As with the final paper, the introduction should set up a history/background of the topic, which can include a discussion of the impact of the topic (who/what does it affect) and a broad discussion of social science methods. You should also introduce the three major themes that you will be discussing in the literature review. For your conclusion, recap your overall discussion and the major points of the literature review. What does this tell us about your topic overall? How does the information fit together to portray the state of American culture? Reestablish the impact of the topic. Also, cover any future directions that research should move in. Are there unanswered questions? Unstudied populations?
Avoid using the first person. Do not say, I want to discuss, or similar things. Focus on the topic and the themes, not you or your experiences.
For your final paper, you should have the following sections included: title page, abstract, introduction, literature review, conclusion, and bibliography. You should have at least ten to fifteen academic sources for your final paper, though you can have more. You should prepare for that discussion with 5 academic articles(peer-reviewed) related to the special topic.
Possible lengths for each section should be around:
Introduction and Background: 1-2 pages
Literature Review: 7-10 pages
Conclusion: 1-3 pages
Remember: the lengths of each section can vary and these are just general ideas of where they should fall. Remember also that you must be both at least 10 pages AND 3,000 words in your final draft. If your paper is 10 pages, but under 3,000 words, you will need to add. Your title page, abstract, and bibliography do not count toward the total page and word counts.
