Final Paper

PlSc 310: Theories of American Politics

Assignment Date Due Instructions
Peer Draft Tuesday, 5 April 2011
(beginning of class)
Bring three copies
Peer Reviews Thursday, 7 April 2011
(beginning of class)
Bring a copy and original of each
evaluation sheet and marked-up paper
and original (only) of grade sheet
Final Draft Tuesday, 12 April 2011
(beginning of class)
Bring original (only) of grade sheet

Apply theories to explain the path to and status of a current event, practice, or institution in American politics (that you personally used during your group presentation) and predict what will happen next.

Topics you should address include:

A satisfactory paper--i.e., a 'C' paper--will

An excellent paper--i.e., an 'A' paper--will

The idea of this paper is to understand and explain a current event, practice, or institution through the lenses of specific theories. In the process, you will also show the strengths and weaknesses of those theories. Choose your theories wisely. For example, do not choose a theory that is extremely difficult to apply (or does not apply at all). Choose your theories so that you can show me your erudition in understanding the theories inside and out (internal logic of the theory and external application). You will need to know your current event, practice, or institution well to apply the theories well. Do not use more than three theories.

I expect that your final paper will demonstrate and improve upon the critical thinking skills practiced in the preliminary papers. As in essays of this type, more contrast is generally better than less contrast.

Include a clear thesis statement (primary argument) that guides the structure of paper. The thesis statement is usually presented along with an outline of the paper in the introductory paragraph.

Your arguments should be clear, well-stated, and analytical. Clear arguments do not include internal contradictions or leave questions unanswered. Arguments using logic show how one thing implies another. Arguments using evidence produce specific examples, citations of other work, etc. The arguments all relate to and support contention of the thesis. The arguments are not overstated; exceptions or qualifications are acknowledged.

Quality writing is usually correlated with how much time is taken to edit the paper (or how many drafts are written). Samuel Johnson said/wrote: “What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” The BYU Writing Center has also recently published a writing guide that has suggestions.

Use an academic style of writing, not a journal entry, or letter home, or an angry blog entry: no exclamation points, no contractions, no worthless adverbs (e.g. completely, definitely, honestly, hopefully, incredibly, really, very, etc.). Refrain from excessive personalization. It is not necessary to begin sentences with phrases such as “I think that,” “I feel that,” “I suspect that,” and “I [would] argue that”: Every sentence in a paper could begin with such a phrase. It is assumed that every sentence you write is your thought or argument. These phrases only need to be used in a paper if you mean to say, “I assert without accompanying logic or evidence that ....”

Use the Turabian in-text citation style taught in Political Science 200. If you are not sure whether to cite something, cite it. If you state something that is common knowledge--Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election--then you do not need a citation. If you have to look something up to write it in your paper--Barack Obama won 28 states and DC--then you should cite it (CNN 2008). If you learned something during the course of this class, then you should cite where you learned it from (e.g. reading, lecture, etc.).

The essay has limit of 3500 words (not counting the title page and works cited page). I penalize 1 point for every percentage point over. Double-space the paper and number and staple the pages. (I suggest using 1-inch margins and Times Roman 12pt font.) Include a works cited page and a title page, with the word count (along with name and date) noted on the title page.


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