The Research Paper is expected to be 7 to 10 pages in length, typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins, use APA style referencing with proper grammar and spelling, and include a title and bibliography. The page length does not include the title page and the bibliography. You may use subheadings, as well as the first person (“I”).
The Research Paper requires you to address a research question of your own choice in relation to any topic in relation to families and social change that addresses the key themes and concepts of the course. You may choose to further pursue a theme or topic that we have discussed in class or you may develop your own topic, but you should choose a topic based on your personal interest. Your paper does not have to necessarily focus on Canada or the Canadian context.
Research papers are analytic rather than desсrіptive, meaning that they should focus on making and developing an argument rather than simply summarizing or describing the content from your sources. A clear thesis statement in your introduction outlining what you will be arguing in your paper is essential in helping you to develop your argument and making connections between the material from your sources and the themes and key ideas from the course. Although you can include both scholarly sources (such as academic books and peer-reviewed journal articles) and non-scholarly sources (such as newspaper articles, webpages, government reports, etc.) in your paper, you will be required to incorporate content from at least two (2) course readings or lectures along with a minimum of five (5) scholarly sources in your paper, up to a maximum of ten (10) outside sources (scholarly and non-scholarly). Emphasis should be placed on using scholarly rather than non-scholarly sources in your paper. Avoid over reliance on one or two sources in your paper. You are not required to use the exact same sources as listed in your proposal.
Papers will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 1) your ability to adequately and effectively address your research question; 2) your ability to conduct scholarly research, which includes the effective use and integration of sources in your paper; 3) clarity of your writing, including your ability to identify and synthesize key arguments and ideas from your sources; 4) proper referencing of all sources used in your paper using APA style; 5) proofreading for spelling and grammar.
