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Ann Robinson

Research Paper Directions

The research paper assignment affords you the opportunity to dig deeply into a particular topic of relevance to our course, to analyze the issue, and to communicate your analysis in writing. This assignment counts for fifteen percent of the overall grade for this course, so you should be prepared to invest a significant effort in researching and writing it.

Your assignment is as follows:

1. First, choose a topic and conduct preliminary research on the topic.

2. Second, write a brief paper proposal.

3. Third, submit a first draft of your paper.

4. Fourth, revise your paper and submit a final version by the due date as specified by the course syllabus.

5. The paper must be at least 10 pages in length

The goal of this three-step process is not to make unnecessary work for you, but rather, to guide you through the process of developing and refining your paper.

Here are the details:

STEP 1: CHOOSE A TOPIC

The broad topic for the paper is the following: Discuss a social, economic, or domestic issue that you feel strongly about and write a 10 page paper on this topic.

You will have to narrow this topic. Choose one particular aspect to focus on, such as:

· the economy (in general, or specific aspects such as trade, finance, investment)

· the environment (in general, or specific problems such as global warming, acid rain, marine pollution)

· incarceration (e.g., the current state, current reforms)

· culture (e.g., “Americanization”)

· healthcare (e.g., healthcare reform, Medicare/Medicaid)

· immigration (the current state, current reforms)

· security issues (e.g., transnational terrorism, weapons of mass destruction)

CHECK CHAPTER 14 FOR ADDITIONAL TOPICS.

These are just a few examples. Feel free to define a topic appropriate to yourself. Once you have chosen a topic, you should go to the library and spend a few hours on preliminary research so that you will be ready to move to Step 2.

STEP 2: PAPER PROPOSAL

You must write a brief paper proposal (less than one page) in which you do the following:

· First, identify the specific aspect of transformation that your paper will address.

· Second, state whether you think this specific aspect represents a fundamental challenge to American Democracy and present a hypothesis, or provisional answer.

· Third, identify the sources of information that you will examine to evaluate the validity of your hypothesis. Note: for your final draft, you must cite at least ten sources; internet sources can comprise no more than 3 of your references. Your internet sources should ONLY be taken from a government website.

· Fourth, identify alternative arguments and state what kind of evidence would prove or disprove your hypothesis.

Don’t worry if your proposal is a bit rough. Just address these tasks as best you can. 

STEP 3: FIRST DRAFT

Based on the proposal, you will then proceed to researching and writing the entire paper. During this period, you are welcome (but not required) to consult with the Instructor.

As you do your research, bear in mind that your final paper should include the following elements:

· a clear argument; and

· appropriate and sufficient evidence to support your argument; and

· serious consideration of alternative arguments or explanations.

A few words about structuring your paper:

A good paper is one that is built around a clear structure, so you should outline the main points of your paper before you start writing. It’s easier to overhaul your outline than it is to overhaul a fully-written paper, so spend some time thinking about the structure of your paper before you launch into the writing.

Your paper should have a clear introduction (conforming to the specific guidelines below), a body (in which you flesh out your argument with evidence, and consider alternative arguments), and a conclusion (in which you summarize your argument and findings and “open” the paper to consideration of broader themes).

A few words about WRITING your paper: