Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer;
REQUIRED TEXT: Finsterbusch, Kurt “Annual Editions: Social Problems Fortieth Edition, McGraw Hill Publisher, 
ISBN:  978-1-259-35959-0

SEE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:

At the link below, you will find detailed instructions on how to write your Outline for your Analytical Paper and the paper itself. You will be selecting a topic of choice, either a subject from the text or one you have selected.  I encourage you to select a topic that is more in alignment with your discipline of choice and you will utilize literature appropriate for that discipline. You could select a psychological topic, historical, sociological, etc. If you want to prepare an interdisciplinary paper, you can use materials from one or more disciplines.    This is a very detailed outline that will include the actual information that you will be using in your paper and it should include all citations for materials being use. You will follow the format of the outline that I have provided you bringing in your topic, materials, etc.  Write the outline in such a way that you will be able to write your paper almost directly from it. After I review your outline, I will make comments and return it to you so you may complete your final paper.  Please read through the directions and let me know if you have any questions. 

In your final paper, which will flow from the outline produced for this assignment, you are to select a topic more closely aligned to your discipline of choice.  If you are going to focus your elective classes more heavily on Anthropology, Psychology, History, Sociology, etc. you may wish to select a topic that allows you to explore a subject of interest relevant to your particular discipline and utilize academic literature from that discipline. If you have broad interests and will be taking classes in a variety of social science fields, you may select a topic that is perhaps more interdisciplinary.  In this situation, you will use literature from a variety of disciplines.  The paper that will be written using this outline should be at least 12-15 pages long and include at least 7 additional resources (beside the textbook if utilized).  There is no minimum length for the outline.  It should be as long as is necessary to provide details with facts and corresponding citations.  Once you complete this outline, it should be so detailed and well thought-through that the final paper should flow easily from it.
One description of what an analytical research paper is as follows: 
ANALYTICAL PAPERS also include information from a range of sources but the focus on this type of research paper is in analyzing the different viewpoints represented from a factual rather than opinionated standpoint. The author of an analytical paper may focus on the findings, methodology or conclusions of other researchers and will conclude such a paper with a summation of the findings and a suggested framework for further study on the issue (http://www.personal-writer.com/blog/7-most-popular-types-of-research-papers).
Please utilize the correct writing format for the discipline that you select (as described in previous modules).  If you are doing an interdisciplinary paper, select one format and use it consistently.
OUTLINE DIRECTIONS
I.    Title of Paper – Your title should be descriptive of your topic:  For Example:  “Analysis of the Affordable Health Care Plan in the United States”

II.    Introduction to paper – Your introduction should include something similar to the following:    a. Utilizing Sociological and Political Science literature, this paper will conduct a critical analysis of the  Affordable Health Care Act.  As this is an extremely controversial topic, I will provide arguments focusing on the positive aspects of the Affordable Health Care Act as well as the negatives. 

b. My thesis sentence (or hypothesis) is:  Utilizing a variety of literature from both Sociology and Political Science, I will provide facts and debates on both sides of the argument of whether the Affordable Health Care Act is positively affecting American health care by increasing affordability and reducing inequities between social categories or is sustaining inequities or even creating increased inequality.  

III.    Develop a variety of sub-topics that you will explore in your paper and use separate subtitles for each. Be sure to underline and bold each subtitle and place at the left hand margin.  Your subtitles for my selected topic above could be as follows:

IV.    Description of health care in the United States 
In this section, I would provide facts and statistics on who utilizes healthcare, who benefits the most, which population benefits the least and how the U.S. health care system functions. (I did not provide details here, but I will need to see details in the outline you submit to me).  In the outline and paper you will need to provide me with the citation(s) for the resources both in the body of the paper utilizing whatever discipline formatting you select as well as in an appropriate reference page at the end of the paper.  

V.    Brief Summary of European National Health Insurance
In this section I would provide a brief overview of the European National Health Insurance program including positives and negatives.  (Of course all citations would be included).  I did not give details, but I want you to give details and citations in your outline and paper).

VI.    Positive Attributes of the Affordable Health Care Act
In this section I would provide the positive aspects of the Act including the population (political group, age, gender, race, etc.,) that project the most positive feelings toward it and an explanation of why.  I would utilize any studies conducted, facts, statistics, etc. and all citations.  (I did not give details, but I want you to give details and citations in your outline and paper).


VII.    Negative Attributes of the Affordable Health Care Act
In this section I would provide the negative aspects of the Act including the population (political group, age, gender, race, etc.,) that project the most negative feelings toward it and an explanation of why.  I would utilize any studies conducted, facts, statistics, etc. and all citations.  (I did not give details, but I want you to give details and citations in your outline and paper).

VIII.    Critical Analysis
In this section, I would discuss both sides of the argument comparing and contrasting the positives and negatives as described in the previous sections and begin to tie it all together substantiating both sides with facts and citations.  Although you will mix in your point of view do not use the first person or directly state your opinion in this section.


IX.    Summary and Conclusions 
In this section, provide a summary (two to four paragraphs) of the entire paper and then provide conclusions based on the arguments you have presented.  For conclusions you may then indicate your point of view substantiating it with facts.


The outline that you complete should follow the format above.  Although I did not provide details and citations in my example above, you will need to provide this information in your outline.  The purpose of this outline is for it to be almost as detailed as your final paper, getting the creative juices and critical thinking skills going.  A detailed outline will provide me with an opportunity to provide input to assist you in perfecting your final paper.