SOCI 1125: RESEARCH PAPER INSTRUCTIONS Students will use published, scholarly research to write a sociological research paper. This project has the following learning outcomes:  critical thinking, reading, and reflection  social scientific research and writing  library research skills  to distinguish between scholarly and non-scholarly sources  to critically evaluate the relevance of sources for research papers  to develop a cogent, logical, and organized discussion of a topic  to apply sociological concepts and research to the study of social problems in Canada  to apply the ASA citation method to reference citations and reference lists  to understand and apply standards of ethical scientific practice and academic integrity STEP 1: Learning to Collect, Analyze, and Synthesize Secondary Data Students will attend an orientation to KPU’s library collections, databases, and other sources of information that are most relevant to sociology students. A librarian will provide an interactive lecture and assignment to allow students to learn and apply research skills. In the digital age, Librarians are more essential than ever and help researchers maintain currency and connectedness with vital scholarship and public perspectives. Together, the Library lab, writing assignments and in-class engagement exercises will build you build the capacity for undertaking scientific writing and research. STEP 2: Choosing a Topic and Selecting Sources of Information Your research topic must:  be approved by your instructor  be chosen on the basis of a topic discussed in the text book  be sociological and appropriate in scope and breadth  start with a clear research question that will be answered with a logical, concise and cohesive argument  focus on Canadian society Social scientific papers require valid, reliable, and scholarly sources of information. Nonscholarly sources (eg. Magazines, newspaper articles, pamphlets, self-help books, training manuals, Wikipedia) should not be used to advance a main point of your argument or hypothesis, but may be used to illustrate points made in the scholarly literature. Sociological research:  reflects a scientific focus or method of inquiry  provides a full and open disclosure of all outside sources  includes a full reference list that provides complete documentation of sources of information  typically appear in peer-reviewed journals  is also done by government agencies, community organizations, think tanks, NGOs, and other non-academic organizations  is not always found by “Google searches” STEP 4: REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAPER 1. A minimum of three scholarly references are required. a. your textbook must be one of your scholarly sources b. at least two more scholarly sources, chosen by the student, must be incorporated into the paper c. Non-scholarly sources (eg. Newspaper and magazine articles) MUST NEVER BE USED TO SUBSTANTIATE THE KEY POINTS OF YOUR RESEARCH. They can only be used to illustrate points made from scholarly sources and must also be cited d. If you use less than three scholarly references, you will get a “D” or less on the assignment. If your sources are not scholarly, it will decrease your mark on the assignment 2. The paper must be 4-5 pages of text (does not include cover page and reference list) a. Papers less than four pages of text in length will be awarded a grade of “D” or less b. Your paper should be no longer than 5 pages in length 3. A thesis statement that clearly indicates the focus and thrust of your discussion must be clearly presented within the introduction of the paper. 4. Papers must be formatted using the following rules: a. The components of the paper must be organized and presented in the following order: title page, text of paper, reference list b. 1” margins on the top, bottom and sides c. Indent each paragraph and do not leave an extra line between paragraphs d. 12-point font is required e. Your name should only appear on the cover page of the paper f. ASA method of documentation must be used to cite references in the text of the paper and in the reference list (see library citation guide on ASA) 5. A separate cover page is required. The title of the paper should appear on the cover page. Below the title, indicate the student’s name, course number and section, instructor’s name, and the due date of the assignment. 6. A reference list (bibliography) is required. Write the reference list on a separate page that is inserted after the last page of the paper. No reference list = a failing grade on the assignment. 7. Staple the pages together in the top lefthand corner. 8. The paper must be written by the student (please see KUC’s policy on plagiarism and cheating). Be ethical and professional in your research and writing. 9. The paper must be legible, typed, and based on sound grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and sentence/paragraph structure. It is good practice to use a writing guide, dictionary, and thesaurus when writing a paper. 10. Give it your best effort and give yourself credit for making time to develop the skills needed to accomplish this paper. These skills will help you in all your future writing and research endeavors. I wish you great success and enjoyment in your research. I look forward to working with you, learning beside you, and offering my advice and support whenever you need it. I’m only an email away!  Best, Seema
Purchase answer to see full attachment