IS Paper Guidelines

International Studies Senior Seminar
Writing Assignment and Oral Presentation Guidelines

Theme and Thesis

The International Studies program is an interdisciplinary major that emphasizes in its course requirements study in the fields of Economics, History, and Politics. Each student’s capstone experience is a senior thesis that draws on the interdisciplinary aspect of the major.

The theme of the senior thesis should elaborate on how best to understand an issue of international significance looking at its economic, historical, and political nature. The paper should be centered on a “why” question and its thesis should answer in what ways economics, history, and politics have brought about the current state of affairs for the issue involved. There are an infinite number of ways of posing and answering a “why” question which allows students to tailor their paper to their interests regarding international affairs. Some examples of questions students might ask are as follows:

• Why did the crisis of the Euro occur in the European Union?
• Why is the “Arab Spring” (not) leading to democratic governments?
• Why are Russian petroleum exports not as high as expected?
• Why has the Chinese Yuan not become a global currency?
• Why have some international foreign aid programs been more successful than others?
• Why has global economic inequality been growing in recent years?
• Why have the governments of some countries become susceptible to the influences of organized crime?
• Why have economic and security conditions improved in Mexico in recent years?
• Why hasn’t government fiscal policy (either in the form of demand stimulus or government austerity) brought about expected levels of economic growth?
• Why have U.S.–China relations evolved to their present situation?
• Why has Brazil’s influence on the global economy diminished in recent years?
• Why have there been varying degrees of success in formulating environmental policy in the Amazon?

These are the sorts of questions that are asked and answered in influential foreign policy journals such as Foreign Affairs.¹ In fact, each of these questions was posed in recent issues of that journal:

Timothy Garton Ash. “Crisis of Europe: How the Union Came Together and Why It’s Falling Apart,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 5, September/October, 2012), pp. 2–15.

Fred C. Bergsten. “Why the Euro Will Survive: Completing the Continent’s Half-Built House,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 5, September/October, 2012), pp. 16–22.

Sheri Berman. “The Promise of the Arab Spring,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 92, No. 1, January/February 2013), pp. 64–74.

Barry Eichengreen. “When Currencies Collapse: Will We Replay the 1930s or the 1970s?,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 1, January/February 2012), pp. 117–134.

Thane Gustafson. “Putin’s Petroleum Problem: How Oil is Holding Russia Back—and How It Could Save It,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 6, November/December 2012), pp. 83–96.

Seth G. Jones. “The Mirage of the Arab Spring,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 92, No. 1, January/February 2013), pp. 55–63.

Sebastian Mallaby and Olin Wethington. “Future of the Yuan: China’s Struggle to Internationalize Its Currency,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 1, January/February 2012), pp. 135–146.

John W. Mcarthur. “Own the Goals,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 92, No. 2, March/April 2013), pp. 152–162.

Andrew Moravcsik. “Europe after the Crisis: How to Sustain a Common Currency,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 3, May/June 2012), pp. 54–68.

Jerry Z. Muller. “Capitalism and Inequality,” Foreign Affairs (92, No. 2, March/April 2013), pp. 30–51.

Moisés Naím. “Mafia States: Organized Crime Takes Office,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 3, May/June 2012), pp. 100–111.

Shannon K. O’Neil. “Mexico Makes It,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 92, No. 2, March/April 2013), pp. 52–63.

Raghuram Rajan. “True Lessons of the Recession: The West Can’t Borrow and Spend Its Way to Recovery,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 3, May/June 2012), pp. 69–79.

Kevin Rudd. “Beyond the Pivot,” Foreign Affairs (92, No. 2, March/April 2013), pp. 9–15.

Ruchir Sharma. “Bearish on Brazil: The Commodity Slowdown and the End of the Magic Moment,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 91, No. 3, May/June 2012), pp. 80–87.

Jeff Tollefson. “A Light in the Forest,” Foreign Affairs (Vol. 92, No. 2, March/April 2013), pp. 141–151.

