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Comparative Politics Paper Instructions
Music for Film and Television (MUSIC 2F03)
McMaster University
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You are expected to write an essay on one of the topics below. Students should write a 8 - 10 page paper on one of the topics of their choosing, in the style of an argumentative research essay. The essay should have a clearly presented thesis, from which the argument flows naturally. You are expected to consult no less than six peer-reviewed academic sources not including the assigned readings for this course. Your paper will be evaluated on your thesis statement (the clarity and feasibility thereof), the quality of your research and presented evidence, and the quality of your writing.
For this assignment students will complete a research paper using a comparative analysis. This means that you will need to select two industrialized democracies in the Global North to compare. The comparative method should be as rigorously applied as possible, however this is only an initial attempt at doing so and will be graded in kind. Students should select two cases for comparison either using the most similar system design or most different system design. Generally you should write this paper like any other argumentative research paper, with one exception: you are required to include a methodology section which explains your choice of cases, which system design you are using, and provide a justification for those cases within that system design.
The first task in your term paper is to lay out a clear thesis and central argument. Your paper will be evaluated based on the strength of evidence you lay forth to support your thesis. A good paper will have a logical flow to it, and an argument that follows clearly from the central thesis statement. An excellent paper will also link your particular topic / case study to a larger body of theoretical work. You should also read the guidelines for grammar and style in the course outline
- part of your grade will be based on your writing style.
Term Paper Topics 1. What explains the rise of right wing populist movements in recent years?
Make the case for or against constitutional monarchies. Does the monarchy play an important role in society or are states better off after the monarchy (and/or ties to it) are removed?
Comparatively analyze two welfare states to attempt to answer why some democratic states provide more services to their residents than others.
Discuss the current state of trade union social democratic political party relationships in an era of neoliberalism.
Discuss the possibilities and limits of publicly financed elections as this relates to political representation.
Using any comparative system design, argue which institutional design elements lead to greater representation of the public. Be careful to clearly define what you mean when you speak of a more representative system. You might consider public support for policies, gender, age, ethnicity, religious backgrounds, sexual orientation, etc.
Demonstrate the positive of negative effects of religion in Contemporary politics. This is also a purposefully vague topic, to which you must offer a definitive argument. What positive or negative impacts does religion have, or the presence of religion have in politics?
Comparative Politics Paper Instructions
Course: Music for Film and Television (MUSIC 2F03)
University: McMaster University
