This is the "Before You Start - Think About..." page of the "Selecting a Topic: American Dilemmas & Capstone" guide.
Alternate Page for Screenreader Users
Skip to Page Navigation
Skip to Page Content

Admin Sign In 
 Library Home  »  Research Guides Home  »  Selecting a Topic: American Dilemmas & Capstone

Selecting a Topic: American Dilemmas & Capstone  Tags: american_dilemmas capstone  

Last update: Jan 26th, 2010 URL: http://stedwards.libguides.com/topic  Print Guide  RSS Updates

Before You Start - Think About...            Print Page
  
 

Need help? Ask a librarian.

Need more help? Ask a librarian!

  • Visit the reference desk
  • Call  (512) 448-8474 
  • Email

Reference hours:

  • Mon -Thurs: 9am-9pm
  • Fri: 9am-5pm
  • Sat: 12pm-4pm
  • Sun: 1pm-9pm

      
     
     

    Social Problem, Controversy, Policy

    The American Dilemmas and Capstone papers require specific elements. There must be an identifiable, documented policy designed to address a social problem about which there is public controversy/debate by credible parties. Workable topics are those for which all three elements are available in published resouces. For example:

    Social Problem Controversial Solution Policy
    • Teenage pregnancy
    • Abortion
    • Roe v Wade 1973
    • Juvenile Crime
    • Juveniles tried as adults
    • Juvenile Crime and Delinquency Prevention Act 1968
    • Air pollution
    • Alternative energy
    • Energy Policy Act 2005
     

    Things To Consider

    For a successful paper, the answer to all the following questions must be "YES"
    • Is your social problem currently being discussed? In print?
    • Is your controversial issue currently being debated? In print?
    • Are there at least two well-articulated sides? Are both sides expressing their positions in print?
    • Is there enough information/research published on the topic?
    • Does your controversial issue have associated policy?

     

    Before you start researching...

    Before you start researching ...
    Understand the meaning of:
    • Policy - usually takes the form of legislation, regulation, or a proposed plausible plan of action which is enforceable in some way.
    • Parties/Stakeholders - usually an organization, but individuals can be parties if they are in a position of influence
    • Arguments - the associated policy must have proponents publicly arguing for it and opponents arguing against it.
    • Authoritative sources- parties/stakeholders seldom make their arguements in truly scholarly sources, but any evidence (data or analysis) must come from reliable sources (i.e. government statistics) or scholarly sources (i.e. peer-reviewed journals).
    If you aren't really sure what is meant by these terms, it will be difficult to recognize them as you are researching.
     
    Description

      Loading content... please wait