Reference no: EM132668974
The Research Paper assigned in this course allows students to delve into one aspect of the formulation and use of power in depth. The Research Paper assignment is divided into a number of different exercises designed to keep students on track, with the expectation that students will give a consistent amount of attention to the paper as the course proceeds.
The Research Paper will be developed over five parts, as follows:
Part 1: Topic selection (Unit 2)
Part 2: Annotated Bibliography (Unit 3)
Part 3: Essay Subtopics (Unit 6)
Part 4: Introductory Paragraph (Unit 7)
Part 5: Final Draft and Submission (Unit 8)
Research Paper - Part 1: Topic Selection
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this assignment, students will be able to
identify their essay topic/thesis to allow them to start researching and writing.
Instructions
For this non-graded assignment, you are to choose your research essay topic and inform your instructor of your choice.
Research Paper Essay Topics
The following is a list of suggested topics for your research paper. Many of these topics are amenable to exploration by examples of power in particular instances. The intention of the research paper is to get you to explore a narrow topic in depth, and so you might wish to look at an even narrower aspect of any of the topics listed. If you wish to alter any of these topics, however, please discuss it with your instructor before or upon submitting your essay topic below.
The primary role of education systems is about sorting for a pyramidal power system. Discuss.
Are social welfare systems designed as a means of social control based on the power principle of cooptation? Discuss.
Is there a reason to think that the excessive instinct to power in some individuals is compensation for other forms of individual inadequacy?
In decision-making theory we classify non-decisions as decisions. Is the same true for power? That is, not exercising power gives power? Discuss.
What explains charismatic leadership? Should we consider charisma a power instrument?
Is the other side of power "followship"?
Why do people often actively choose to believe lies?
How does status discrepancy or people holding different statuses concurrently translate into power?
Are ideology and false consciousness - sometimes referred to as "invisible power" - really power instruments? Discuss.
What is the power of big media and how has it changed given technological changes in the last twenty years?