INTEGRATIVE PROJECT Research Proposal

Contribution to final grade: 20% 

Length:  Approximately 3 pages + annotated bibliography

Format: Essay format (except for the outline of the paper which is to be presented as in the model below), typed (Times New Roman or Cambria, 12pt), double-spaced, and paginated. 

Submitted in WORD.

What to include:

1. A title for your paper.  Your title needs to be informative AND creative.

2. Topic Focus Summary* (about 1.5 pages). Here you should provide a detailed discussion of what you wish to do in your paper, and how you intend to proceed. You should include;
3. your topic and why it is important, relevant, worth exploring, etc.
4. your main research question
5. a working thesis; what you think the answer to your question is at this early point in your research, based on the conclusions provided by the research you have done so far

*A good Topic Focus Summary will be your Introduction in the next assignment.  The better you work at each step of this course, the easier it will be in the end.

3. A commentary on your progress to date (1/4 to ½ page – you may use the first person here).  This might include;
4. a brief discussion of the sources you have found, their usefulness and what you are still looking for or need. 
5. Problems you are having, or foresee having with the paper.  A discussion as to what you intend to do about these problems. 
6. An Outline of your project must be presented.  Please refer to the template below.   The structure and detailed content of the final paper should be clearly visible in the outline which should be comprehensive, clear and well organized.  The best outlines are also supported by the literature, highlighting the sections that require more research.

5. An annotated (critical) bibliography of 6 appropriate academic references in Chicago format Ideally, you have read your sources by this date, to ensure that your project is doable.

What is a Critical Bibliography?

The production of a critical bibliography aims to develop your critical sense toward your sources. 

In the critical bibliography, for each source, you must

• explain why the documents chosen will help you in your research
  • target the chapters or sections that will be the most helpful
  • assess the credibility of the author/source
  • if possible, identify the biases of the document
  • identify the type of document you will be using (primary source? secondary source?  scholarly/academic source?)
  • identify the date of production of the document and how it might influence the content.
  • any other comment that might further justify your choice of document.

Each comment should about 100 words long.  Do not use point form.

• DO NOT plagiarize the articles’ abstracts while putting together your annotations.  Use your own words.  If the annotations are plagiarized, the entire assignment will receive a grade of zero.

Paper Outline MOdel

 “A Risky, but Better Life: The Causes of Illegal Immigration to France from Africa

in the Past Decade”

INTRODUCTION (2 pages in the Final Paper):  — include this heading in your Outline now. You will be instructed on what to include in the INTRODUCTION in the First Submission Instructions.

Background (1/2-1 page in the Final Paper: including data, statistics, basic historical or geographical information or context)

1. What is illegal immigration?
2. Is it a global trend? — John SMITH, Illegal Immigration…
3. How large of an issue is it currently in France? — Jack JONES, Global Trends in International Politics
   1. estimated number of illegal immigrants
   2. estimated number of illegal immigrants from Africa
   3. geographic origins of illegal immigrants from Africa (Algeria? Congo? Nigeria, Mali, etc…)

SECTION ONE (3 pages in the Final Paper): Life in Conflict Zones [political science]

1. War: Types and Causes Currently underway in “French” Africa
   1. cases of inter-ethnic and inter-religious wars —KEEP INDICATING YOUR SOURCE/S THROUGHOUT YOUR OUTLINE AS SHOWN ABOVE
   1. cases of inter-state and intra-state (civil war)
   1. colonial legacy fuelling war
   1. corrupt regimes fuelling war
2. Militias: Terrorizing Populations in “French” Africa”
   1. cases of ethnic cleansing and genocide
   1. mass rapes of women
   1. child soldiers
   1. the refugee overload

SECTION TWO (3 pages in the Final Paper):  The Struggle to Survive [economics]

1. Economic Underdevelopment in “French” Africa
   1. inadequate domestic resources, infrastructure and political initiatives holding back industrialization
   1. brain drain holding back economic development
   1. government corruption holding back economic development
   1. erosion of agricultural lands and water shortage issues
   1. global market undercutting traditional agriculture
2. Poverty in “French” Africa
   1. unemployment
   1. low standard of living
   1. limited access to education
   1. limited government social assistance

Conclusion (1/2 -1 page in final paper) — Include this heading in your Outline now. You will be instructed on what to include in the CONCLUSION in the First Submission Instructions.