LAW AND SOCIETY RESEARCH PAPER, SPRING, 2004

The research paper shall be approximately 10-12 pages in length, not including the title page and bibliography. You must choose some aspect of a theme that relates to poverty, equality or inequality in the United States. There are a plethora of ideas from which to choose in our textbooks, both in the chapters we read as well as the ones we don't. One point to keep in mind as you develop the paper is to include how the theme you explore either positively or negatively affects the concept of equality. You may wish to consider political, social, cultural, legal historical or economic topics and how your topic furthers or hinders conditions of equality on some group(s) of people.

The papers are all due no later than Tuesday, May 4^th. However, there are two preliminary due dates. An annotated bibliography is due on Tuesday, March 9^th. An annotated bibliography is a list of bibliographic sources with approximately one paragraph of annotation briefly describing the main thesis or point of each source and how it may fit into the paper you are writing. Your annotated bibliography must contain a brief statement of the topic you are exploring and no less than 5 annotated sources to receive up to 2 extra credit points. It is entirely likely that you will find additional useful sources but at this early stage, 5 sources, minimum, is sufficient.

Approximately a month later on Thursday, April 8^th, you may turn in the introduction of your research paper combined with an outline of the main themes that your research paper will address. Your introduction will likely be an early draft of the introduction of the final version of your paper. It should be approximately 1 to 2 pages, and introduce your paper’s major focus and include an outline of the paper’s major sections and points. This assignment must have both a well written paper introduction and a rough outline of your paper’s main points to receive 2 extra credit points.

There are two major purposes for these two preliminary due dates. First, it allows me to take a quick look at your early research and writing efforts and possibly offer you an idea or two on how to improve your paper. Second, it encourages you to spread out your research and writing effort and allow you to more carefully think through your paper topic.

For complying with each of these two preliminary due dates, you will receive up to two points of extra credit for each due date. If either the annotated bibliography and introduction is turned in late, I will be happy to look them over and offer any comments but they will not receive any extra credit.

You must turn in your completed research paper no later than Tuesday, May 4^th. If you turn in your paper late, it shall receive a ten point penalty. The paper must include a title page with an intelligent and creative title that conveys to the reader the main idea of the paper, either footnotes or endnotes and a complete bibliography. It should be approximately 10-12 pages, not including the title, footnotes and bibliography. The paper should be carefully edited! Five of the 50 points you can earn on this paper are reserved for complying with the title page, notation, bibliography and editing requirements.