I have the draft I started’ and the professor feedback on the draft
There
is a single graded assignment in this course: the final Capstone
paper. It constitutes 100% of the grade. Students must
submit a research paper employing a research design that tests a
proposed causal relationship between variables. The topic is to be
determined in consultation with the instructor. To test a
hypothesis, one must have data. Therefore, the paper topic must
focus on some event that has already occurred so that data exists.
A proposal to investigate some possible future event will lack
sufficient data. The paper is a research paper – not a policy
paper, advocacy paper, or some other type of paper.
Accordingly, objectivity is imperative. Thoroughness is essential;
each of the following MUST be included: (1) Abstract, (2)
Introduction, (3) Literature Review, (4) Research Design, (5)
Analysis, Findings & Discussion, (6) Conclusion, and (7)
References. Review the Model Outline of Capstone Paper found in
the Department’s Official Guidance for the Capstone Paper
(available at the end of this syllabus).
Per
the course description, the paper must be a minimum of 5,000 words.
Students must use the American Political Science Association
(APSA) Style Manual’s citation procedures and format. The manual is
available here: https://connect.apsanet.org/stylemanual/Links
to an external site.
Papers
and drafts should be double-spaced, have one-inch margins, and use
black, 12-point Times New Roman font. Papers must be printed;
hand-written papers are not acceptable. Page numbers should be
used. All submissions must be in Microsoft Word file format.
All submissions must include the student’s name in the title of the
file uploaded.
The
final paper must earn a grade of “B” or better; otherwise, the
student will have to re-take the Capstone course.