Writing a Research Paper in Political Science 5/e

Dr. Lisa A. Baglione is a professor in the Department of Political Science and a member of the International Relations Program at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Currently, Dr. Baglione also serves as the co-director of the Gender Studies Program. During her career, Dr. Baglione has conducted research in five areas, and while they are varied, she has benefited from the ways that insights from each have interwoven: negotiations between adversaries, authoritarian transformation, peacebuilding, gender in politics, and pedagogy. She has published two other books, To Agree or Not to Agree: Leadership, Bargaining, and Arms Control with University of Michigan Press and Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods, now in its fourth edition, with Sage.

List of Features Preface About the Author Chapter 1: Do You Really Have to Write A Research Paper Now That There's Artificial Intelligence (AI)? What is a Research Paper? A Definition and a Few Helpful Metaphors Writing a Research Paper Now that AI is Ubiquitous Using AI as a Coach, Not a Drug What Research Paper Writing Entails Notes Chapter 2: Getting Started: Finding a Research Question Characteristics of a Good Topic Making a Topic a Question Revising Your Question Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 3: The Annotated Bibliography: Finding Scholarly Sources and Properly Summarizing and Classifying their Arguments Finding Conceptual Sources that Answer Your Research Question Writing Summaries without Plagiarizing and Using Quotes Improperly Grouping Your Sources and Producing the AB Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 4: The Literature Review: Explaining and Analyzing the Scholarly Debate Understanding the Literature Review Writing the Literature Review Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 5: The Thesis, Model, and Hypothesis: Precisely Specifying Your Argument Three Ways to Represent an Argument Applying These Insights in the Thesis or M&H Sections Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 6: Revising and Editing: The Research-Writing-Thinking Spiral Revising and Editing: Your Chance to Curate Your Work Making Yourself a Better Writer and Communicator Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 7: The Research Design: Your Plan and Justifications Planning for Your Research Research Design for Hypothesis-Driven Research The Research Design: Two Examples Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 8: Evaluating the Argument: The Analysis and Assessment Section Qualitative Analysis Mixed (Qualitative and Quantitative) Analysis Quantitative and Statistical Analysis Practical Summary Exercises Notes Chapter 9: Bringing the Paper Together in Essential Ways: The Conclusion, Introduction, Title, Abstract, and the Utility of a Presentation Considering the Significance of and Limitations on Your Findings: The Conclusion Writing a Good Introduction A Last Element in Attracting Readers: Developing an Appealing Title Almost Done: Writing an Abstract and Giving a Presentation Are You Done? The Joy (and Continued Responsibilities) of Finalizing Your Draft Practical Summary Exercises Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

An easy-to-follow and even easier to understand, well-written book on an often dry topic: how to do well what we value most. A gem that students and instructors will appreciate consulting and hopefully following. -- Professor Nikolaos Zahariadis * Review * Every instructor who has been tasked with teaching political science research to undergraduates knows how challenging it can be. Thankfully, Lisa Baglione's textbook provides a rigorous and comprehensive step-by-step approach to guide students through this challenge, and does so using approachable, caring, and motivating language. -- Professor Sebastien Lazardeux * Review * Lisa A. Baglione's Writing a Research Paper in Political Science is an indispensable resource for any senior seminar capstone course. Its clear, step-by-step approach demystifies the research and writing process, guiding students from topic selection to final draft. Baglione's practical advice and comprehensive coverage make it an essential tool for developing strong research skills and producing high-quality political science papers. I highly recommend it for both students and instructors alike. -- Professor Shannon McQueen * Review * A very useful guide for a variety of research writing, especially for upper-level undergraduate courses. This source has been through various editions and remains a mainstay in the political science discipline because it offers specific examples and models that are very straightforward for researchers. -- Professor Jonathan Wharton * Review * For many undergraduates, the process of writing a research paper in political science is daunting. Baglione has written an essential text for students in this situation. She breaks down the paper into manageable sections, utilizes clear examples from a variety of relevant topics, and uses accessible language for students of different levels to comprehend. -- Professor Marc. S. Polizzi * Review *