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Writing a Political Science Research Paper

Today, we will be looking at how to write a political science research paper. As a political science student, you will undoubtedly come across term papers or research papers in all the courses you take. Your lecturers may decide to write a research paper as a continuous assessment test or as a part of the final requirement to pass the course.

Besides giving your lecturers to review your knowledge about the course, it also lets you air your opinion on specific issues and address some basic concepts in the study of politics. Not to worry you can always contact us here to help you but lets teach you how to become an expert

In other words, a research paper lets you review and air your views about the concepts that serve as a premise for the work of a professional political scientist. Research papers allow you to ponder on questions like; what is democracy? What prompts people to vote for a particular party over the other? Do people participate in politics based on ideology? What prompts revolution? How do states implement their foreign policies on the international stage? What determines the foreign policies of a nation? And a host of other questions.

 

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Like other disciplines, political science students tend to find it difficult to produce a research paper that satisfies the examiner. Given this, we have provided a simple guide on steps to take to write a good research paper. Indeed, your professors and institutions may have different styles of writing and ideologies; nevertheless, the steps we have discussed below are widely accepted in research writing. so shortly we would teach you how to handle them

 

Understanding the Academic Landscape

Before diving into the technical aspects of writing, it’s crucial to understand the unwritten rules of academia. Your success often depends as much on navigating relationships as it does on your academic abilities. Most lecturers expect regular consultation visits, and building a positive relationship early in the semester can significantly impact how your work is received. As one senior lecturer at the University of Lagos often advises, “Your research journey begins with understanding the human elements of academia.”

The Reality of Supervisor Relationships

Different supervisors have varying expectations and preferences that aren’t written in any official guide. Some key strategies for managing these relationships include:

1. Regular Consultation Protocol

• Schedule meetings during less busy periods (usually early in the week)
• Always arrive with a written progress report
• Keep detailed notes of every feedback session
• Show implementation of previous suggestions

2. Understanding Department Politics : A crucial aspect often overlooked when writing a political science research paper is understanding departmental dynamics. Your choice of topic, methodology, and even citation style can be influenced by departmental politics. For example, if your department has recently emphasized quantitative research methods, incorporating some statistical analysis (even in a primarily qualitative paper) can work in your favor.

 

Starting Your Research Journey

Topic Selection and Initial Steps

As in the original guide, you must start by understanding what the Political science research topic means. There are some topics that are just simply overflogged, your supervisor is totally tired of seeing them, trust me. Get new political science research Topic, check out our curated list of new political sceince topics to write on. However, in the Nigerian context, this goes beyond just academic understanding. Consider these essential questions:

1. Is this topic culturally and politically sensitive in the current Nigerian climate?
2. Are there accessible local case studies and data sources?
3. Does the topic align with your supervisor’s research interests?
4. Can you realistically complete the research with available resources?
5. Does the topic have practical relevance to Nigeria’s current political discourse?

For instance, if you’re researching electoral processes, you’ll need to consider whether you can access INEC data and if your findings might touch on sensitive political issues. As noted on our post about Nigerian Political Development, understanding these nuances is crucial.

QUICK TIP: When you discover your research topic, try to spend quite a while to grasp the meaning of the topic and establish a clear idea of the concepts and issues the topic will address.

Many students tend to jam pack research paper with almost all the information and knowledge they have acquired throughout the semester, believing this will put them in good stead with the lecturer and thus earn them more marks. However, the reality is quite different, dumping all the information you have in the paper doesn’t show your analytical skills. It will only show your lecturer that you attended all lectures, leaving your analytic skills in doubt.

 

The Writing Process

Organization with Local Context

The original advice about keeping your writing simple and clear remains valid, but in Nigerian academia, you need to add these elements:

1. Introduction (First Paragraph): Your opening must now balance universal academic standards with local relevance. For example, if you’re writing about democratization, don’t just cite Western theories – incorporate African political thought and Nigerian historical context.
2. Body Structure: Each paragraph should:

• Start with a clear topic sentence
• Include both international and local examples
• Connect theories to Nigerian realities
• Provide practical applications
• End with a transition to the next point

3. Analysis Section: This is where many Nigerian students falter. Don’t just describe – analyze. For example, instead of just describing voter apathy, analyze how it specifically manifests in Nigerian elections and what unique local factors contribute to it. It is called Data analysis for a reason so be a data analyst

 

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Developing a good research design

To answer your research question, you must have grasped what your research topic is all about. What particular information would be needed to address a particular issue raised by your research topic? Who are the actors involved? What internal or external events will probably affect the research topic?

Where will you get the information you need to address the issue raised?Develop a thesis: One important thing many students overlook in writing a political science paper is overlooking the research thesis. However, the thesis serves as the basis for any research work; these are the assumptions that will likely be accepted or discarded when writing your research paper.Keep it Simple

It is quite important to keep your writing as simple and clear as possible. Your paper should have an introductory paragraph, three substantive paragraphs discussing what your work is all about, your analysis and solutions to the issues raised and a concluding paragraph.

Opening sentence and first paragraph: At this stage, you will introduce your audience to the issue you want to address in your paper. In essence, we mean that someone from another academic field should be able to say what your research is all about and how you intend to address questions raised from your introductory paragraph. Your introductory line should state the position you are taking on the paper.

Submission and Defense Strategies

The Nigerian Defense Process

The defense process in Nigerian universities often involves unwritten rules:

1. Presentation Style:

• Dress formally (this matters more than you might think)
• Show respect to all panel members
• Be prepared for questions about Nigerian applications
• Have backup plans for power outages during presentations

2. Content Defense:

• Know your theoretical framework thoroughly
• Be ready to explain local relevance
• Prepare for questions about methodology
• Have practical recommendations ready

Final Submission Tips

Remember these crucial points:

1. Follow departmental formatting precisely
2. Make multiple copies (power outages can affect printing availability)
3. Submit well before deadlines (accounting for unexpected delays)
4. Keep all submission receipts
5. Maintain backup copies of all documents

Conclusion

Writing a political science research paper in Nigerian universities requires balancing universal academic standards with local realities. Success comes from understanding both the written and unwritten rules of Nigerian academia. Remember, as referenced in our article about Nigerian academic writing, your goal is not just to produce good research, but to do so within the unique context of Nigerian academia.

Whether you’re analyzing democratic processes, investigating policy implementation, or studying electoral behavior, your research should contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s political discourse while meeting international academic standards. By following these guidelines and adapting them to your specific situation, you can navigate the challenges of Nigerian academic research successfully.

 

A research paper is not just to air your opinion but to give your well-structured and informed opinion backed up with evidence and analysis. In political science, conceptual questions do not have a final answer; the purpose of your research is to address an issue and bring up a particular viewpoint. Here a few guidelines on how to write your analysis:

 

Related Resources

1. How Research Influences Policy Making – Connecting your research to policy impact
2. Democracy and Political Participation in Nigeria – Key concepts in Nigerian political research
3. What to Consider When Choosing a Research Problem – Guidance on topic selection
4. The Impact of Politics on the Education Sector in Nigeria – Example of policy research
5. Effect of Political Instability on Implementation of Nigeria Policy – Understanding policy implementation challenges