The Research Paper is an argumentative essay that identifies an important issue with a Canadianpolitical institution and how a specific reform may or may not mitigate the problem. The paper canargue for or against the reform option depending on how the benefits and risks for the targetedinstitution and/or other institutions stack up against each other. The institution can be any covered asone of the weekly topics for the course. Some examples include whether Canada should reform the electoral system to switch from FPTP to another system? the Senate to adopt a triple-E Senate or more formal guidelines for the Independent SenateAdvisory Board? the House of Commons to address issues of gender? the federal system to recognize treaty federalism?The paper must include 6 relevant academic sources beyond the textbook, feature a thesis statementthat ties the entire paper together, and demonstrate a strong understanding of the chosen topic. Thepaper will be evaluated based on balance and the appreciation of the appropriate counterarguments,clear organization and coherence, and spelling and grammar. To help with organization, papers shouldanswer these 3 questions: What is the main issue with the institution and what is the case for reform? What reform should Canada adopt for the targeted institution and why? What are the implications of the reform for the institution? How might the reform alter the logicof the institution and impact other Canadian political institutions?The Paper Proposal outlines the plan for the upcoming Research Paper. It engages the five componentsof critical thinking (explanation, evidence, evaluation of context and assumptions, analyticalargument/thesis, and developing a conclusion and possible implications) by addressing the following: Briefly explain the institution and issue identified Briefly evaluate possible sources for evidence and potential bias: propose 3 sources and explainwhy they are useful to the project, whether there is any bias, and if the source reflects aparticular context that shapes its questions or findings. Propose a preliminary thesis or argument and how it might be supported, including a possibleoutline in bullet form Briefly consider the consequences of the thesis/argument (i.e. think of what it means for theinstitution being reformed or other Canadian political institutions).Depending on how far you are with the essay, this is an excellent opportunity to submit a draftintroduction for feedback. Keep in mind that a good introduction avoids general statements about theworld and lays out the papers main question or issue followed by a thesis that answers the problem.The thesis statement should feature the main justifications for the argument and may include somepossible consequences of adopting the papers position.4The Paper Proposal and Research Paper must use proper citation for all evidence and arguments fromsources other than yourself. Doing so is important for a) giving credit where credit is due (recognizingintellectual property), b) justifying evidence, and c) avoiding plagiarism. The preferred style and citationformat is to use an in-text option such as MLA, Chicago Author-Date system, or the Canadian Journal ofPolitical Science guide. Please see the courses cuLearn page for more information.
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