to what extend are crime rates affected by incarceration rates statewide

  • Use subsection headings throughout the paper, such as “Literature Review,” “Methods,” “Analysis and Assessment” and “Conclusion.” Follow APA or APSA style.

 

  • Your final paper should be 5000-7000 words, double-spaced (in Times New Roman, 11 point font, a 5000 word paper is just over 17 pp, a 6000 word paper is around 20 pp, and a 7000 word paper is around 24 pp) and must incorporate the following sections:

 

  1. A title page.
  2. An abstract (150 words).
  3. An introduction (about two pages), which must include (not necessarily in this order, other than the final paragraph):
    1. Some brief background information on your topic.
    2. Your research problem/question/hypothesis.
    3. A short summary of your conclusions.
    4. A final paragraph in the introduction which tells the reader what you will be doing in the rest of the paper (that is, a “roadmap” for the paper).
  4. A literature review (about four to five pages). This is a summary of your secondary source material.
    1. Be sure to revise your original literature review consistent with my comments.
    2. You should clearly state your hypotheses toward the end of your literature review
  5. A methods section (about three pages), which is a revision of your initial methods draft.
  6. An analysis and assessment section (about four pages). In this section you should include a univariate analysis (a measure of central tendency – mean, mode, or median and a discussion of such results) as well as a bivariate analysis (a contingency table (with chi-square test) and discussion of these results. What do each show?
  7. A conclusion (about three pages).
    1. Restate your overall conclusions and briefly discuss what you’ve contributed to the literature (i.e., tie your findings back into the literature).
    2. Where did your research design succeed and/or fail? Remember that it’s fine if part of your project failed.  But you need to reflect upon this issue and discuss it (what may explain it? what should be done differently next time and why, etc.).  Also address the limitations of your research, if any.
    3. Do you have suggestions for future research in this area?
  8. References
    1. Use APSA or APA style.
    2. Should include at least 8 peer reviewed sources (can be more).