In a world in which graduates of four-year colleges and universities such as Willamette are expected to have career-related skills, the International Studies senior thesis provides International Studies majors the ability to write a policy-relevant paper along the lines of those published in Foreign Affairs.

Why the Emphasis on Interdisciplinary Approaches?

A fair question could be asked, why should the paper’s theme and thesis center on interdisciplinary approaches? As mentioned above, the International Studies major is interdisciplinary in nature, emphasizing course work in Economics, History, and Politics. Students will note that the articles listed above all highlight the economic, historical, and political influences that explain an observed outcome. Each of the three constituent elements of international studies emphasizes an ontological concept, that is, a statement about what is known:

• Economics: Material relationships among humans involving the buying and selling of goods and services as well as related matters involving the means of those commercial exchanges (e.g., currency regulations, financial transactions, fluctuations in the value of commodities, etc.).

• History: Change in the nature and relations among beings (human and otherwise) over time.

• Political Science: (“Politics” at Willamette): Formal rules, laws, and governance.²

Each of these disciplines can be focused on international interactions. Thus, one can study international economics involving, for example, global currency markets, international trade, global capital flows, etc. using only the tools of Economics. Or, one can study the history of international interactions, for example, the conduct of war, artistic and literary trends, scientific practices, etc. using only the tools of History. Moreover, one can study international politics in the form of, for example, treaties, diplomacy, international law, etc., using only the tools of Political Science.

Unlike the stand-alone disciplines of Economics, History, and Political Science, International Studies as a major area of study focuses on multiple concepts. To use one of the examples listed above (from the Foreign Affairs articles), the current situation involving monetary union in the European Union can be understood in terms of its economic dynamics, historical trajectory, and the political decisions that led to recent events. The Euro crisis and its aftermath are the product of economic transactions, historical trends, and political choices such that no one disciplinary approach gives a full account of the present situation.

Following the conventions of interdisciplinarity in International Studies, each student’s thesis and empirical research should include factual information about the economic, historical, and political forces that answer the question posed at the outset similar to that which is laid out in the Foreign Affairs articles listed above.³ The emphasis on interdisciplinary studies also permits a range of issue areas on which each student’s paper can be focused. Taking a lead from the Foreign Affairs articles listed above, students should choose a topic that involves economic relations, historical change, and political activities. Although the topic can focus on a single country (as do some of the Foreign Affairs articles listed above), there should be implicit or explicit implications for how the country interacts with other countries in the world.

Identifying a Question and Developing a Thesis

The first task in an analytical paper of this nature is to identify a question worthy of asking. The best questions typically begin with the word “why” because they prompt and answer that comes in the form of an explanation. International Studies (and its component disciplines of Economics, History, and Political Science) are interested in explaining why certain outcomes occur because those explanations will aid in creating theories that explain similar outcomes. For this class, identifying a worthwhile question can be as simple as observing something curious about international interactions, the explanation for which is not readily apparent or obvious. (A question to which the answer is readily apparent or obvious either has already been explained or does not raise a curiosity.) Students should be able to identify a curious aspect of international interactions that begs an interesting question simply by following world news or doing a small amount of research into a specific topic.

Once an interesting question has been identified, students can begin to develop an answer (the paper’s thesis) by researching facts about the issue as well as scholarly books and articles that develop theories to explain the concept (not the empirical issue) involved. In particular, although factual information will help describe the causes of the issue under investigation, an explanation resides in theories, that is, broad-based explanations for a certain class of events. Using the example given above of the Euro crisis and its aftermath, there are any number of theories that scholars use to explain the weakening of currencies and dilemmas of government fiscal policy in general. These theories specify different sets of economic, historical, and political causes of fiscal crises. Students should identify the main contending theories for the conceptual issue they have chosen and draw on them in formulating their paper’s thesis.

Students should also consider alternative arguments, theses, and points of view in their paper. That is to say, using the example given above of the Euro crisis, if a paper’s thesis explains some aspect of European monetary union using a specific theory of economic integration, at least one other rival theory should be evaluated somewhere else in the paper. This is an essential ingredient of any analytical paper.

