Paper Guidelines

 

  

Deadlines

1)       Country summary – due Mon, June 16

2)       Final paper – due Tue, July 1

 

General Format

 

The country summary should be 3-4 pages (double-spaced), the final paper should be 6-8 pages (double-spaced), not including tables, graphs, maps etc and bibliography.  Papers MUST meet the following guidelines or they will be downgraded:

 

- typed, 12pt font, Times New Roman font

- 1-1.25 inch margins

- no cover page

- stapled

 

References should be in parenthetical format.  See the following links for examples. 

-         citing sources

-         web citations

 

Country summary:

 

This is a descriptive assignment, not an analytical one.  In 3-4 pages (typed, double-spaced), describe your country.  Where is it located?  Who are its neighbors?  Who are its main trading partners?  What are its main exports?  Imports?  What are the broad economic indicators (GDP, GDP per capita, GDP per capita PPP)?  What are the broad social indicators? (You may want to consult the World Bank, the U.N. Human Development Indicators, and the CIA Country Reports – all are available on-line.  Economist country summaries are also excellent sources).  How is it connected to the world economy?  Describe the political situation, including current or recent conflicts. 

 

We want each of you to produce a conclusion in which you (1) evaluate the current political, social, and economic status of your country and (2) determine the most significant challenge or challenges your country faces.  In your term paper you will analyze these challenges using the theories we present and develop in this course.  

 

You should have at least 3 sources for the country summary.

 

Term Paper:

 

Topic:

 

This is an analytical paper, not a descriptive one.  This is also an argumentative paper: you MUST have a thesis (an argument), and your thesis should be stated in the first paragraph.  You should use the relevant information from your country summary in building your argument, but we do not want the entire country summary reproduced in the term paper.  It is also likely that you will have to do additional research to supplement what you learned in the country summary. 

 

The main point of this paper is to explain the main challenges facing your country using the political-geographic theories we study in this course (geopolitical theories, world-systems analysis, and theories of nationalism). 

 

Structure

 

Start by summarizing your argument.  This is your thesis statement.  You should present the problem(s) facing your country in about 1 page.  About 1-2 pages should be devoted to elaboration of the theory, and why it is useful for the examination of this particular topic.  There is no need to present all the details of the theory, but focus on those elements that are more relevant to your topic.  Then, devote the remainder of the paper to showing how this theory is helpful in understanding the problem at hand.  You will have to present some empirical details of the problem but emphasis should be on interpretation using the theory.  A key element of theory is its ability to predict future events.  Based on the theory or theories you apply, what are the prospects in your country for the next ten years with respect to the problems you are addressing.  Be sure to ground your predictions in the theory, and explain why the theory indicates your predictions. 

 

Term Paper Grading:

 

 

Theory

Empirical

Analysis

Writing

One of the political geographic theories specified

Clear or poor choice of topic

Uses theory well

Well written or poorly written

Clear or unclear

Accurate or inaccurate facts

Able to interpret specific events in wider theoretical context

Grammar is correct

Sophisticated or superficial

Relevant or irrelevant

Spelling is correct

Considers alternative arguments – is there a better theoretical alternative

Political geographic in nature

Able to pick events to illustrate point

Reference formatting follows guidelines

 

Organized or disorganized

 Thorough connections or missing links

Use of ancillary materials (maps etc)

 

The paper is due Tuesday July 1 at the start of class.  Late papers will be downgraded 10% for every day late.  Because of our tight summer schedule, July 3 is the last day to turn in the paper.