Description

This paper will examine an issue of social inequality. Students should avoid choosing a topic that is too broad or general. Once the topic is finalized, it must be approved by the instructor (see syllabus for approval deadline).

The paper should include an introduction, body, discussion or conclusion, and bibliography. The body of the paper should be organized into several sections, depending on the topic and content. It is expected that this paper will be upper-division college-level quality: well organized, proper syntax, and free of spelling, punctuation, grammar, and typo errors. Quotations are to be used very sparingly, and only when the passage in question is so eloquent that to summarize or paraphrase would subtract from its meaning. Unnecessary use of quotations will negatively impact your grade. The use of excessive adjectives and wordy, ornate sentences is also discouraged. Students are encouraged to express themselves clearly, concisely, and in a scholarly manner. You will use APA style to structure the paper.

All sources used for the paper shall be appropriately cited in text and in the bibliography, per APA format. It goes without saying that merely citing quotations is not enough; all ideas that you borrowed from sources and summarize or paraphrase must be cited. The only content without citation should be your own original analysis. You will use a minimum of 8 sources for this paper, 4 of which must be scholarly (ie, books by experts in the field and/or peer-reviewed journal articles). If you are not sure how to identify a scholarly source, please check with me or the librarian.

Students are encouraged to meet with me as often as is necessary for assistance with all aspects of this paper.

Logistics:

Approximately 12 typed, double-spaced pages, 12 point Times New Roman font, default margins, ragged right margin, paginated (beginning with first page of text), and stapled (no cover)

Citation, organization, title page, and “works cited” page in APA style

Double-sided printing

In Word or WordPerfect, first choose:

File, then Print, then Properties, then Finishing (or Features, depending on the printer), then check the box for "Print Both Sides"

Do not use the printer icon in Word or it will automatically print your file before you have a chance to format it for double-sided printing

Below are some possible paper topics. Clearly this is not an exhaustive list, but you might see something that interests you or it might give you some other topic ideas:

Same-Sex Marriage

Cross-National Perspective on Same-Sex Marriage

Women in the Workplace

Affirmative Action

Poverty in the US

Cross-National Perspective on Poverty

Homelessness in the US

Public Education Funding in the US

Segregation in the US School System

Cross-National Perspective on Public Education Funding

The Digital Divide

Gender inequalities in Marriage and Family

Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System

The Disabled as a Minority Group in US Society

The Working Poor in the US

Race and Class: Internal Colonialism

Work and Labor Markets in Post-Industrial Society

Inequalities in Higher Education

Stratification of Health Care in the US

Cross-National Perspective on Health Care

The Elite in America: Political Power and Patterns of Influence

Welfare to Welfare Reform (AFDC to TANF)

Social Safety Nets in Cross-National Perspective

NOTE: If you choose to work on this paper with one other classmate, the paper length should be about 15 pages, each contributor must write individual sections (the only exceptions are the introduction and conclusion, which may be written jointly), and the author of each section must be documented on a list of contents (by title of section and page numbers). Your contributions will be graded individually, but you will also receive a group grade for organization, bibliography, and the introduction and conclusion, if jointly authored.