relevant theoretical literature.

Papers must be submitted in standard research paper format--i.e. title page, notes either at the bottom of the page or at the end of the paper, and a bibliography.  Use the format given below for both notes and bibliography. 

present and support an argument or explanation concerning the problem that has been selected as the focus of research. 

Introduction

Identify the key problems and issues in the research paper. Formulate and include a thesis statement, summarizing the outcome of your analysis in 1–2 sentences. The introduction should describe the research problem, its significance, why the case is being used and how it relates to addressing the problem. A good introduction guides your reader through the evidence, which follows and informs him/her of the overriding purpose of your developed points. I strongly suggest that you have a single sentence that clearly articulates your thesis. It can be as direct as: “The argument of this paper is...” Once you have posed the underlying question and offered a thesis, the body of the paper should be used to defend the thesis.

Background

In this section, students should provide background information of their cases, relevant facts, and the most important issues related to their topic of analysis.

Literature Review/Theoretical Framework

The literature review is an essential part of a research paper, which provides background information and historical interpretation of the topic of analysis. Students should provide a critical analysis of literature and theories that will be surveyed in this course and develop their own argument. An explanation of a case is more convincing when the outcome could not have been predicted using the different theory explanation. Students are required to analyze their research questions through the lens of theory.

Discussion/Findings

Defending your argument means carefully choosing and analyzing specific evidence based on theories, not simply repeating unsupported generalizations with slightly different wordings again and again. For an argument to be convincing, it is necessary to evaluate all possible sides of an issue. You cannot ignore significant contradictory evidence or counterarguments and will need to address them specifically. The presentation of evidence should not merely be a mindless catalog of facts, but rather a selective and careful analysis of details relevant to your case. To decide what evidence to use, lay out the full array of potential evidence in advance of writing your paper. Then choose that which can be best developed and supported by theories of Diplomatic studies.

Conclusion

The conclusion should briefly re-state the main points of the paper and address any issues raised by the research. Summarize your conclusion in clear language. 

Format of the Paper

The paper should stay within the page limits listed above [12-point type with standard margins]; it should be formatted in standard research paper form -- i.e. including reference notes (either at the bottom of the page or at the end of the paper -- not "scientific notation”) and a bibliography

Other Observations Concerning Research Papers

1. Do not repeat entire sections from books or articles

2. Quotations are occasionally effective, but you should not need the quotations to do the work for you. Quote only selectively and quote only that which is particularly valuable as evidence. When using quotations, you must always indicate them by the use of quotation marks or, if the quotation is fairly long and needs “block quotation,” by a single- spaced indentation and a specific reference with page number.