R‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍esearch Paper Instructions For this course, you will conduc

R‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍esearch Paper Instructions For this course, you will conduct research and write a 10-12-page comparative essay that examines, compares, and contrasts the political systems, institutions, policies, political culture, interest groups, and citizen participation of your two assigned states. General Guidelines Include a clear introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement. The body of the research paper must include separate sections analyzing both countries, and a section that compares and contrasts these two states. Headings and subheadings are required. Include a well-developed conclusion that incorporates a restatement of the thesis and hypothesizes about the future of each state and its respective political system. The topic must be addressed with critical thought and scholarly intellect. Include a minimum of 5 scholarly sources. You may provide additional data sources provided they meet the Writing Criteria on the following page. Additional sources are strongly recommended. Use MLA or APA style with appropriate in-text citations in each paragraph, provide a cover page, and a properly formatted reference page or pages at the end of the paper. Specific Guidelines Provide a brief political history of each state. No more than two pages for each state. Specify the political-economic system and regime type of each state. Explain whether the country is a developed democracy, communist, post-communist, or developing state. This should be at least one complete paragraph with substantiated evidence. Describe the importance of ethnic makeup, culture, ideology, religion, and national identity for each of your states. Clarify the role, if any, that individual and group participation play in policy formation. Explain how public policy crafted and “who gets what, when, [and] how” (Lasswell, 1936). Describe the capacity and autonomy of the state and how it impacts the citizens of each state and relations with other states. Include other relevant topics or concepts presented in this course as appropriate. Important This comparative essay is an ongoing project that begins the first week of class. Students should keep a journal and diligently conduct relevant research throughout the course. All written work must be created utilizing Microsoft Word or an equally compatible software program. Research papers will be submitted on Canvas in Microsoft Word or PDF format (only) on or before the due date. Late submissions will not receive credit. The comparative research essay must be comprised of original work and demonstrate college-level critical writing skills The paper must utilize either MLA or APA citations and references as appropriate. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the assignment. Writing Criteria This research paper must be a minimum of ten pages, not including a‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍ cover page and reference page. Be sure to write clearly and accurately. In this assignment, you must demonstrate college-level research, include a clear thesis statement in the introductory paragraph, use correct MLA or APA style, have a correctly formatted reference page, utilize proper in-text citations, incorporate headings and subheadings, and include at least five scholarly resources. This resource requirement is a bare minimum consistent with an average C grade. If you want a higher grade, you must put in additional effort. In general, seven scholarly resources for a B, and nine or more for an A grade. Be aware, this resource criterion is for potential grades. Just adding resources to your paper does not mean you will get a high grade. The paper must be well-written and meet all of the writing criteria presented throughout the course. Non-scholarly sources are not acceptable and will reduce your scoring potential significantly. Only utilize well-vetted scholarly works, primary sources, and valid data sources. Scholarly sources are written by recognized experts in a particular field of inquiry and include articles in peer-reviewed publications and textbooks. Primary resources include original documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. Valid data sources include such things as expert polling data, census information, and professional databases. Do not use non-scholarly sources like Wikipedia, general websites, blogs, online dictionaries, encyclopedias, popular magazines, social media, movies, novels, or anonymous publications. All research must be appropriately cited both in the body of the essay (in-text citations) and at the end of the paper (works cited or reference page). This research paper should not utilize any direct quotes. All information that is acquired while conducting your research must be paraphrased. This will help demonstrate critical thinking skills and that you have developed a good understanding of the topic. All information sources which have influenced your writing must be cited throughout the body of the essay. Plagiarism will result in a zero score for this assignment. This includes the failure to cite direct quotes, indirect quotes (paraphrasing), and/or any relevant data sources. All papers will be submitted automatically or by the instructor to . Be very careful and diligently cite all information sources! Remember, this is a research paper which must establish that you have done a thorough examination of the subject, have developed a good understanding of the topic, and have exhibited critical thinking skills throughout your written work. This is not an opinion paper and should not be written subjectively. Late submittals will not be accepted. Non-completion of this assignment will result in an “F” grade for th‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍e course.