RESEARCH PAPER

Each member of the class will prepare a research paper or policy process paper

• Policy Process Paper See the "Policy Processt" link and follow the guidelines set forth in the "Policy Process link."  You must discuss each step in the policy process.
   
• Research paper:  a) explain why the topic is important in studying environmental politics, b) identify a research question or hypothesis, c) review the relevant literature, d) present careful analysis and explanation, and e) draw a conclusion about your research and the tmplications of the study. 

Guidelines for Writing the Policy Process Paper or the Research Paper

• The paper must have ten (10) scholarly sources (a combination of books and journal articles). The books used for the class can be used but do not count toward the number of scholarly sources noted earlier.
• The paper just have a cover sheet, page numbers, and one inch margins.
• The paper must be typed, double-spaced using 12 font and should run 10-12 pages excluding bibliography and tables / charts.
• Students are cautioned to identify the source of material used in the paper. The penalty for plagiarism is an "F" on the paper.



• A topic for the proposed paper along with a half page summary and five (5) scholarly sources will be due in class on February 12.  The instructor will return the proposal with written comments on February 19. Late proposals will result in 3 points being deducted from the final grade on the research paper. Failure to submit a paper proposal will result in five (5) points being deducted from the paper.
• Papers are due in class on April 20.

Advice:  Do not wait until the last minute to work on your paper and do not wait until the night before the paper is due to print your paper (printer and other problems seem to be common at this point in time)!

Note: Please consult with your instructor if you have any questions.