research paper

RESEARCH PAPER: “Why is New Mexico poor and what should be done about it?

Due Tuesday, May 2nd. Turn a paper copy in at class. Letter grade lost for each day late.

An 8-page paper . Worth 10% of your grade

Format:

1) Double-spaced, use a 12 font.

2) 1 ½” margins on left, 1” margins elsewhere.

3) At least 8 sources - half must be from sources other than the Internet.

4) Citation style - no footnotes, use the following: (Jones 1990) when using general background information, (Jones 1990, p. 8) when citing a specific fact or using a quote from a certain page. Then list your sources in any standard format in alphabetical order in a bibliography at the end of the paper.

5) No Wikipedia sources allowed – a letter grade deducted if you use this

6) Indent and single-space long quotes (avoid using too many).

7) If you plagiarize material – use someone else’s work, you will get a zero.

Research Paper Topic: “Why is New Mexico poor and what should be done about it?

Part 1) How did this happen? (5 pages)

Discuss how geography helps explain why New Mexico is a poor state.

Part 2) What should we do about it? (3 pages)

Give a factual opinion on how we can improve economic conditions in New Mexico.

Discussion:

In Part 1 analyze New Mexico’s historical and cultural geography for reasons for why poverty is so common here. Use historical/cultural facts and demographic/income figures.

New Mexico has been claimed by various Indian nations, Spain, Mexico, and the United States.

As a result, New Mexicans often hold very different beliefs about whose place this is and how life should be lived. What are some of those core beliefs? Cultural diversity is a wonderful part of living here, but does this limit New Mexican’s ability to agree on how we can create a more prosperous future?

In Part 2 provide and briefly explain a thoughtful and factual set of recommendations for what can be done to reduce poverty in the state. A huge variety of topics might be considered including: reducing social/cultural conflicts, improving educational achievement, changing tax policies, altering economic development and energy development strategies, and reforming U.S.-Mexico Border laws. Basically, give a fact-based plan for how to reduce poverty.

Be creative and factual.

There are no wrong opinions if you provide evidence and use reason.

You will never be marked down for your political point of view

The best papers must show evidence that you thought about this topic and made a sincere effort.

TERM PAPER IDEAS (see the syllabus for details on content and structure)

“Why is New Mexico poor and what should be done about it?”

Part 1: How did this happen? 7 pages. Discuss how the historical, cultural, social geography of New Mexico helps explain the state’s persistent poverty.

Part 2: What should we do about it? 3 pages. Give specific recommendations – solving social/cultural conflicts, improving education, changing tax/business policies, altering economic development and energy development strategies, reforming Border laws, etc.

Analysts tend to come at these kinds of questions in two ways.

1) Structuralists; focus on the external legal, institutional, class barriers to people lifting themselves out of poverty. Racism, bigotry, laws, bad educational systems, class barriers to getting funds for college, political deals that block minorities from getting better jobs. What society as a whole does.

2) Culturalists: focus on the internal cultural barriers to getting ahead financially. Social norms, cultural attitudes, fears and doubts, lack of math and language skills, family problems, dependency on social programs, drugs and alcohol issues. What a group does or individuals do.

These two views are not mutually exclusive. You can use these terms and ideas in your paper.