The term paper will be a 3-4 page, single-spaced research paper. Any consistent citation style is acceptable. Claims must be substantiated with citations from reputable sources, which includes the textbook. Err on the side of caution with citations because without exception plagiarism (i.e. presenting the words or ideas of another person as your own) will result, at minimum, in a 0% F.
Choose one of the two options below to write about.
Option 1:
Some scholars of international relations believe in the “democratic peace theory;” that democracies are less likely to go to war than other types of states. Assess this claim. Do you agree? What points from the textbook and discussions can you use to substantiate your position? We have addressed several potential causes of war in this course. Try to incorporate those causes into your answer and evaluate them. There is no “wrong” answer, but you will be evaluated on how well you support your positions.
Option 2:
Select six online news articles from different sources dealing with material we have covered in this course. For each one, provide a citation or link (not the whole article!) and do all of the following for each one: (1) explain the article, (2) evaluate how or whether the article tries to influence your personal actions or opinion of the subject matter, and (3) explain how the course material clarified your understanding of the article and any attempt that it makes to influence you personally. Your articles should have enough substance to sustain the analysis, so stay away from short blurbs.
A Successful Paper:
Contains a wealth of facts that are both accurate and relevant, fully develops complex ideas, and explains phenomena adequately. The paper remains focused on the issue and avoids straying into tangential subjects. The paper observes the minimum requirements for length, style, and citation. The term paper will be a 3-4 page, single-spaced research paper. Any consistent citation style is acceptable. Claims must be substantiated with citations from reputable sources, which includes the textbook. Err on the side of caution with citations because without exception plagiarism (i.e. presenting the words or ideas of another person as your own) will result, at minimum, in a 0% F.
Choose one of the two options below to write about.
Option 1:
Some scholars of international relations believe in the “democratic peace theory;” that democracies are less likely to go to war than other types of states. Assess this claim. Do you agree? What points from the textbook and discussions can you use to substantiate your position? We have addressed several potential causes of war in this course. Try to incorporate those causes into your answer and evaluate them. There is no “wrong” answer, but you will be evaluated on how well you support your positions.
Option 2:
Select six online news articles from different sources dealing with material we have covered in this course. For each one, provide a citation or link (not the whole article!) and do all of the following for each one: (1) explain the article, (2) evaluate how or whether the article tries to influence your personal actions or opinion of the subject matter, and (3) explain how the course material clarified your understanding of the article and any attempt that it makes to influence you personally. Your articles should have enough substance to sustain the analysis, so stay away from short blurbs.
A Successful Paper:
Contains a wealth of facts that are both accurate and relevant, fully develops complex ideas, and explains phenomena adequately. The paper remains focused on the issue and avoids straying into tangential subjects. The paper observes the minimum requirements for length, style, and citation.
