Outline for Writing Term Paper

 Step 1: Introduction (15 points)

• Define the topic (i.e. what is…).
• Why is the topic an important issue for society?
• Specify the research questions of your study.

  Step 2: Literature Review (31 points)

• Discuss the pros and cons of your research topic.
• Describe how you will deal with the shortcomings of the existing literature regarding your topic.
• Adopt an issue position regarding your topic (i.e. state your hypotheses clearly).
• Justify your position on the topic.

Step 3: Methodology (34 points)

• State clearly your position on the topic.
• Present the evidence to support your position on the topic. In an empirical research, you should operationalize your hypotheses, and specify the statistical tests used in your research.

Step 4: Summary and Conclusions (10 points)

• Discuss the findings of your research.
• Discuss the implication of the findings of your research for society.
• Discuss how future studies may improve on the findings of your research.

Step 5: Bibliography (10 points)

Bibliography (Book)

 Adams, Mary. 2009. United States Foreign Policy, New York: Wadsworth Publishers.

Bibliography (Journal Articles)

 Burns, John. 2008. “Human Rights in Africa,” Journal of Conflict Resolution,

Volume 8: 22-36.

Bibliography (Internet Citations)

Crompton, Ann. 2010. “Global Warming and the Kyoto Treaty, ”

www.un.org (Links to an external site.), accessed January 20, 2010.