Research and Empirical Evidence

Evidence to support the paper’s thesis should draw on resources available through Hatfield Library both in print and obtainable online. Students may also use other resources they identify using standard research methods.

Students should also meet at least once with the Social Science reference librarian at Hatfield Library to discuss the types of research materials available through the library relevant to each student’s research topic. An initial meeting with the Hatfield librarian should be preceded by an e-mail message to the librarian informing him or her of the intended research project so that the librarian can do some preliminary investigation into the resources available for each student’s topic.

Any research conducted on human subjects, which can include simply interviewing people, requires approval by Willamette’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students thinking about using humans as part of their research (e.g., involving interviews, surveys, questionnaires, etc.) must submit a research application to the IRB. This must be done at the beginning of the semester since it can take the IRB up to a month to respond to applications.

Organization

Analytical essays of the nature assigned for this course typically adhere to some variation on the following organization:

• Introduction
• Brief statement of empirical issue to be explained
• Review of theoretical literature, i.e., schools of thought that might explain the empirical issue
• Presentation of evidence, facts, and information
• Analysis of theoretical literature in light of evidence, facts, and information
• Conclusion

Each draft of the paper should be divided into sections and the sections should be indicated by descriptive subject headings (e.g., not just “Brief statement of empirical issue to be explained”).

Documentation and Citations

Articles that appear in Foreign Affairs serve as good examples of interdisciplinary thinking, however they are not intended as works of scholarly analysis. Students will note that in the Foreign Affairs articles listed above the authors do not include footnotes or citations. This is because the authors of articles published in Foreign Affairs are experts in their field and thus draw on their existing knowledge of specific issues. As with articles that appear in newspapers and news magazines, the essays published in Foreign Affairs are based on first-hand observation and/or knowledge of facts that the authors have accumulated through direct research.⁴ Moreover, to the extent that authors of Foreign Affairs articles draw on primary sources, reference to such sources is indicated in the text of the articles, not in footnotes or citations.

For their senior theses, however, students in this class must document their sources with the appropriate citations and references. Unlike Foreign Affairs articles which are intended as hybrid essays blending journalistic reportage and scholarly insights, senior theses for the International Studies major are intended as pieces of academic scholarship and therefore must involve documentation and citations as would be true for any research paper written in a college or university setting.

Multiple Drafts

Three drafts (plus a peer editing draft) of the paper will be handed in over the course of the semester. The paper represents a single analytical and research project to be revised over the course of multiple iterations. Therefore, the paper’s thesis could and should be sharpened, revised, or even altered to take account of evaluation of competing theories and/or newly uncovered evidence. Additionally, over the course of multiple drafts students should take the opportunity to alter the order of sections or subsections to accentuate the theoretical and empirical propositions and conclusions, add or remove sources to the literature review, evaluate additional existing claims, add or delete additional or unnecessary empirical information, rectify errors of analysis in the evaluation section, strengthen or clarify the introduction and/or conclusion, correct errors of grammar and syntax and improve the prose.

Length

There is no required minimum or maximum length for each draft of the paper. There is an old adage (variously attributed to Abraham Lincoln or J. D. Salinger) that, in answer to the question “how long should a man’s legs be?,” the answer is “long enough to reach the ground.” In other words, your paper should be long enough to accomplish its task (no longer, and no shorter). Having said that, it is most likely that a good first draft will range between 3000 and 4500 words (10 to 15 pages), a good second draft probably will fall into the 4500 to 6000 word range (15 to 20 pages), and a good final draft most will most likely run between 6000 to 9000 words (20 to 30 pages), all give or take. Each draft of the paper should include a title (on a title page), an abstract, and a bibliography.

