Final Research paper instructions.
Pre-requisite is approved topic and completion of worksheet
Worth 20% of your grade.
The final paper (4 to 6 pages, excluding reference sheet) builds on the research paper worksheet and
comments that I provided you. The final paper should be organized with the following numbered
headings in bold:
I. Introduction: General orientation of paper
Paragraph 1: Provide a specific description of your research area. In this first paragraph,
state your research question (which was previously approved).
Paragraph 2: Indicate a clear thesis statement of your argument (ie. Your position on the
issue). You are not graded for the position you take. What is important is that you take a
position and effectively argue it. Describe a road map for the paper (ie. the order of your
discussion). Describe generally what arguments you will present in the body of the paper.
II. Political and Social Context for issue
Briefly describe the political and social context surrounding your specific law and society
issue or controversy. Who are the main political and societal actors involved and what are
their positions on the issue? Discuss how the issue has been handled socially and legally up
to this point.
III.Critique
In this section, describe at least 2 arguments in favor of your thesis statement,
counterarguments, and critiques of those arguments. This should be the most detailed part of
your paper and the majority of your paper should be devoted to this part
For each issue or sub-issue:
A. Brief title of first argument
*Present one argument in favor of your position on one issue related to your topic
-Present the counterarguments
-Critique those counter arguments
B. Brief title of second argument
*Present a second argument in favor of your position on a 2nd issue related to your topic
Present the counterarguments
Critique those counter arguments
IV.Conclusion
Argue your position in a brief conclusion.
Reference citation within your paper:
When you use other people’s ideas cite (author, year) in the body of your paper.
If you use a direct quotation cite (author, year: page #’s).
**Do not use lengthy quotations in your paper.
Reference sheet:
Your paper must have a separate reference sheet which includes a list of 15 academic sources (10 from
the previous worksheet and 5 more) in a separate list labeled “Academic articles.” Each source should be
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numbered in alphabetical order of the author’s last names. The format should follow the exact format
found in the worksheet.
Below the academic sources, you should include 5 non-academic sources in a separate list labeled “Non
academic articles.” Each source in this second list should be numbered and alphabetized by the author’s
last name. The format should be similar to that of the academic sources.
***When searching on the UH library website, sources have the symbol – “ – next to them. Click on this
and then click Chicago Style (17th edition). For your final list, be sure to indent lines appearing after the
first line as follows:
Book example:
#. Haggard, Stephan, and Robert R. Kaufman. Backsliding : Democratic Regress in the
Contemporary World . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021.
Journal example:
#. Iaryczower, Matias, Pablo T Spiller, and Mariano Tommasi. “Judicial Independence in
Unstable Environments, Argentina 1935-1998.” American Journal of Political
Science 46, no. 4 (2002): 699–716. https://doi.org/10.2307/3088428.
Non-academic sources: Use the same UH Library search “ link and use format for Chicago Style (17th
edition).List below the number such that the author’s last name is flush with the margin (one point for
each citation/source/formatting)]
You can (and I encourage you to) use the Lippman book, Just Mercy, and sources from the course, but
these are not part of your required sources. These in class sources do not need to be put in the reference
sheet, but in the body of your paper you can refer to them as (Lippman 2021: #page numbers).
*See worksheet for further information on finding sources.
Point distribution for research paper: Total of 20 points
Overall arguments, presentation and persuasiveness:
(10 points)
Points deducted for:
-Not following instructions (ie. did not have two paragraphs or research question, did not have
road map or substantive section titles described above.
-Excessive quotation or use of just a few sources in the argument
-Failure to cite work of others
High grades for:
-Creative arguments
-Well organized and thought out paper
-Each sentence has a purpose, not just filler.
Writing, grammar, proofreading: I take good writing and presentation very seriously. I will mark down
significantly for non-polished or rushed work.
(5 points)
Points deducted for:
-Lack of proofreading
-Poor grammar
-Wordy sentences
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Use and formatting of sources/citations: (5 points)
Points deducted for:
-Failure to have 15 academic sources
-Failure to have 5 additional non-academic sources
-Format is not exactly followed
-critique those counter arguments
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