Term paper, grading guidelines

Background information on the term paper:

  • students have select a topic related to the curriculum themselves and topics have been approved by the lecturer
  • papers will usually have an empirical focus, though clearly anchored in theory/concepts
  • papers will often be based on existing research and a limited volume of original material (e.g. evaluation reports, government documents)
  • but it is fully possible to write papers with small original analysis (based on existing datasets)

 

Typical Structure:

  • Topic, research question (1 page)
  • Theory and expectations/hypotheses (3-4 pages)
  • Empirical description, including case selection (4-5 pages)
  • Analysis and discussion (3-4 pages, most important)
  • Conclusion (1 page)

 

Main criteria for assessment - substance

  • relevance of topic, narrowing down topic, research question
  • accurate description of theory, definition of core concepts
  • linking theory and empirics:operationalization
  • motivation of case selection, separating description & analysis of case
  • discussion of implications of case, answering the research question
  • use of literature beyond the course syllabus

 

Main criteria for assessment - formal aspects

  • between 3500-5000 words, references excluded
  • clear structure, headlines, paragraphs, page numbers
  • use of references, coherent referencing style and bibliography
  • use of clear language, understandable sentences

 

The grading of the term papers should follow the general guidelines for Political Science, see here:

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Published Jan. 9, 2019 10:57 AM - Last modified Jan. 9, 2019 10:57 AM