Paper 2: Hypothesis-Testing Paper
Write a 7-page paper that attempts to explain why two countries differ in terms of a particular
political outcome. For example, you might want to explain why levels of gun violence are so
much higher in the US than in Canada. You can choose any political issue you like, and any
two countries you like, but please make sure that there is a clear difference between the two
countries in terms of the outcome you’re interested in.
Your paper should include the following:
1. A statement of the question you’re going to try to answer (e.g., “Why is the per-capita rate
of gun violence much higher in the United States than in Canada?”)
2. A statement of the hypothesis you’re going to test (e.g., “The absence of strict gun control
laws leads to higher rates of gun violence.”)
3. A careful discussion of evidence that supports (or does not support) your hypothesis. As
you discuss different pieces of evidence, try to show that you’re thinking critically about
how compelling that evidence actually is. For example, ask yourself whether the evidence
is coming from a source that has an interest in promoting one particular narrative, or
whether there might be other reasons to be skeptical of the findings they present.
4. A discussion of one or more alternative explanations that could provide a plausible answer
to the question you first posed. For example, opponents of gun control often suggest that
rates of gun violence are higher in the US because of a lack of mental health services. To
test that alternative hypothesis, you would want to compare data on mental health services
between the US and Canada and ask whether there is a significant difference that could
explain the different rates of gun violence between the two countries.
5. A conclusion that tells the reader whether, on balance, the evidence you’ve discussed
either supports or fails to support your original hypothesis. Keep in mind that you’ll be
judged on the quality of your analysis, not on whether you manage to convince the reader
that the evidence supports your original hypothesis. So it’s OK to conclude that, on
balance, the evidence is more supportive of one of your alternative explanations.
Your paper should be 7 pages long, double-spaced, excluding the title page and bibliography.
Please remember that the comparison of gun control policies between the US and Canada is
just an example—you can choose to write about any political issue involving any two countries
that interest you.
Your paper will be due on Blackboard on Friday November 20 at 5:00pm.
FAQs:
Q: How do I know if the topic I have in mind is going to work well for this paper?
A: Please come and talk to us about it! It’s always a good idea to chat to your TA or instructor
about your plans for a paper like this one. If you can’t make our regular office hours, please
send us an email to set up an alternative time to meet.
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Q: Can I write an essay that compares across more than two countries?
A: No, please focus on just explaining the difference between the outcomes in two specific
countries. While it’s OK to make brief mention of other countries in the course of your analysis,
I’d like you to ensure that your paper focuses squarely on the two countries that you’re
comparing.
Q: Do I need to discuss each of the three theoretical approaches to CP that we’re learning
about in the course (the rational actor, structural, and cultural approaches)?
A: No, there’s no requirement to explicitly tie your discussion to one or more of these
theoretical approaches. But if you see an opportunity to make that connection more explicit,
then please go ahead!
Q: How many hypotheses should I have in the paper?
A: You paper should have one main hypothesis that is focus of your analysis (e.g., “The
absence of strict gun control laws leads to higher rates of gun violence.”). At a later point in the
paper, you’ll want to identify at least one alternative hypothesis that could plausibly provide
another explanation for the outcome you’re interested in (e.g., “The wide availability of violent
video games leads to higher rates of gun violence”). If you like, you can include more than one
alternative hypothesis, but you’re not required to. You can still write an excellent paper that
considers on one main hypothesis and one alternative hypothesis.
Q: How many sources should I cite?
A: There’s no minimum or maximum number, although a good essay will probably include
somewhere around 6-12 sources.
Q: Is it OK to include non-scholarly sources (e.g., news reports, websites, etc)?
A: Yes, it’s OK to include some of these, but please interpret these with care (i.e., think about
any possible issues with the reliability of the data, potential sources of bias, etc). But wherever
possible, try to use scholarly sources.
Q: Which citation style should I use?
A: You can use any of the commonly-accepted citation styles. But please ensure that you’re
being consistent throughout the paper. For help with citing sources, see this guide that the
UAlbany librarians have put together.
Q: Do I need to organize the paper into distinct sections (e.g., introduction, results, discussion,
etc)?
A: It’s entirely up to you. It is a relatively short paper (only 7 pages), so it’s fine if you choose
not to divide it into separate sections..
Q: What should the title page look like?
A: It just needs your name, the name of your TA, and whatever title you’re giving to the essay.
Q: Can I submit a draft of the paper for review before the final deadline?
A: No — I’m afraid we don’t have time to read and comment on drafts, but we’re happy to
meet with you during office hours to discuss your plans for the paper and any questions you
might have about it.
Q: Should I include articles or books in the references that I read, but didn’t cite in the essay?
A: No — your list of references should only include items that are actually cited in the paper.
Q: Is it OK to use first person pronouns in the essay (e.g., “I argue that…”)?
A: Yes — this is fine.
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Q: How strict is the page limit?
A: It is a strict page limit. Please try to your best to ensure that your final paper is no longer
than 7 pages double spaced, not counting the title page and list of works cited.
Q: What about font size, spacing, margins, etc?
A: You should use an 11 or 12-point font with double-spaced text and 1-inch margins.
Q: What happens if I submit the paper late?
A: We’ll be applying a penalty of 10% of the available points for each day that it’s late. If there
are extenuating circumstances (e.g., if you’re off sick of have a family emergency), please
contact Prof. Greenhill as soon as you can.
Q: Am I allowed to ask other people for help with this assignment?
A: This is an individual assignment and we expect the ideas and analysis in your paper to be
your own work. However, we encourage you to meet with your TA or Prof. Greenhill to discuss
your plans for the paper or any problems you might be having. It is also OK to ask someone to
proofread your paper (i.e., check for typos or other writing issues) before you submit it.
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