Term Paper

Term paper: 20% of your grade will be based on a ten page typed term paper (12 point font, one inch margins). This is ten pages of content, and you must include a bibliography (use the MLA format) and document your work with appropriate references. The USCA library has the MLA Guide and the reference librarians can help you in finding material. You can also receive assistance from the Writing Room. You may NOT use Wikipedia. Excessive spelling and grammatical errors will be penalized up to a one letter grade penalty. For your paper, you will select a policy area to explore and should expect to lead a class or make a presentation to the class. You may also work with another student or in a small group on a project if you wish.

Paper deadlines:

Fri. Feb. 13 Final date for term paper topics. You must also meet with your professor prior to the spring break to show what research materials you are using for your project and how you will conduct your research project. If you have not submitted your specific topic by this date and had it approved, one will be assigned. No exceptions!

Fri. Apr. 10 Term paper due by 5 pm. Late papers will be assessed one half letter grade penalty per day (ie, a grade of A becomes a B+). Paper should be submitted electronically as a word document.

Topics: There are many possible topics – here’s just a few.

You can engage in a debate on a controversial (or less controversial) area like abortion, child care, paid maternity leave, etc with another student, and write a ten page paper on the topic on your own, or jointly do a twenty page paper for a joint grade. Remember to discuss from a policy perspective, though. These are touchy issues.

You can look at the success or lack thereof of women in achieving elected political office and why. This could include doing a content analysis of newspaper coverage of women vs. men candidates or of campaign ads (look online for the latter). You would need to have a thesis as to why this happens and do some research on the topic! You might also look at whether it makes a difference if women are elected to office in terms of policy.

You could look at some health care policies to see how they treat women and men’s health issues, and compare that to what happens across the nation.

You may want to look at how USCA compares to the national figures cited in your text on women in higher ed, including by rank, salary, field, and teaching vs administration.

You can look at the problem of domestic violence. How does SC compare to the nation? Why? Is the problem getting better or worse?

You can look at how children are socialized and to what extent that plays a role in occupational selection.

You can look at the kinds of crimes women commit and how they are treated by the court system.

And lots more!