Instructions
This assignment requires you to write a research paper that
explores a particular topic or issue that is of concern to women, lesbian,
gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, and/or gender-nonconforming/transgender people and
evaluates potential strategies for improving their working lives.
Follow these steps to prepare your paper:
1.
Begin by choosing a
topic that you would like to explore in greater depth, such as sexual
harassment; employment rights; LGB, transgender, and gender-nonconforming
people in the workplace; pay equity and the wage gap; sensitivity training,
women at the top, and solidarity; self-employment; child-care policy; women and
unions; or greater recognition for women’s unpaid work.
2.
Be sure to look for
resources that will help you document concrete, up-to-date strategies that
women, LGB people, and/or gender-nonconforming/transgender people may be
working on. (Canadian policies/ regulations please).
3.
Use the following
questions as guidelines in researching and writing your paper:
a.
What is the general
issue you are addressing, and why is it important? What is the current state of
the problem? What strategies, if any, have been pursued to date in dealing with
it?
b.
Through your reading of
the course material, what major insights, theories, and concepts emerge with
respect to this issue?
c.
Through your research on
this topic or issue, what relevant resources and/or organizations did you
identify? What type of work have these organizations done on this issue? How
much interest and attention is it receiving? What strategy or strategies are individuals,
organizations, or governments pursuing to improve the situation? Describe what
is involved in each of these strategies.
d.
Based on your reading
and research, how would you evaluate the strategy or strategies that you have
described? What are their respective strengths and weaknesses? In your view, do
they promise to improve the working lives of women? If not, what other options
should be pursued?
4.
Once you have considered
these questions, develop your thesis statement. What is the main argument that
your paper will be making regarding your topic?
5.
Your paper needs to
reference and discuss five of the key concepts from the course in relation to
your chosen topic.
Grading Rubric for Research Paper
Note: The grade scale for the “Depth
of critical analysis” and “Integration of five key course concepts” criteria
are different than for the previous assignments.
Criteria
Grade Scale
Tutor Comments
Thesis statement and main arguments
5
Strong and critical
thesis statement; the thesis statement governs the development and
organization of the paper and all supporting arguments.
Depth of critical analysis
5
Information and
arguments provided with critical analysis—questioned and challenged using
theories and ideas from course and own experience/knowledge.
Integration of five key course concepts
10
Five key concepts well
defined and well used in support of essay arguments; concepts thoughtfully
applied and critically analyzed.
Depth of research
10
Thoughtful use of
course sources and well-chosen resources from source text, demonstrating a
profound understanding of the text and its arguments.
APA style: in-text and bibliography
5
All sources
(information) are accurately documented in the desired format in-text and in
bibliography.
