Polk Library

Honors 475 - Bauder

Global Issue Research Paper (10–15 pages)

Select a global social justice issue connected to your emphasis area, build a strong research question, and support your argument with at least 10 credible sources.

 

🌍 Global lens
🧠 Analytical question
📚 10+ sources
📝 Discipline style (APA/MLA/etc.)
🎤 Present in class + Social Justice Week

3 Research Steps to a Successful Paper

Quick path to a researchable question
 
Explore and pick a topic
Choose a global social justice issue that resonates personally or professionally.
 
Learn the basics of your topic: Who, what, when, where, why.

You should be able to talk for a minute—without repeating yourself—on your possible topic.

 
TIP: When you participate in research or scholarship, you are entering into an ongoing conversation. You have to listen/read about that conversation before you can find an interesting, relevant question. Many skip this step and end frustrated—you wouldn’t join two strangers’ conversation without knowing what they’re talking about.
 
Find an interesting question

Not too easy, not too fuzzy, not too many parts, not impossible. It should require analysis and lead you toward a

solution or answer (global lens, different layers). Not yes/no Has tension or tradeoffs Researchable in 10–15 pages

Global comparison or system-level lens

 

Optional: Use AI as a brainstorming scaffold (not evidence)

If you use an AI tool, treat it like a brainstorming partner. Verify everything with library sources.

 
Consensus
 
Search and analyze peer-reviewed literature. (Always open and verify articles in library databases when possible.)
 
Sample Prompt for Consensus (fill in brackets)
 
I am an honors student preparing a 10–15 page research paper on a global social justice issue within my discipline. 
My emphasis area/major: [environmental science] The global social justice issue I am interested in is: [climate migration]
 
Please help me:
 
1) Suggest 5–7 narrower, researchable angles with a clear global dimension. 
2) Generate 6–9 analytical research questions (not yes/no).
3) List 5–8 key concepts/keywords + synonyms for each question. 
4) Create 3 simple database search strings using AND + "quotes".
5) Suggest what source types to prioritize (peer-reviewed, UN/NGO, government data). Do not fabricate citations.

 

*Online search tip: Once you identify your core issue and background snapshot, use keywords within specific domains.
Example: malnutrition site:.gov