Abstract and Keywords

Each draft of the paper should be accompanied by an abstract that precedes the main text. An abstract is a short (typically one paragraph) summary of a paper and its findings. Most scholarly journals include abstracts that accompany published articles. Students should consult some scholarly journals in international studies to familiarize themselves with the standard method for crafting a one-paragraph abstract. Three to four key words should be included indicating the paper’s topic, theoretical framework, and empirical content.

Style

Students may use any accepted style (e.g., Chicago, MLA, etc.) in formatting the paper. Students should ensure, however, that they use whatever style they choose consistently throughout the paper.

Grading and Deadline

Because the main written work for this class is a research paper with an extended period to complete it, assignments handed in late will be assessed a third of a grade penalty for every day after the deadline they are submitted (for example, an “A–” paper handed in one day late will be marked down a third of a grade to a “B+”). Papers are due no later than the start of class on the day they are due (or the equivalent if the paper is due on a day on which class is not regularly held). The only exceptions made will be for serious illness.

Note: Failure to complete any of the drafts of the senior thesis (including the peer editing draft) or the oral presentation shall constitute failure of the course.

Evaluation of Written Work

An excellent paper will demonstrate excellence in the following:

• It will be well written in terms of prose, grammar, and syntax.
• It will be well organized and follow a logical progression of thoughts.
• It will have a clearly stated and cogent thesis.
• Its thesis will be supported by logical arguments.
• Its thesis will be balanced with counter-arguments and/or competing explanations.
• It will cite relevant course readings and other material as relevant.
• It will be illustrated with empirical examples and other factual material as relevant.
• It will have the appropriate scope, i.e., not too narrow or broad in focus.
• It will adopt an analytical (not partisan) tone unless otherwise directed.

Grading Criteria

Generally speaking, when affixing grades to essays and other assignments, the instructor will adhere to the qualitative assessments associated with letter grades as specified in the CLA Catalog:

A = Excellent
B = Good
C = Satisfactory
D = Below Standard
F = Failing

See http://www.willamette.edu/cla/catalog/resources/policies/

Note on Originality (see section on Documentation and Citations above)

The paper must be your own written work. You may not copy, borrow, or appropriate other authors’ work, unless you are doing so in the form of a cited quotation. All references to other authors’ work must be fully documented in the form of citations and/or footnotes, and direct quotes must be indicated as such with quotation marks. Suspected cases of plagiarism will be pursued vigorously and appropriate penalties (including an “F” for the course) will be applied.

Oral Presentation

In their oral presentations students should convey to the rest of the class the themes developed in their papers. The purpose of the oral presentation is to succinctly convey in speech the ideas that are laid out in greater depth and detail in writing. One way to think about the oral presentation is to imagine that you are explaining your project to a reasonably well-educated person who has not taken this particular class. Each section of the paper should be included in the oral presentation (the presentation in most cases will follow the organization of the paper), but technical details (particularly dealing with theoretical material) in most cases should be simplified so that someone who has not necessarily studied the topic of the paper can still make sense of the analytical perspectives that inform the paper’s thesis.

Visual presentation software (e.g., Powerpoint, Prezi) may be used for the oral presentation but is not required. If you do use visual presentation software, remember that text-heavy slides typically are not effective as they distract the audience. Keep it simple. Also, it is each student’s responsibility to make sure files and devices used for visual presentation are compatible with the electronic devices installed in the classroom.

Notes:

¹ Foreign Affairs is the leading journal designed for a readership comprised of individuals in business, government, journalism, law, and education. Unlike scholarly journals written exclusively for professional academics (i.e., college and university professors and graduate students), Foreign Affairs has a wide audience and thus appeals to those who understand international relations from an interdisciplinary perspective.

² A related discipline to Political Science is Sociology which emphasizes relations among humans involving regularized and habituated practices, norms, expectations, conventions, and informal governance.

³ Students can gain access to electronic versions of Foreign Affairs and other scholarly and professional journals using the Hatfield Library online resources logging in with their Willamette accounts.

⁴ It should be noted that because the readership of Foreign Affairs extends beyond academic circles, readers of the journal are less accustomed to scholarly conventions such as extended footnotes.