POSC 2200 – Research POSC 2200 – Research EssaysEssays

Russell Alan WilliamsRussell Alan Williams

Department of Political ScienceDepartment of Political Science

POSC 2200: Research EssaysPOSC 2200: Research Essays

Outline:Outline:

1.1. Assignment & Due DateAssignment & Due Date

2.2. Essential ElementsEssential Elements

3.3. Research?Research?

4.4. Style GuideStyle Guide

5.5. PlagiarismPlagiarism

1) Assignment & Due Date:1) Assignment & Due Date:

Requirements:Requirements: Approximately 2,500 words (+/- 500 words)Approximately 2,500 words (+/- 500 words) Minimum of seven Minimum of seven separateseparate sources in citations & sources in citations &

bibliographybibliography Should be formatted in the style of a formal Should be formatted in the style of a formal

research paper research paper

Due Date:Due Date: In class, November 13 – Do not email it to me!In class, November 13 – Do not email it to me!

Late penalty is 5% per day!Late penalty is 5% per day!

2) Essential Elements:2) Essential Elements:

Core argument – introduced by Core argument – introduced by thesis thesis statementstatement near the start of the essay near the start of the essay

What do you want to convince the reader of?What do you want to convince the reader of?

Argument supported by Argument supported by researchresearch throughout the body of the paper . . .throughout the body of the paper . . .

ConclusionConclusion Reiterates Reiterates central argumentcentral argument and explains how and explains how

your essay has supported that argumentyour essay has supported that argument

Start by picking a topic . . .Start by picking a topic . . .2) ESSAY TOPICS:2) ESSAY TOPICS:Please select one of the following questions as the topic Please select one of the following questions as the topic of your research paper:of your research paper:Contemporary topics:Contemporary topics:

Will the U.S. win the Will the U.S. win the ““war on terrorwar on terror””??Was the Was the ““Bush DoctrineBush Doctrine”” Realist? Realist?Why did the US occupy Iraq in 2003?Why did the US occupy Iraq in 2003?Why did Canada not join in occupying Iraq in 2003?Why did Canada not join in occupying Iraq in 2003? Is China a Is China a ““superpowersuperpower””? ? Is the Nuclear Non Proliferation Regime failing?Is the Nuclear Non Proliferation Regime failing?

-All topics in the handout will be touched on in class . . . .-All will make “good” research papers and are “topical” . . . .

Note: You can choose your own topic

Start by picking a topic . . .Start by picking a topic . . .Why did Canada not join in occupying Iraq in 2003?Why did Canada not join in occupying Iraq in 2003?

What do you want to convince the reader of?What do you want to convince the reader of?

Thesis Statement? Should make Thesis Statement? Should make your point your point clearly! clearly! Which of these has a clear thesis:Which of these has a clear thesis:

Start by picking a topic . . .Start by picking a topic . . .Why did Canada not join in occupying Iraq in 2003?Why did Canada not join in occupying Iraq in 2003?

What do you want to convince the reader of?What do you want to convince the reader of?

Thesis Statement? Should make Thesis Statement? Should make your point your point clearly! clearly! Which of these has a clear thesis:Which of these has a clear thesis:

““Canada did not join in the American-led invasion of Iraq. Canada did not join in the American-led invasion of Iraq. Various explanations have been made to explain why the Various explanations have been made to explain why the Government decided not to participate. This paper will Government decided not to participate. This paper will summarize those explanations.summarize those explanations.””

““Canada did not join in the American-led invasion of Iraq. Canada did not join in the American-led invasion of Iraq. While a number of factors influenced the government in its While a number of factors influenced the government in its decision to not participate, this paper will argue that the most decision to not participate, this paper will argue that the most important explanation was that the government felt that it important explanation was that the government felt that it could not participate in a war that had not been authorized by could not participate in a war that had not been authorized by the United Nations.the United Nations.””

3) Research?3) Research? Can be drawn from a variety of sources – Can be drawn from a variety of sources –

no limitationsno limitations Newspaper articles and web sources are also Newspaper articles and web sources are also

appropriateappropriate No Wikipedia or encyclopedia entries!!!!No Wikipedia or encyclopedia entries!!!!

