Structure of the Research Paper
- Pick an event in International Relations that occurred between 1945 and 2005.
- Research the scholarly literature (books and journals) to find three different explanations for why this occurred.
- Review the literature that asserts each explanation.
- Critically evaluate each authors evidence and conclusions.
- Decide which explanation is best and why.
Schedule and Assignments
All assignments are due at the start of class on the date listed.
- (M 10/1) Topic & Annotated Bibliographies
- Pick an event between 1945-2005 and explain it from three different perspectives.
- Find four related scholarly sources.
- Annotated bibliography should include:
- a one-paragraph summary of the event you choose to investigate
- bibliographic references for all four sources.
- 1-3 sentences summarizing each source.
- 1 sentence explaining how each source is relevant to your topic.
- (M 10/22) First Drafts Due
- Should include at least eight scholarly sources
- Make sure these sources conform to the scholarly source guidelines below.
- Number of scholarly sources may not include course materials assigned in IS 190.
- Somewhere between 7-10 pages
- Double Spaced
- 1-inch margins
- 12 point Times New Roman, or Cambria font
- Normal character spacing
- By now you should have a well-defined research question and you should be able to approach it from three different perspectives (even if they aren't balanced in terms of your source material).
- Submit a hard copy and an electronic copy
- (F 11/2) Submit Peer Reviews
- Write 2-3 (total) pages reviewing each of the papers in your study group.
- Ask authors to clarify points in paper.
- What parts of the paper work best? Which not so much?
- Make suggestions on writing, arguments source material.
- Grade your group members' papers using the rubric (below).
- Submit an electronic copy to your professor.
- (M 11/12) Peer Review Day
- Bring a hard copy of your peer review to class
- Form into the groups to which you have been assigned.
- Discuss your peer reviews and ways that you can each improve your papers.
- Afterwards, email your professor and share your thoughts on the peer review experience, including what and how much you think each group member contributed to the process.
- ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY!
- (W 11/28 - M 12/3) Paper Presentations
- Present your event, explanations and conclusion to the class.
- Five minutes per presentation. Address the following:
- What is your paper about?
- What is your research question?
- What are the three different perspectives on the issue?
- Provide details from your research supporting and opposing these perspectives.
- Argue for one perspective above all the others.
- Paper Presentation Guidelines
- Paper Presentation Schedule
- (F 12/9) Final Drafts Due
- Should include at least twelve scholarly sources
- Make sure these sources conform to the scholarly source guidelines below.
- Number of scholarly sources may not include course materials assigned in IS 190.
- Somewhere between 7-10 pages
- Double Spaced
- 1-inch margins
- 12 point Times New Roman, or Cambria font
- Normal character spacing
- By now you should have a clear research question, your paper should approach the question from three perspectives, and you should have a relatively equal amount of research support for all three perspectives.
- Turn in no later than 3:00 PM CST in person.
Assessment: 35% of Final Grade
Topic & Annotated Bibliography: 5%First Draft 5%Peer Review 5%- Class Presentation: 5%
- Final Draft 15%
What is a scholarly source?
- Scholarly sources include articles from peer reviewed academic journals.
- Scholarly sources include books from university or other academic presses.
- Scholarly sources do not include textbooks.
- Scholarly sources do not include encyclopediae, dictionaries, atlases, or other tertiary-source reference literature.
- Scholarly sources include reports from intergovernmental organizations.
- Scholarly sources include primary records from government institutions.
- Scholarly sources do not include articles from popular magazines or non-peer reviewed periodicals (such as newspapers).
- Scholarly sources do not include Wikipedia or any other online sources unless they also conform to the categories above.
- Scholarly sources do not include any materials assigned as class material for IS 190.
- If your source is not included in the categories labeled in blue, then it is not a scholarly source unless otherwise confirmed by your professor.
