Writer’s choice

What is your topic/scope? What is your research question and thesis? What is your research method? This is essentially a literature review of your own paper. Look at the abstracts of the articles you’ve read to get an idea of how to write yours. You should write your abstract after you have written the rest of your paper. It is okay to “abstract” your abstract from your introduction, conclusion, or whatever else. It is not plagiarism for your abstract to be taken directly from another part of your essay. Introduction: 5-10% of paper (100-300 words) 1. Hook: a sentence or two that engages the reader with the subject. 2. Scope/Historical Context (Locate your study in space and time) 3. Personal connection to subject (if any) 4. Briefly mention data sources and methods (what sociological discipline? quantitative or qualitative research? where does your data come from? what are the benefits and limits of this data?) 5. Thesis statement (can be posed as a question/hypothesis, as an objective, or a statement) Literature Review: 25-33% of the paper (500-1,000 words) 1. What is the author’s topic and scope? 2. What was the author’s methodology? 3. What is the author’s thesis/main point/conclusion? 4. (Repeat 3-4 times, once for each author you are reviewing) Evidence: 25-33% of the paper (500-1,000 words) 1. What historical events and social processes led to the prevailing policy? 2. What social problems does the prevailing policy bring about? (Data-oriented approach preferable.) 3. What alternative policy should replace the prevailing policy? 4. What theoretical arguments and empirical evidence bolster your case for a change in policy? Discussion (Analysis/Conclusion): 25-33% of the paper (500-1,000 words) 1. Relate your evidence and analysis back to your thesis/hypothesis. 2. What social problems might a change in policy address? 3. What kind of social movement is needed to prompt this policy change? 4. Whose support is ultimately is needed to institute this policy change? 5. What might potentially backfire if your policy change were to take place? 6. What are your predictions for the future? 7. What unanswered questions do you have? 8. What additional research might the world benefit from? Miscellaneous 1. Write as a Google Doc. 2. Name your document with your last name and name of paper (“Tucker Proposal,” “Tucker Literature Review,” or “Tucker Final Paper”). 3. Give viewing and editing access to the right email addresses. 4. Final paper length is 2,000-3,000 words, not including abstract, heading, footnotes, citations, bibliography, etc. This means that your final paper may be closer to 10-15 pages than 8-12, given all the additional content. 5. Times New Roman; 12 pt. font; double-spaced; 1-1.5 in. margins. 6. Final paper must use, as its basis, 6 academic, social science sources written by different authors. 7. At least 3 sources must have been researched by student. 8. Final paper must reference at least 2 different data sources and empirical methodological approaches (excluding theoretical arguments) as evidence. 9. If you are unsure whether a source is an academic, social science source, please ask me. 10. Additional primary and secondary sources are welcome, but are not necessary. Higher grades, however, will be given to students who demonstrate an ability to research, analyze, and properly cite a greater variety of sources. Do not expect an A if you only use the minimum number of sources (6). Only expect to not fail. 11. Your citations may be in APA, ASA, MLA, Chicago, Cornell, or any one format, as long as the style is consistent throughout the paper. 12. Each paper should use in-text citations. Whichever method you choose for each paper, your citations must include page numbers. I will be checking your citations and determining whether your claims are true or false. Excessive false statements will be treated as plagiarism (see above Honor Policy). 13. Use in-text citations and have a “References” section page at the end of your paper. This page, like the cover page, does not count toward your paper’s word count. 14. Improperly formatted citations will result in a reduced grade. 15. Extreme lack of citations will be treated as plagiarism, and will result in failure. 16. The first instance of ‘copy and paste’ or ‘paraphrased’ plagiarism will result in a failure on the assignment. More than one instance of copy-and-paste or paraphrased plagiarism will result in failure for the entire semester. 17. Is your grammar correct? 18. Are your thoughts well organized? 19. Is there any unnecessary repetition? 20. No do overs! Final papers are final. If you want me to give you feedback on a first draft of your paper, send it to me with plenty of time for me to review, critique, and discuss with you. I cannot guarantee I will review every first draft sent to me. They will be reviewed on a first-come first-serve basis the Literature Review is already done and is attached ….. insert what s attached Literature Review: 25-33% of the paper (500-1,000 words) 1. What is the author’s topic and scope? 2. What was the author’s methodology? 3. What is the author’s thesis/main point/conclusion?