- Be clear and direct about your thesis or argument and define your key concepts at the beginning of the paper.
- Cite empirical evidence to support using APA format (see below for more info). This includes in-text citations and a References section at the end with full details for each reference.
- Evidence means statistics from a reputable primary source like the Census Bureau, General Social Survey, or Bureau of Justice; quotes from peer-reviewed academic articles and research reports; information from class reading assignments and lectures properly attributed to the original source. (So, don’t cite your teacher for talking about something in lecture that is from one of the readings.)
- Evidence does not include personal anecdotes, statistics from unreliable sources such a blogs or Wikipedia, or hypothetical examples (although these may be used for explanatory purposes).
- Do not rely too heavily on long quotes from your sources. Make sure to explain the context of the quotes you do use, and how they relate to the point you are trying to make.
- Do not write in the first-person or include your opinions unless the assignment specifically requires it. You do not need to take sides on an issue if the assignment is to present multiple perspectives. Again, only choose a side if the assignment calls for it, and be sure to explain your choice according to the evidence, not just your opinion.
- Avoid exaggerations and claims you cannot support with evidence. Example: “Since the beginning of time, inequality has plagued humankind.” (Is there evidence for that?)
- Avoid biased and subjective language. Examples: “Racism is pure evil” (subjective); say “humankind” instead of “mankind.”
- Use subheadings to structure your paper. This is helpful to the reader and also helpful to make sure you’ve addressed all parts of the assignment.
- The more you read social science articles, the more you will absorb the conventions of writing for social science. Ask your instructor or the library staff to help you locate primary source social science articles in our online databases, such as JSTOR or ProQuest.
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