Sociology 215: Race & Ethnic Relations

Research Paper: Objectives and Guidelines

Objectives

For Soc 215, you are required to write a research paper that examines race/ethnic, gender, or social class issue or event, how and why the event or issue exists and who it targets, what is currently being done or not being done to address the issue, and apply appropriate course concepts and theories.

Your research paper is intended to familiarize you with sociological literature in an effort to further your understanding of race, ethnic, gender, and class relations in the United States. In addition, it offers you the opportunity to strengthen your writing skills and develop critical sociological thinking. It is extremely important to remember that this is a sociological examination of an issue relevant to the course objectives:

• Demonstrate an understanding of such sociological concepts as assimilation, pluralism, ascribed and achieved status, prejudice, and discrimination;
• Display basic knowledge of historical, socioeconomic, and political demographics of the United States;
• Demonstrate critical thinking and understanding about different theories and perspectives pertaining to race, class, gender, and sexuality; and
• Apply sociological concepts for the analysis of race and ethnicity to personal and/or familial experience.

This research paper requires the following:

1. Introduction – the introduction will discuss the major theme of the paper including the major argument.
2. Literature review – involves a description of your research sources and how they support your theme/argument. You explain and discuss the social issue that is the focus of your paper.
3. Body – This is where you really examine your social issue. You should apply appropriate theory(ies) and theoretical perspective(s) to explain the issue, address research methods, ways of dissolving the issue, and provide an overall critique or lend support to what has been done.
1. Theoretical perspective – regards your explanation of theory selection. Address why you selected the particular theory and how it explains/applies to your topic.
2. Research Method – explains what type of method you selected to research the topic; library sources (journals, books, etc.), interviews, media sources (internet, video programming), and why particular types were selected.
4. Findings/conclusions – overall findings of the project, including a section suggesting a more effective method to address the topic you selected than has been approached previously.

Research paper guidelines:

1. Length: 5-8 typed, double-spaced pages
2. Organization:
1. Title page that includes: a title that reflects the assignment; your name and your SIUC student ID number; course title/course number and section number; lecturer’s name; and assignment due date.
2. Introduction
3. Literature Review
4. Body
5. Findings and Conclusions
6. Reference page

3. Writing Skills:

The Clarity as well as the content of your writing can be diminished by excessive grammatical or stylistic errors. I have identified the more common mistakes. All errors will be deducted from your grade.

· Grammar: subject-verb agreement, misuse of words (e.g., their for there, two for too)

· Spelling: Proof read and use a dictionary to avoid this problem. Spell-check programs cannot catch everything.

· Sentence structure: fragmented or ‘half’ sentences, incorrect use of punctuation or no punctuation, run-on sentences, etc.

· Excessive or unnecessary wording or redundancy.

· Paragraphs: convey one main point and usually consist of three or more sentences.

4. Citations:

· Five sources are required. You may use books, journal articles, and not more than three of the following: newspaper or magazine articles, internet sources, source from a video program.

· Three types of sources must be represented among your citations.

· All sources in the bibliography must be credibly cited in the paper. All sources documented in the paper must be listed in the bibliography. The class text may be used as a source but only counts as one of the sources.

Please use citations when needed (e.g., paraphrasing, direct quotations and words). Any style, such as ASA, APA, MLA, is acceptable. Remember, presenting another person’s work (ideas and words) as your own constitutes plagiarism and is take quite seriously at SIUC.

5. Miscellaneous:

· Margins: 1 inch margins on all sides or 1 inch top, bottom, and right margins and 1 ¼ inch left margin

· 12 point font

· Plain white paper with black ink

· Staple your paper

· Keep an additional copy in case of loss or other problem

· NO PLASTIC COVERS