Discussion Paper IS451
Organizing the content. Discussion papers should include 4 explicit parts, i.e., divide
your papers into the following overt sections (use the following description as a model):
(1) Introduction. Write a paragraph raising a paradox or central question about the topic
of the readings. You must then provide an outline of what you are going to do in the rest
of your mini-essay. Having an explicit agenda, outline or roadmap, however brief, is a
crucial element in social-science writing. You will be assessed in part on the extent to
which you fulfil your promises in the outline (60-70 words).
(2) Synthesis. Provide a brief synthesis of what the author is saying. Ask whether the
book has a clear and significant thesis and methodology. Identify the central questions,
main points, concepts, and/or core arguments. Rather than analyzing all the ideas that the
author presents, you should focus in depth on the most significant aspects of the text,
always defining the key concepts used by the author, including the citation of a specific
page number or providing the author’s most synthetic rendering of the concept(s) by
using a textual quotation. A synthesis is not the same as a summary. The latter is an
attempt to provide an inventory of the entire text. A synthesis is not as easy because it
presupposes that the text has been understood, and focuses on the core, most central
parts. A good synthesis of a text requires an awareness and knowledge of the author’s
style of thinking, not just the particular facts that are presented to support an argument.
Focus on interrogating the texts about their theory and/or methodology, whichever seems
most relevant in a given text, as well as the core argument. DPs with no or few citations
and quotations will get a very low mark, although having lots of cites and quotes does not
guarantee a high mark. Crucially, each and all quotations must be properly linked with
your own wording to make them comprehensible. (250-350 words.)
(3) Assessment. Write a brief assessment of the strengths and/or weaknesses of the
authors’ central arguments or concepts. What is the quality of the author’s research and
sources? Do the authors’ evidence or analysis really support what they set out to do and
their conclusions? How does their viewpoint color the interpretations they make? How
well does the theory and method serve the author(s)? It is important to assess the book
you have read and not the one you would have liked the author to have written. Rather
than merely giving your opinions, your judgements should be constructive, highlighting
the text’s strengths and limitations. I encourage you to be contentious and take a risk by
taking a strong stand that will get debate going in class, and be ready to defend your
stance with relevant evidence and/or analysis. (100-130 words.)
(4) Questions. Finally, provide two discussion questions – and no more than two –
related to the readings. One should be a lingering question whose answer would further
clarify the readings for you, with a focus on theory. The other may be a question on
methods or one that will promote class discussion on some central substantive issue.
Avoid making questions that lead to opinion. What we want is analysis and further
disentangling of concepts. The main overall task of discussion papers is to help us
understand the text, a precondition to assess and discuss its applicability in our seminar.
(30-40 words.)
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