PS 1000 Research Paper Guidelines and Topic Worksheet (By: Dr. Sharon Lean)
PS 1000: PAPER TOPIC WORKSHEET Name __________________________
STEP ONE – BRAINSTORMING (adapted from Staines et al. 2000: 80)
1. Write down three ideas you have for your paper.
2. Of the three ideas above, select the one topic you are most interested in writing about. Why are you interested in exploring this topic?
3. What do you already know about this topic?
STEP TWO – NARROWING THE FOCUS
4. State a more specific question you could ask, related to the topic you have chosen above.
5. Is this an “answerable” question? If not, rephrase.
6. What time period, geographical area and population or group of people is this question most relevant for?
STEP THREE – PROPOSAL Now, write the elements of a “quick” research proposal. (adapted from Van Evera 1997:123-124).
7. Restate your research question.
8. Why does this question arise? What could we do if we knew the answer?
9. What answers do you think you can provide? What type of evidence or data would be needed to reach your answers
Sources:
Staines, Gail, Mark Bonacci and Katherine Johnson. Social Science Research: Writing Strategies for Students. The Scarecrow Press, 2000.
Van Evera, Stephen. Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. Cornell University Press, 1997.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PS 1000: Research Paper Assignment
Fall 2013
Write a 5-6 page research essay, using appropriate academic research sources. Your paper should explore a specific political question of your design in one of the following suggested areas:
1) Topic #1: Policy regarding electric vehicles in the U.S.
2) Topic #2: The crisis in Syria
3) Topic #3: Development in Jamaica
4) Topic #4: Political liberalization in China
5) Other: If you have another topic that you would really like to write on, you must clear the topic with Dr. Lean by Dec
STEP ONE – BRAINSTORMING (adapted from Staines et al. 2000: 80)
1. Write down three ideas you have for your paper.
2. Of the three ideas above, select the one topic you are most interested in writing about. Why are you interested in exploring this topic?
3. What do you already know about this topic?
STEP TWO – NARROWING THE FOCUS
4. State a more specific question you could ask, related to the topic you have chosen above.
5. Is this an “answerable” question? If not, rephrase.
6. What time period, geographical area and population or group of people is this question most relevant for?
STEP THREE – PROPOSAL Now, write the elements of a “quick” research proposal. (adapted from Van Evera 1997:123-124).
7. Restate your research question.
8. Why does this question arise? What could we do if we knew the answer?
9. What answers do you think you can provide? What type of evidence or data would be needed to reach your answers
Sources:
Staines, Gail, Mark Bonacci and Katherine Johnson. Social Science Research: Writing Strategies for Students. The Scarecrow Press, 2000.
Van Evera, Stephen. Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. Cornell University Press, 1997.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PS 1000: Research Paper Assignment
Fall 2013
Write a 5-6 page research essay, using appropriate academic research sources. Your paper should explore a specific political question of your design in one of the following suggested areas:
1) Topic #1: Policy regarding electric vehicles in the U.S.
2) Topic #2: The crisis in Syria
3) Topic #3: Development in Jamaica
4) Topic #4: Political liberalization in China
5) Other: If you have another topic that you would really like to write on, you must clear the topic with Dr. Lean by Dec