Writing in the Disciplines: International Studies - Advice from Fellow International Studies Students

Advice from Fellow International Studies Students
(printable version here)

Juliet Lee '12

Don't assume. Be sure to be able to support your claims with ample support from sources, especially primary sources.
For papers that involve controversial issues, be sure to research and understand both sides. This will help in understanding the complexities of the issue and focusing your argument.
Keep up with class readings and note taking. Often times, these readings can come in handy when writing papers.

Behnaz Varamini '10

Be sure to know the political science behind what you are talking about. Do not throw terms around without really understanding what they mean in the given context.
Context! It is very important to research the background of what you're writing about (especially for final research papers). Understanding the background information is beneficial to your analysis and and building your argument.
When researching, be sure to read various sources.
When researching, try to find primary sources. Primary sources provide factual and valid information about the given topic. These documents are free of any manipulation/alteration from an author of a secondary source.
Be sure to take advantage of the library! The research librarians are super helpful. See the UR library website and "Ask a Librarian."
Tip: Always edit. Read your writing out loud to make sure you have explained everything properly. Also, this is a great way to catch grammatical or formating errors. I wish I had done that more.
Meet with your professor early and often. It's important to seek their advice about your topics/research/progression.

Anne Bryant '10

Knowing and mastering Chicago/Turabian citations during freshman year is really useful.
I usually end IS papers by suggesting areas for further research--that's definitely something I did not do prior to taking IS classes.