REQUIREMENTS: The term paper will count 20% or 30% of your grade as you choose.

SOURCES: Each paper should use at least five separate sources. There should normally be no need to use more than eight or nine. A source does not count unless it is cited in the paper. It is acceptable to use some "popular" sources (e.g. newspapers, news magazines, general internet sites or the like) but you must use at least four "scholarly" sources (e.g. books or articles in academic journals, sources of original data, etc.)

STYLE: Term papers must be typed, double-spaced, with a 1 1/2 inch margin on the left side. Seven to ten pages  including citations is the prescribed length. Papers MUST include citations. Quotations require citations as do facts which are not common knowledge and ideas which are not your own. Thus if you paraphrase an article instead of quoting it, you must still cite it. Citations MUST indicate the relevant page numbers. Citations may be placed in the text, at the bottom of the page, or at the end of the paper but the first time any particular source is cited full bibiographic information must be provided. Articles appearing in books must be cited by the author of the article as well as the editor of the book. Term papers with improper citations will be returned for correction with a 20% grade penalty! Please do NOT include a bibliography which lists sources you have not cited. If you have any doubts about the appropriate citation style, please contact the instructor.  A detailed guide to the style in which papers in this course (and other courses in our department) MUST be written (including citations) is available on the course home page.  Please consult that guide carefully during the preparation of your paper.

EVALUATION:  Term papers must be your own original work.  They are evaluated on the basis of their style and clarity of expression, the quality of their research, and their use of logic. Grades do not depend on papers having the "right answers." Rather they depend on papers being well written with appropriate citations, on the topics being well-researched, and on arguments which are logically based on the research. The final draft of the paper must be consistent with earlier approved work and changes which the instructor requested in earlier work must have been made.

SCHEDULE: A written "topic" for your paper must be submitted for approval by January 28. By February 20, you must submit an outline of your paper and a list of sources to be cited in the paper.  By March 13, you must submit a one-page description of the thesis or theme and conclusions of your paper. You may, if you like, submit a first draft of the paper by April 5 (but not at any time later). The paper itself is due on April 15. LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.  Failure to submit a final draft of the paper by the beginning of class on the due date will result in failure in the course.  Hand your paper in early and avoid unforeseen mishaps.

At each stage, you must hand in all of the previous approved work you have done. Each approved stage is a contract between you and the instructor so once you have agreed to use a source, you must use it and you may use only sources that have been approved. Once you agree to cover a particular topic, you must cover it and your paper must be organized as your outline indicated it would be organized. IN YOUR FINAL DRAFT YOU MUST CITE ALL OF THE SOURCES YOU PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AND ONLY THOSE SOURCES. When you submit the final paper, submit all of the preceding work with it. Please direct any questions to the instructor.

MEETING WITH INSTRUCTOR:  Each of you will meet with the instructor to discuss your paper after it has been returned to you.  You should come to that meeting having made any corrections or changes that the instructor has indicated on the paper and prepared to answer questions about the paper.  You must bring with you the final draft of the paper and all earlier work submitted.  You must also bring a copy of each source you used in writing the paper.  If it is a book or article from a library, bring a photocopy of the title page of the book and of the cover of the journal and the first page of the article, as appropriate.  If it is something from the internet, print it out (if it is too long, print out just the first page).  If it is an article you copied, please bring the entire copy.  The instructor will examine all such material and it must be provided in order for you to receive credit for your paper.

TYPICAL PAPER TOPICS: The topics listed below are just by way of example. They are NOT "suggested" topics for your paper. Rather they are illustrations of the types of topics that might be appropriate.

A comparison of two different systems of job evaluation

An analysis of the validity of certain personnel selection instruments

The use and impact of merit pay systems

The role of violence in labor conflict from 1880-1896 (or some other time period)

The impact of the Family and Medical Leave Act on the costs of employment or on the supply of labor

The impact of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act on the job security of employees

An analysis of the operation of the "reasonable accommodation" standard under the Americans with Disabilities Act

The impact of changes in job security on employee loyalty

The impact of Equal Employment Opportunity or of Affirmative Action on equality or efficiency at work

The effectiveness of sexual harassment laws

An analysis of changes in fringe benefit packages over the last thirty years

An analysis of the decline in unionization and collective bargaining in general or in one particular industry

An analysis of the UPS strike (or some other strike)