FINAL RESEARCH ESSAY – SOC 783 TRANSNATIONAL STUDIES


Thirty percent (30%) of your grade will be based on a research essay due on January 22, 2013.*
Please follow the guidelines below, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I
answer most e-mails within 24 hours. You may come and see me for help during my office hours or
e-mail me to make arrangements for another time that is convenient for you. In other words, there
is no excuse for problems with this assignment! My schedule is very flexible and I enjoy meeting
with students – please take advantage of this factJ!


I have also posted some readings, under Week 7, which will help you to think about how to pick a
topic (“Picking a Research Topic” Turabian 1-3), how to format your paper (“Research Essay – Useful
Information” – Sociology Writing Group Ch 4) and how to finish up and edit your paper (“SWG – Part
III”). There is also a citation guide from the American Sociological Association that you should
follow for structuring you in-text citations and your reference list.


STRUCTURE:


The purpose of this essay is to think sociologically about transnationalism. The assignment is very
broad – you may choose any topic related to transnationalism, whether we have covered it in the
class or not. I will approve the topic and make sure that your research question is narrow enough
to answer successfully in an essay of this length.


The final essay should be between 10-15 pages (2.5 cm.” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt. Font). This
is about 3,000 – 5,000 words, but there is no maximum limit.



TIMELINE:


November 12, 2012    One-paragraph statement explaining your choice of topic is due via e-mail. I
will approve your topic within 48 hours so you can begin work. You may send this at ANY time; you
do not have to wait until the due date.


December 12, 2012    A short (1-2 pp.) preliminary summary of your work is due via e-mail.


January 4, 2013          FINAL ESSAY IS DUE FOR MASTERS STUDENTS SITTING FOR         THE STATE
EXAM.


January 22, 2013        FINAL ESSAY IS DUE VIA E-MAIL by 23:59.


LATE ESSAYS will be marked down by 2 points per day (out of a maximum of 30 points).




*IMPORTANT NOTE: Students sitting for the State Master’s Exam on January 27, 2011 MUST submit their
essays by January 4, 2012.