Selecting your topic

SELECTING YOUR TOPIC
• TOPIC: Choose a case of social, economic, or political inequality that is of interest to you (anything from the local [ex. Changes in CUNY tuition in recent years] to the global [ex. HIV/AIDS in developing countries]).
• You must have your topic approved via email by 9/22
• If your topic has not been approved you may not get credit for one or all parts of the project.
• FORM: Research paper: Write a 6-7 page research paper about your topic.
BACKGROUND (MIDTERM) PAPER (DUE BY THE END OF DAY THURSDAY, 10/20):
• Your midterm assignment is to write a 2-3-page paper that provides key information for your final project
o Sources – Midterm papers should include at least five scholarly sources
• If you are unsure whether a source is scholarly, first consult this resource: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/courses/scholarly1.htm
• If you still have questions, contact a librarian
o Note: You may include non-scholarly sources, but only after you have met the minimum requirement of five scholarly sources
• Class readings may be used as supplementary sources only. They do not count toward your required scholarly sources.
• Submit your list of five or more scholarly sources for approval by 9/28. Note that failure to get your sources approved may result in a failing grade for the paper. This bibliography should be formatted using these guidelines: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/583/03/
o Content – The paper should include:
• A 1-paragraph introduction describing your topic and research question (~1/2 page)
• A brief major themes or discussions of the topic
• A summary of key relevant findings from your scholarly sources
• A 1-paragraph conclusion in which you lay out your plan for the final paper
• A paper shorter than two pages is not acceptable because it cannot possibly have sufficient content to fulfill the requirements.
o Writing: You must proofread. Take advantage of the tutors at the Writing Center (see below for contact information). Papers that include typos or incorrect grammar may lose credit.
• Papers with unaddressed writing issues will lose at least 1 letter grade
• If you are told at any point during the semester that you are required to meet with a writing tutor one or more times, you must submit documentation showing you’ve done that with the hard copy of your paper.
o Submission: The paper must be submitted on Blackboard by the end of the day on Thursday, 10/20.
o Format: All papers should follow these formatting guidelines:
• All citations in the text and in the reference section must follow APA style guidelines. See the following for guidance:
• APA in-text citations: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html
• APA bibliography: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_articles_in_periodicals.html
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• 1-inch margins
• Double spaced
• Page numbers in the lower right-hand corner
• Please skip cover pages
• Note: Papers that do not follow these formatting guidelines, especially those with large margins or large font, may receive a grading penalty.