To answer a research question, students would provide data and evidence from peer-reviewed
journal articles – you have already started this process by researching, reading, and completing your
Annotated Bibliography (Part II). Completing the Annotated Bibliography is required in order to
complete the paper.
The next step is to organize and synthesize the current research. You may find that many of your
sources will have similar information, but you will also find that each source contains something that
sets it apart from all the other sources (this is how scientific knowledge expands). After reading and
absorbing all your sources, you should be able to describe in a logical and concise manner the major
findings related to your research question.
There may (or may not) be a consensus among the published experts on your topic area – it is your
goal to present an analysis of the current literature – even if there is conflicting information.
Prepare an analytical research paper using the sources from your Annotated Bibliography. You may
include one or two more, but for this assignment five sources are sufficient.
Introduce your topic. You can also include why your topic is important.
Be sure to include a clearly stated Thesis Statement (generally the last sentence of an
Introduction). The thesis statement can also be the Research Question, and here is an
example: The purpose of this paper is to explore the major social factors that contribute
to racial disparities in obesity rates among Black and white children. The thesis
statement informs the reader what they can expect to read about. It also gives the paper clear
direction and focus. The Introduction section of your paper should be approximately ½ to one
full page in length.
Now, analyze the current research and relate it to your Research Question (four to five pages).
You should select two to three major explanations to discuss in-depth. Use the sources you
used for your Annotated Bibliography. When preparing your analytical section of your paper,
you want to organize your argument in way that makes intellectual sense, rather just being in
alphabetical order.
Conclude your paper with future recommendations (one page). After researching your topic,
what would you suggest? Future research? Policy recommendations?
Include a Reference Page
Other Paper Requirements
Include data and evidence from the sources used for the Annotated Bibliography.
Use ASA (American Sociological Association) style for references (in-text and Reference Page)
More on back
Your paper should be clearly organized, professionally written, and free of spelling and grammatical
errors (proofreading will help you eliminate these errors).
Title your paper
Please use double-spacing, 1” margins, and 12 font-size (preferably Ariel or Times New
Roman).
Be sure to use proper Essay Format (paragraph structure). Alternately, you may use sub-
headings. Whichever approach you choose to take – please use paragraphs! This allows
the paper to breathe.
The finished product should be six to eight pages in length plus a Reference Page
The finished product should be six to eight pages in length plus a Reference Page
