Writing Workshop

Here is some information regarding your research paper. First of all,

please do not submit your paper in Google Docs. For some reason my
computer and the computers on campus will not open these documents so
please use Microsoft Word. As far as topics for your paper I leave it totally
up to you. The only criterion is that it has to deal with an issue related to
the U.S. (or a specific state like Texas) government. If you look in the front
of your book in the Contents section you'll find lots of options and then you
can look on the appropriate page(s) to see if that topic really sounds
interesting to you. It has to be a topic where there is an argument for it
and against it so it has to have some level of controversy around it. For
example you can argue for or against the death penalty and in your papers
you will need to present both sides to the argument, why both sides
believe as they do, and then tell why you think one side of the debate
represents a better choice. The paper needs to be between 3-5 pages in
length and must be in APA format. Below are two links that illustrate
through examples how to cite sources using APA. Also, your entire paper
needs to be double-spaced including your cover sheet, which should be
centered with the title of the paper first, then your name, the name of the
class with the section number, my name (Professor McMahon), and finally
the date. Again, it should at least be three pages meaning that you should
write to at least halfway down the third page. You should have a
References page at the end of your paper where you should have at least
three different sources used in the paper. These need to be legitimate
sources (New York Times, Washington Post, Economist, Time, Houston
Chronicle, CNN.com, etc.). Wikipedia and Pro/Con.org are definitely NOT
acceptable sources. Again, your References page should be double-
spaced. On the first page that you begin writing your paper (so not the
cover page) you should begin numbering your pages in the top right hand
corner (header) which means that at a minimum your References page
should be number four. In front of your numbering at the top right hand
corner you should put at least part of the title. If you have a short enough
title you can put the whole title in there but if its too long, for instance, The
Controversy Surrounding the Death Penalty in the United States, then just
write The Controversy in front of the number of the page. Here are some
areas you might consider for your topic:

The death penalty, same-sex marriage, gun control, teledemocracy, voting

machines, electoral college, campaign finance reform, the media (should
they provide entertainment, make profits, partisan bias...), Patriot Act,
specialized federal courts and the war on terrorism, nuclear power,
privatization of U.S. prisons, federal drug policy, deficit spending and the
public debt, nuclear weapons (get rid of them, national missile defense),
military spending, multilingualism.

These are not the only ideas you have to choose from they are just
suggestions. I would appreciate it if you had an idea about a topic you
want to write on ASAP so that I can make sure it fits the parameters before
you begin writing. If you have any more questions or concerns please talk
to me before or after class and if need be we can try to set up a time and
place to meet up if you're still confused about something.

Along with this information here are some links that provide examples of
how to cite sources using APA formatting.

http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/apa

http://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Hacker-Sample APA
Formatted Paper.pdf