Research Question in support of developing a Paper for Political Science course. (I need help selecting a topic and writing outlining my research question for my research paper)

In this course, I will be required to write a paper on a subject related to political science. Each week of this 8 week course, I will be required to hand in the following items in the development, research and production of the paper. Week 1: Research Question Week 2: Thesis Week 3: Annotated Bibliography Week 4: Literature Review Week 5: Outline Week 6: Introduction Week 7: Executive Summary Week 8: Final Paper Week 1 - The Research Question What the professor posted on the "research questions: The Research Question PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT The paper provides an opportunity to synthesize the ideas of others and to conduct original research on a subject that interests you. It gives you the opportunity to do in-depth research on a given topic. The project represents a more detailed investigation on a topic that grows out of your previous courses or your current job. This project gives you the opportunity to come up with original ideas by using primary resources, such as interviews with government officials, laws, and original documents and by synthesizing the ideas of others. MAKING PLANS Experienced researchers know that research comes together when they have a plan, no matter how rough. Before they start they may not know what there are looking for, but in general they know how to get the information they need. Once they assemble the material, they do not just start writing, they make a plan—maybe no more than a sketch of an outline. The following information will help you create, execute and, if necessary, revise a plan that helps you to write a paper that helps you do your best, most original thinking. Writing a paper is not just thinking in writing, but thinking from the point of view of your readers. When you write with others in mind, you give your ideas the attention they need. Thinking in written form requires a higher level of thought and careful attention to detail. If you find a topic that you care about and ask a question that you want to answer, you can elevate your thinking and make this project a truly rewarding experience. Nothing contributes more to a successful research project than your commitment to it. CREATING A RELATONSHIP WITH YOUR READER Your purpose in writing a research paper is not to show how much information you can dig up. This is a big mistake. As a researcher, you have to adopt the role of someone who knows what others need to know and to cast your reader as someone who doesn’t know but needs to find out the answer to your question. I am likely to know less than you about your specific question than you. A research report goes beyond Here are the facts I’ve dug up on the passage on the Affordable Care Act. You go beyond mere data grubbing when you say to your readers, Let me share some information about the Affordable Care Act that I think is really interesting. You might take a bigger step toward focused research when you can say to your readers not just I have information that might interest you, but My information will help you solve a problem you care about. But more typically, an academic community will ask you to address a question that members of the community want to understand better. EXPECTATIONS AND BASIC REQUIREMENTS Originality:You will use 8-10 secondary sources. It is also useful if use some primary sources but this is not required. For a review of the differences between primary and secondary sources, see the link under Course Content (week 3).The use of primary sources can be a time consuming process. You must therefore review the secondary sources before to decide how to incorporate primary sources into your paper. You may go beyond an examination of secondary sources into the realm of primary sources through interviews, observation of policy making and contacts with relevant individuals, agencies and organizations for information. Focus of the Paper: The project focuses on a some aspect of political science. You will make a contribution to the field by using previous research on your topic and adding your own original ideas. The project should not be a historical essay or a theoretical discourse. The project must focus on an issue within the broad area of politics and government. Topic Approval: Although the topic of the project is of your own choosing, it must be approved by me. You may arrive at a topic from another course you have taken, your job, or other interests. The topic may come from an issue you addressed in a term paper or class. The preliminary project idea/research question will have the following elements: 1) what you are writing about 2) what you don’t know about the topic 3) what you want your reader to know about the topic. After you have posted your idea by Friday, a peer will respond to your research idea by Saturday. You you will then respond to a peer's post by Saturday. I will also make comments on your topic in our week one discussion. The goal is for us to learn from others. You will also post your research idea in the proper assignment folder for a grade. If you are "stuck" please show me what you have so that I can provide concrete suggestions on how to help you. Another important piece of advice is not to let problems fester. Always feel free to contact me. From the Syllabus on the final project paper: "The final paper must contain 15-20 pages of content, double-spaced, with standard 1-inch margins and 12-point standard font. You must use APA style for the citations. All papers must use a minimum of five primary and five secondary sources. At least two of your secondary sources must be academic journal articles. Your paper should have a minimum of 10 sources, five primary and five secondary sources. (If you are unfamiliar with this distinction, check out the information here: http://subjectguides.library.american.edu/primary.) Restrict your sources to newspaper articles from major national and international papers, published journals and magazine articles, academic sources, and websites from major organizations and government agencies.. Encyclopedias and dictionaries are not appropriate sources for college level work. Online sources are fine, but they must be authoritative sources. Wikipedia, About.com, and other nonacademic websites are not acceptable sources. (Bear in mind that anyone can submit an article to Wikipedia.) If you are unsure about how to determine whether an online source is a good one, the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University has an excellent resource guide: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/553/1/. If you still have doubts as to whether a source is acceptable, send your instructor an e-mail. Citations: All direct quotes from any source must be in quotation marks or indented and identified as a quotation in APA format. If you have questions about how to do this, consult the reference guides at UMUC's Effective Writing Center. In addition, anytime you use information from a source, even if it is not a direct quote, you must include the source. When you use quotations in your paper, you must cite the source, using the standard APA format. The general rule of thumb for the ratio of original writing to quotes is at least four lines of analysis for any line that you quote. For the most part, you should paraphrase your sources, instead of quoting directly. Remember, as well, that you must cite your source for any sections that are paraphrased or from which you used specific information. Generally speaking, unless the paragraph consists solely of analysis or your own opinion, you should be citing a source (or sources) at the end of the paragraph. If you are unfamiliar with the rules on when and how to cite, consult this website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/."