Welcome to your Course Assignment Guide for POLS 2305 class (Intro to Political Studies).
I have worked with your instructor in developing this guide to best help you with your research assignment.
Use the tabs above to navigate through the guide.
Selection of a general topic or idea that relates to themes reviewed in the course so far (broadly defined); this must be done prior to our library demonstration with Erin Cassity during the week of Oct. 28
Identification and selection of five articles via UIW Mabee Library database search tools (visit our dedicated library guide on Canvas for tips and reminders)
Initial reading of each article, followed by a second, deeper read that includes careful note-taking and descriptions in response to each of the following prompts:
the overall claim, argument, or main idea of the article (thesis),
the “big questions” (or broader theories) about the social and political world the authors are engaged with,
how the authors build upon or contribute to these “big questions” (existing theories) with their own research question,
the definitions of important terms or variables (the things in the social and political world that vary, or change) the authors are focused on,
any hypotheses (specific claims) the authors will assess (an “x – y,” “if-then,” or “causal” statement),
the data (i.e., individual survey responses, GDP records of various nations, election results) the authors collect to test their hypotheses, and
the authors’ findings (what do they conclude based on these data and their analyses).
Rewriting your notes on the prompts noted above into narrative, paragraph form (for each article); the finished product will be your annotated bibliography entry for that article
Completion of an initial draft (4-5 pages minimum) AND a References page
The References page is the final page of the document, featuring appropriate APSA-style entries, which correspond to properly formatted citations in the body of the paper’s text; it does not count toward the final page number requirements
You must bring a printed copy of a complete draft of your paper to class on Tuesday, Dec. 5 for a workshopping session (see course syllabus)
You may NOT use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write your paper
Submission of the final draft via Turnitin link on Canvas by 6:00 pm on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2023.
