IRLS500 International Relations Theory
Research proposal Assignment
Research proposal
This is the first installment of a two-part assignment. The second part is a literature review.  In this literature review, you will be expected to assess the literature in regards to the relative merits of two IR theories in explaining the outcome of a case study of your choice In this preliminary assignment you will present a research proposal for this research paper. The proposal will consist of:
1. A  brief description of the specific case-study that you are interested in examining, and an explanation for why this is an important case to study (for example: the Cold War, the Israeli-Arab conflict, the Kyoto Treaty, the Landmine Ban treaty, European integration, the rise of China, America’s potential decline. In short, there are many different topics that you can choose from. Just make sure that the topic that you choose is directly related to international relations).
2. A clear and concise research question (for example: why didn’t the Cold War escalate into an actual war between the United States and the Soviet Union? What explains the failure of the Kyoto Treaty? What explains the passage of the Landmine Ban treaty? Why did the United States and the Soviet cooperate during WWII? Why did the League of Nations fail?). Note that a good research question is analytical in nature, and can be answered within the time and space available. In other words, it is not merely descriptive, and should not take a book-length manuscript to answer. A descriptive question is one that seeks to describe an event (i.e. what happened? Example: what did Germany do in September 1939?), an analytical question focuses on why things happened the way they did, or why expected outcomes did not happen(see the examples above). Keep in mind that predictive questions (or speculative questions) are also not suitable for this assignment. We don’t know how events are going to play out in the future (regardless of how confident we are), and the effectiveness of IR theories cannot be tested with respect to events that have not happened.
3. A list of six preliminary scholarly sources
Please note that YOU WILL NOT BE WRITING AN ACTUAL RESEARCH PAPER.  Rather, you will focus on a literature review that you would have used to write a full research paper were it required.  So what you will be doing is discussing the current state of literature about your topic.  What are the main works?  How can you categorize them? Are there gaps?
 
IRLS500 International Relations Theory
Literature Review/ Res. Paper
Assignment Instructions
Your assignment for this week is a literature review on your topic. A literature review is a synthesis of previous research on a topic. 
Most research projects include a literature review to determine what knowledge exists on the subject under study and to develop the theoretical framework that will be used in the study.  The literature review sets the context for the entire research project by explaining what others have found in researching the same or similar specific research questions.  The literature review is written in a narrative format.  
A literature review begins with an introductory paragraph in which the writer frames the research topic and its significance, and the puzzle that the researcher is addressing. To do that, the writer will summarize the major relevant arguments on the research subject, highlighting the main issues and how schools of thought might differ.  If there are key terms to be defined, the writer should do that here.  The body of the literature review tells readers what others have found in their studies about your specific research question (the extent of existing knowledge on your specific research question), critiques what is right or wrong with these other studies, and discusses how the work is distinguishable from the research  study you are proposing. Your review should organize material by theme or method or what makes sense for the project. This literature review should include a critical review of at least 8-10 appropriate articles, to include scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, material from government publications and websites, or other topic-appropriate source.  The conclusion should summarize the primary “sense of the literature”, encapsulating for the reader where the existing literature ends and your research will start as you seek to answer the question that still remains and add to the body of knowledge.
This is a new type of writing for many of you so I’m providing some resources for you.   You must watch this video before doing the literature review.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2d7y_r65HU  It explains how to do a literature review as opposed to an annotated bibliography. This resource explains the difference: https://apus.libanswers.com/writing/faq/2372  Do NOT provide an annotated bibliography.    Please also take a close look at the attached rubric. The rubric lets you know how I will award points. 
Please make sure to watch this screencast on properly incorporating quotes in academic writing. Seriously, watch it.
You might also want to watch this video on how to tell the difference between scholarly and popular sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN8S4CbzGXU
 
IRLS500 International Relations Theory
Final Assignment
Essay Question
Which theoretical approach that we have examined in this course best explains the causes of war? In answering this question, compare and contrast at least three of the approaches we have studied, and use at least three empirical examples of wars in the past 200 years to support your arguments.
Instructions
Your essay should be 3-5 pages in length, not including references (there is no need for a title page, a table of contents, or any appendices). The paper should be submitted in Microsoft Word format, double-spaced, in 12 point font, and 1″ margins. Make sure to cite your sources  and use Turabian parenthetical citation style. For a quick guide see here.