Books & journal articles (Try Google Scholar)Books & journal articles (Try Google Scholar)

Key: Materials must be Key: Materials must be accessibleaccessible . . . . . . . . Internet sources should include full html and date in Internet sources should include full html and date in

your Bibliography/Works Cited sectionyour Bibliography/Works Cited section

Tip: Tip: SevenSeven sources only a minimum - more is sources only a minimum - more is better!better!

3) 3) ““Style GuideStyle Guide””??

Any recognized style is fine . . .Any recognized style is fine . . .

Many style guides are available, try the Many style guides are available, try the Mapping Mapping PoliticsPolitics – POSC student journal style guide: – POSC student journal style guide:

http://journals.library.mun.ca/MP/mp_styleguide.pdfhttp://journals.library.mun.ca/MP/mp_styleguide.pdf

Tip:Tip: Pick one style and learn to use it Pick one style and learn to use it correctly!correctly!

Citations? When to cite and when not to . . .?Citations? When to cite and when not to . . .?

Example: Example:

Quote from Vucetic (2011, p. 144): “. . . Quote from Vucetic (2011, p. 144): “. . . overall, the overall, the government’s decision to sit out of the Iraq war was government’s decision to sit out of the Iraq war was consistent with the dominant reading of Canadian identity. consistent with the dominant reading of Canadian identity. In other words, the dominance of the liberal discourse made In other words, the dominance of the liberal discourse made the decision more likely.”the decision more likely.”

= = Footnote/Citation requiredFootnote/Citation required

Paraphrase: Vucetic argues that the decision to stay out of Paraphrase: Vucetic argues that the decision to stay out of the Iraq War was caused by the basic Canadian identity, or the Iraq War was caused by the basic Canadian identity, or image of Canada in the world.image of Canada in the world.

= ?= ?

Citations? When to cite and when not to . . .?Citations? When to cite and when not to . . .?

Example: Example:

Quote from Vucetic (2011, p. 144): “. . . Quote from Vucetic (2011, p. 144): “. . . overall, the overall, the government’s decision to sit out of the Iraq war was government’s decision to sit out of the Iraq war was consistent with the dominant reading of Canadian identity. consistent with the dominant reading of Canadian identity. In other words, the dominance of the liberal discourse made In other words, the dominance of the liberal discourse made the decision more likely.”the decision more likely.”

= = Footnote/Citation requiredFootnote/Citation required

Paraphrase: Vucetic (2011) argues that the decision to stay Paraphrase: Vucetic (2011) argues that the decision to stay out of the Iraq War was caused by the basic Canadian out of the Iraq War was caused by the basic Canadian identity, or image of Canada in the world.identity, or image of Canada in the world.

= ?= ? Footnote/Citation requiredFootnote/Citation required

Citations? When to cite and when not to . . .?Citations? When to cite and when not to . . .?

Example:Example:

Jean Chretien was the prime minister in Canada in 2003 Jean Chretien was the prime minister in Canada in 2003 when the decision to invade Iraq was made. As Leader of when the decision to invade Iraq was made. As Leader of the Liberal party, Chretien was in his fourth term and had the Liberal party, Chretien was in his fourth term and had a long history of diplomatic relations with the United States.a long history of diplomatic relations with the United States.

= = No footnote would be required for such a factNo footnote would be required for such a fact

Facing an upcoming election, Jean Chretien was worried Facing an upcoming election, Jean Chretien was worried that the United State’s occupation of Iraq violated the that the United State’s occupation of Iraq violated the United Nation’s Charter and that it would be politically United Nation’s Charter and that it would be politically unpopular in Canada.unpopular in Canada.

= ? = ? Footnote requiredFootnote required

5) Plagiarism?5) Plagiarism? Types:Types:

1) Submitting someone else's work!1) Submitting someone else's work!

2) Using other sources 2) Using other sources ““word for wordword for word”” without placing these quotes in quotation without placing these quotes in quotation marksmarks

Must also include a citationMust also include a citation

3) 3) ““ParaphrasingParaphrasing””: Using someone else: Using someone else’’s s ideas or argumentsideas or arguments

Not a quotation, but still requires a citationNot a quotation, but still requires a citation

6) For Next Time . . .6) For Next Time . . .

“International Organizations and Non Governmental Organizations”Globalization of World Politics, Chapters 19, 20 and 21.Thomas Weiss, “The Illusion of UN Security Council Reform,” The Washington Quarterly, Vol. 26(4), (2003), Pp. 147-161. (Available through e-journals, or from the instructor.)