Instructions: Course–Sociology of Violence
Research Paper
TURNITIN
I will be using Turnitin to check your papers for citations and potential over-use of outside material.
Your Turnitin score should not be any higher than 20%. If it is 20% or higher, you will need to rewrite and revise those sections that are identified as potential problems. Usually, this is because you have used material from a source and failed to properly indent or quote the material.
What is required in a 5-7 page paper:
About 1250 to 1750 words.
You should be able to state, illustrate, and discuss the implications of a limited thesis. Your paper should commit yourself to develop a proposition with several parts to it.
Take a stand on an issue, but be sure to identify opposing viewpoints. It should be supported with frequent quotations and/or cites.
Types of Papers written:
1) you need to understand what YOUR main purpose of the paper is first before you begin to write.
Informative
You may be repeating material I already know in order to demonstrate that you have mastered the content of the course.
You may be writing to tell me something I don’t know or have not presented in the course.
Hints:
Use Neutral and/or objective language
I want your opinions, but–
Cite your sources. Let me know where and how you found your information by describing your procedures in the introduction of the paper and by footnoting references or citing them in the body of the paper.
Anticipate that I will ask these types of questions:
“How did you know that?”
OR
Argumentative
Here, you are presenting a logical argument based on facts and reasoning. You must provide evidence for your claims.
This is not an “emotional” paper. This won’t fly.
Imagine yourself in the role of “Attorney” presenting your case to an intelligent and alert jury.
State your main assertion at the beginning
Cite the evidence to support your assertion
Present it clearly and forcefully.
Summarize your points at the end, and restate your assertion.
Criteria for a Good Paper
1) It has a clear thesis, a discernible plan of development, and an accurate title.
2) The thesis is supported with substantial evidence and reasoning.
3) The paper is tightly focused and thoroughly covers a limited and specific topic.
4) The language of the paper is clear and objective.
5) The paper is well documented.
6) The paper is economical–no puffing or padding.
7) The paper is legibly and neatly typed.
8) The paper provides original thought.
9) The paper provides graceful and vigorous writing.
