RESEARCH PROPOSAL/ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

As part of your over-all research project you will need to write and turn in a research proposal and an annotated bibliography.  The idea here is for you to think ahead of time about what you are doing to write and how you are going to go about doing the work.

Your proposal and annotated bibliography will consist of:

  • A research statement that identifies your topic for research and set of question surrounding that topic as it pertains to your case. You must detail how you plan to address your topic and a research question must be formulated.   This should include a working thesis.
  • An annotated bibliography of fifteen sources at least ten of which should be scholarly (please listen to the audio file on “scholarly” resources).
  • For an example of an annotated bibliography, click here. This example can be followed for your assignment.
  • If you are unfamiliar with the concept, Cornell University’s library has a great site that describes annotated bibliographies.
  • Due date for the proposal/annotated bibliography can be found on the syllabus.

Remember:  your paper is to focus on a specific international event/relationship/policy and it needs to be explained from three perspectives (theories/ideologies).

Make sure to upload your proposal to Turnitin and e-mail it to me, both by the due dates.

 

As you think about formulating your research project, keep in mind the following:

1.  The main purpose of this assignment is for you to demonstrate to me your ability to analyze the same event/action/policy from three different perspectives.   While not identical in approach, the Sterling-Folker book gives a general guide here.

2.  The goal is not to write a persuasive essay to convince the reader as to which theory is best.  It may well be that you reach a specific conclusion about which is best at explaining the case under study, but that isn’t the main goal.

3.  If all you do is tell a story/describe the event and the theoretical analysis becomes an afterthought, you will probably get a “C” on the paper (and no better than a “B-” and then only if it is an excellent report).

4.  Again:  the goal is for you to demonstrate your facility in applying different theoretical perspectives.  That is the primary issue you should be thinking about.