Research Paper
The paper must be 5-10 typed, double-spaced pages in length with standard, one inch margins all around and 12-point, Times New Roman font. Otherwise, general formatting should follow APA style. Cover and reference pages do NOT count in the 5-10 page requirement. Remember this is not an opinion piece but an academic literature review. Do not use 1st or 2nd person pronouns anywhere in your paper, third person only.
“Whistle-blowers” have gained more publicity in recent years for their role in holding government accountable. Find a recent case of a government employee or a private employee working in a government-related post and follow that person’s experiences, from the first uncovering of the situation to the final resolution. Evaluate how the various agencies and courts handled the investigation and suggest its impact on future potential whistle-blowing by others.
Preparation Guidelines for the Research Paper Literature Review
Each of the items in BOLD must be listed as a heading in your paper. If a question/issue does not apply, please explain why. The final product must include the following:
Cover Page (consult an APA style guide)
• Introduction (1-2 pages in length)
o Brief summary and background of the main issues. What does the reader need to know to be able to understand the main issues?
o What are the goals, desired outcomes, conflicts?
o Why are the goals, outcomes, conflicts important?
• Literature Review (2-5 pages in length)
o In depth overview of the issues.
o Compare/contrast, discuss opposing views, alternatives.
o What are the viewpoints of researchers, policy makers, think tanks, industry associations etc. that are interested in your issue? What were their conclusions?
• Conclusion (2-3 pages in length)
o Analyze what you have learned and inform the reader.
o What policy or programmatic recommendations might emerge from your evaluation?
• References
o Must be in APA style, not all citation generation programs will produce a correct APA reference page, you must double check.
