Paper Writing Skills Appropriate Paper Title Bad examples: “Rousseau: Control group” “Marx: The Communist Manifesto Good Examples: “Aristotle’s politics: a theory for the many or the privileged few?” “Communication as process in the political theory of Althusius” Note: Two-pronged approach The Hour Glass Approach information gathering topical sorting question structuring essay essay writing with feedback Where To Begin? • • • • • • • • study the text(s) hit the library early adjust topic to material found design structure of argument sort material into structure write main part of essay write introduction and conclusion find a meaningful title Introduction The introduction should: - summarize what the paper is about - identify the key problem / question / thesis - give overview of argument structure Intro Examples Bad Examples: “Locke is an extremely interesting individual” “In Plato’s Republic, he writes…” Good Examples: “Hobbes’ theory of human nature was greatly influenced by the English civil war.” “A central assumption in Locke’s contract theory is that human beings have agreed to inequality.” Conclusion • summarize: on the one hand and on the other • add personal evaluation: why is this important? • what is your final judgment on this? Citation of Primary Source “I wish I could wear such a crown” (Conservative Manifesto, II, 2/6). Citation of Secondary Source “I can see Russia from my house” (Palin 2008: 123) Bibliography (1) Book (primary or secondary): Harper, Stephen, Conservative Manifesto (Fort McMurray: Tar Sands Press, 2009) Bibliography (2) Book chapter: Putin, Vladimir, “America is Doomed,” in Martha Stewart (ed.), Interior Decoration and the Decline of the American Empire (Alderson: Prison Press 2004), 33-66. Bibliography (2) Journal article: McCain, John, and Sarah Palin, “The Earth is Flat,” American Republican Quarterly 36: 4 (2008), 123-122.