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Midterm and Final Research Paper descriptions
Paper 1--midterm research paper
Midterm Research Paper: Due at the beginning of class 5
This is your opportunity to research how a foreign country relates to the world. You are to explain what drives the international relations policies of your selected country. How does your selected country view its position (for example: pro-Western, socialist, Islamist, neutral) in the world? How does your country understand the theories of and participate in international relations? What are the political, cultural, economic and historical values that have contributed to its current international relations position? Your purpose is not to determine whose “side” your country is on but to understand and explain why your country has its particular international relations position. More specifically: you are building a case to explain why your selected country takes the position in international relations it does on particular issues. You are not just stating what those positions are.
Begin by selecting a country that interests you. Perhaps it is one that you have traveled to or would like to travel to. Since not all countries are concerned about all international issues, you will need to determine what world issues your country cares about. You will be providing these positions later in your paper. It is your job to present the motive of your selected country for taking those positions from its perspective. You are presenting the “why” of the case such that if you present your case well, it will seem obvious, given the characteristics of your selected country, that it would take the positions it has. You may find yourself disagreeing with the actions and positions of the country you are studying, but this is not a critique of what is right or wrong from your perspective, so you want to be careful to keep such commentary out of your paper. You are only interested in providing the reasons your selected country has for doing what it
does, whether you agree with these reasons or not.
This paper takes planning, and it will be well worth taking the time to outline your arguments before writing. I suggest that you consider many academic sources before writing. Be careful with your sources: Wikipedia, newspaper stories, and country websites, while helpful for introductory purposes, don’t provide the substantive analytical content that your paper requires.
The paper should be 3-4 pages long, 12-point font, typewritten, and double-spaced, and must include citations to all references used. Please use APA format and cite 4-5 sources. Failure to include in-text citations will result in the deduction of ten points from your grade on this paper. Also, please use only third person pronouns.
Paper 2--Final Research Paper
Final (Second) Research Papers (a WIC paper): Due at the beginning of class 10
You should take a position on an international political topic and support this position. Essays should be focused and well-organized. Use several sources: books, journals/magazines, newspapers, the internet, and cite them in APA format. Please avoid using all first- and second-person pronouns. Here is a possible way of organizing your paper.
I. Introduction with thesis, i.e. your main argument
II. Historical Background/Context
III. Your argument, with examples/cases and/or logical reasoning to back up your points
IV. Counter-arguments: write as if critiquing your own argument to locate flaws and opposing points
V. Synthesis/Conclusion: Answer potential criticism. Explain the final points of your argument. What have you learned? What has your paper explained?
This paper should be 3-4 pages long and you should cite 4-5 different sources. Be sure to include in-text citations, or 10 points will be deducted.
Midterm Research Paper: Due at the beginning of class 5
This is your opportunity to research how a foreign country relates to the world. You are to explain what drives the international relations policies of your selected country. How does your selected country view its position (for example: pro-Western, socialist, Islamist, neutral) in the world? How does your country understand the theories of and participate in international relations? What are the political, cultural, economic and historical values that have contributed to its current international relations position? Your purpose is not to determine whose “side” your country is on but to understand and explain why your country has its particular international relations position. More specifically: you are building a case to explain why your selected country takes the position in international relations it does on particular issues. You are not just stating what those positions are.
Begin by selecting a country that interests you. Perhaps it is one that you have traveled to or would like to travel to. Since not all countries are concerned about all international issues, you will need to determine what world issues your country cares about. You will be providing these positions later in your paper. It is your job to present the motive of your selected country for taking those positions from its perspective. You are presenting the “why” of the case such that if you present your case well, it will seem obvious, given the characteristics of your selected country, that it would take the positions it has. You may find yourself disagreeing with the actions and positions of the country you are studying, but this is not a critique of what is right or wrong from your perspective, so you want to be careful to keep such commentary out of your paper. You are only interested in providing the reasons your selected country has for doing what it
does, whether you agree with these reasons or not.
This paper takes planning, and it will be well worth taking the time to outline your arguments before writing. I suggest that you consider many academic sources before writing. Be careful with your sources: Wikipedia, newspaper stories, and country websites, while helpful for introductory purposes, don’t provide the substantive analytical content that your paper requires.
The paper should be 3-4 pages long, 12-point font, typewritten, and double-spaced, and must include citations to all references used. Please use APA format and cite 4-5 sources. Failure to include in-text citations will result in the deduction of ten points from your grade on this paper. Also, please use only third person pronouns.
Paper 2--Final Research Paper
Final (Second) Research Papers (a WIC paper): Due at the beginning of class 10
You should take a position on an international political topic and support this position. Essays should be focused and well-organized. Use several sources: books, journals/magazines, newspapers, the internet, and cite them in APA format. Please avoid using all first- and second-person pronouns. Here is a possible way of organizing your paper.
I. Introduction with thesis, i.e. your main argument
II. Historical Background/Context
III. Your argument, with examples/cases and/or logical reasoning to back up your points
IV. Counter-arguments: write as if critiquing your own argument to locate flaws and opposing points
V. Synthesis/Conclusion: Answer potential criticism. Explain the final points of your argument. What have you learned? What has your paper explained?
This paper should be 3-4 pages long and you should cite 4-5 different sources. Be sure to include in-text citations, or 10 points will be deducted.
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