Research Paper

The main requirement of the course is a seminar or research paper. The idea of the paper is for you to investigate either some particular movement, campaign, tactic, or issue in greater depth. The specific nature of the paper will depend on your background and interests. I expect the paper to be something like article length -- that is, about 20 double spaced pages. I am not at all particular about length though, so this is merely a rule of thumb. The paper should, however, be well polished and a full analysis of your topic. Last minute drafts or extremely narrow foci (an analysis of one book or papers that draw only on course readings) are not acceptable and your grade will reflect this. It is my hope that the course stimulates you to think about movements in ways that you have not before and your thinking will inspire much more than regurgitation. In terms of research, you can choose to go in many different directions. You can actually collect data yourself by becoming involved with a group, studying primary sources (pamphlets, internal documentation from organizations, etc.), interviewing activists and so forth. If you decide to do this--start early -- it is time consuming. If you are statistically inclined, there are data sets readily available you could analyze. Research can also mean a careful synthesis of work produced by other people. This means that a comprehensive literature review is an acceptable format. You might also consider using popular press sources to track the trajectory of a specific movement. There are many possibilities. Don't not forget, however, that this class is about theory--that is--explanations for collective behavior. You must delve into the why and how questions to do a good job on your papers. You are not a journalist reporting what happened to me (although that certainly is part of it). You must engage the theoretical questions we are discussing in the class and show how your paper topic speaks to these theories (that is, supports, refutes, complements, or extends the prior explanations). I am also not opposed to you writing papers in pairs, but the paper will obviously have to be considerably better if it is product of two people's work.