Your research paper assignment calls for you to demonstrate your grasp of the concepts covered in the course related to course specific topics or issues of particular interest to you such as the use o

Your research paper assignment calls for you to demonstrate your grasp of the concepts covered in the course related to course specific topics or issues of particular interest to you such as the use of social media in the field of emergency management and / or crisis communications.

Your research paper is worth 30% of your final grade. It should not exceed 20 double spaced typed pages (Minimum 10 double spaced, typed pages) and should include a title page and a reference page (an abstract is optional) – none of which count toward the page total.

American Psychological Association (APA) style, the most recent edition of the APA manual, is the standard for formatting and documenting sources and is indicated for use in this assignment. Work is required to have in-text citations and proper references. APA assistance can be obtained at: 

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. Again, APA format your work per the most recent edition of the APA manual.

PLEASE DO NOTE AND MAKE USE OF THE 'WRITING ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONS' DOCUMENT ATTACHED BELOW

Your work must have a demonstrable and clearly recognizable thesis. Papers without a clear thesis will generally receive no higher than an average grade as will papers without a clear analysis of underlying ideas standing in support of the thesis.

Do recall that "first person" writing is not appropriate in formal writing and papers containing first person writing will again receive no higher than an average grade.