Your topic statement and abstract should be about a page in length and accomplishes two important tasks. First, it identifies your research topic and explains it – one to two paragraphs. Second, it explains what you intend to use as sources and support for your research, as well as the main ideas that you intend to discuss in the paper – probably two to three paragraphs. Based on the research paper topic and abstract previously submitted each student is expected to develop a research paper on a topic of their choosing that is related to the topical material of the course. While the focus / topical matter of the paper is entirely of the student’s choosing, there are certain expectations regarding the way that content is presented, organized, structured and reported. 1. The paper should include the following sections: a) Title and Cover page (1st page); b) Abstract (2nd page); beginning on the 3rd page, c) Introduction; d) Conclusion and Summary, following the body of your argument and analysis; and e) Works Cited (last page). 2. The length of the research paper should be not less than 6 pages of text – double spaced (not including title page, abstract, or works cited page). 3. In-text citations (call outs) for reference material are required, as is a Works Cited page. 4. Students must use ASA format for the paper, citations, and works cited. 5. Written work should follow all normal conventions of professional writing in Sociology.