Assignment Overview
Throughout the semester, you will be working on a research paper considering an issue of
international importance from a perspective other than your own. Many countries view causes
and potential solutions of issues of international concern such as climate change very differently.
A viable solution to an international issue must therefore incorporate those disparate views to
have any hope at a peaceful solution. This assignment asks students to apply course concepts to
explain the essence of a different perspective on the world. Each paper is an individual effort but
frequent group discussions are necessary to successfully complete the paper (see “Argument”
below). You will be writing this paper in multiple stages to allow time for feedback and revisions
(see milestone assignments). Your final draft will be submitted on the first day of finals week.
Assignment Requirements
The final draft of your research paper must meet the following requirements:
1. Your paper considers a global challenge from multiple dimensions, i.e. economic, political,
cultural, values, etc
2. Your paper investigates an issue of contemporary, international importance, i.e. it must be an
issue that crosses borders and is of importance to multiple countries and international actors
3. Your paper must explore this issue from the perspective of a country or region other than the
United States
4. Your paper poses an answerable research question
5. Your paper develops a well-reasoned argument that sufficiently answers your
research question
6. Your paper applies concepts from the assigned readings and class lectures
7. Your paper is properly supported by both primary and appropriate secondary sources
8. Your paper is supported with real-world evidence
9. Your paper addresses the counterarguments to your thesis
10. Your paper is at least 3,000 words in length
11. Your paper is no more than 5,000 words in length
12. Your paper includes proper in-text citations and a bibliography
13. Your paper does not quote from sources unless absolutely necessary (paraphrase instead)
Grading
Your paper will be graded using the following rubric:
Follows Instructions
20pts
Perspective
40pts
Organization
10pts
Clarity
20pts
Course Concepts
40pts
Literature Support
20pts
Real-World Evidence
20pts
Argument
30pts
Follows Instructions
Paper adheres to the assignment requirements outlined above. For example, the paper meets the
minimum and maximum word length. The paper also includes proper in-text citations and a
bibliography (you are free to use any standard bibliographic format such as APA, Chicago,
IEEE, and so on).
Perspective
The paper presents another country or region’s perspective on a topic of your choice. The topic
will be one of the subjects identified by the class as an important challenge facing the world in
the 21st century. In other words, fully explain a unique perspective on the subject. How this
other group views the subject in the context of its world view. To do so, you will have to
consider the different cultural context that informs the group’s view of the topic to include any
group values that differ from your own. You will also need to clearly identify the group’s
interests at play in the topic and how those interests inform how the group approaches the topic
and the ways the group may therefore prioritize resolving the associated challenge.
Organization
Your paper must have a clear organization which aids the reader in understanding your
argument. One way to do this is to organize your paper in sections. Each section could pertain to
a sub-argument that supports the overall argument of your paper. It should be clear why each sub
part of your paper is necessary and how each part supports your larger argument. The different
parts of your paper should also speak to each other rather than serve as stand-alone independent
arguments. Labeling the different parts or sections of your paper is one technique you may
consider using.
Clarity
Linked to organization, your paper should be written in a way that is as easy to read as possible.
There should be no run-on or incomplete sentences. There should be few to no grammatical
errors. You should avoid unnecessarily long and complex sentences. Make one point at a time
rather than many points all at once. You should make your points as directly as possible so your
reader does not have to guess what you are trying to say. You should also include a proper metanarrative that helps your reader understand how to read your paper. For example, it is always
helpful to tell your reader what they are about to read and why in the first sentence of every
paragraph.
Course Concepts
Whenever possible, you should use concepts from our assigned readings and class lectures to
frame the analysis of your paper. It should be obvious when and how you are drawing on course
material to inform your analysis. This paper is your opportunity to demonstrate how the content
you were exposed to in this course has improved your ability to understand international
relations.
Literature Support
Support your argument with reasoning drawn from scholarly sources on international relations.
Additionally, your paper should be supported by sources from the country or region you are
representing. The sources could include think tanks, academics, or articles by opinion leaders in
the country or region. You will be graded on your ability to incorporate the arguments (not just
quotes, facts, or offhand points) from these sources into your own. Keep in mind that your reader
will not necessarily have read your sources. Therefore, you must explain to your reader in your
own words (not with quotes from your source) what the source argues, how the source's
argument is supported, and how the source's argument supports your own. Do this for each
source.
Real-World Evidence
Your paper must be factually correct. It should draw on evidence from ongoing current affairs
events to prove your claims. Facts should be given adequate context and interpreted in a way
that makes it possible to see how your claims are being supported.
Argument
Your argument will be graded on its degree of persuasiveness. Keep in mind that your goal is to
convince a skeptical reader that your answer to your research question is better than the answer
they would have provided on their own. That means your paper must not only provide adequate
evidence and reasoning to support your claims but it must also explain why reasonable
counterarguments are not as correct as your own. To do this, you will be arguing with the
alternate views in your paper. In other words, you will be writing a paper that directly
addresses the counterarguments to your thesis. Be sure to directly engage with the the
counterargument and properly represent the counterargument while explaining why
your own argument is stronger than it.