Choose a social/environmental issue related to business Some general examples: Climate change; Gender or racial inequality; Income inequality; Indigenous issues in Canada; Working conditions/labour issues;

GMGT 1010 – RESEARCH PAPER – FALL 2022

DUE DATE: APRIL 7th by 11:59pm

This term paper should be a culmination of all you have learned in this course. You will be required to conduct original research and develop arguments by integrating course concepts from the readings and lectures. Your paper must:

(1) Be between 2,500 and 3,500 words (not including references)

(2) Use 12-point Times New Roman font (double-spaced)

(3) Conduct research using academic sources (i.e. academic journal articles and books)

(4) Use APA Style formatting (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/)

• NO ABSTRACT REQUIRED
• NO ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY REQUIRED

(5) Include in-text citations and a bibliography of referenced materials

You will submit document IN EITHER WORD OR PDF FORM to the Dropbox labelled “Term Paper” on UM Learn. Late papers will be subjected to 20% deduction for every day, or part thereof, late.

Directions:

(1) Choose a social/environmental issue related to business

Some general examples: Climate change; Gender or racial inequality; Income inequality; Indigenous issues in Canada; Working conditions/labour issues; Animal Rights; Pollution; Intellectual property/patents

*If you have an idea for a topic that isn’t listed, that is totally fine, just speak to me about it first so I can make sure that you are on the right track

**You can make your paper as broad (e.g. climate change) or as specific (e.g. carbon emissions in the Canadian Oil Sands) as you like. In general, it is easy to narrow down your topic to something a bit more specific since it allows you to be more precise with your arguments.

(2) Write a paper that addresses the following:

Part one:

Explain the issue. Please include:

• Why is it important? (Why should we care about the issue)
• How does the issue relate to business?
• What assumptions of capitalism are relevant to this issue? Why?

Part two:

Describe the key stakeholders around the issue. Include:

• How these individuals/groups impact/are impacted by the issue
• How these individuals/groups have tried to address or fix the issue

Part three:

Pick any two big questions we covered in class (CSR, shareholder/stakeholder, short-term/long-term, corporate power) and explain how and why they are relevant to the issue you are examining? Explain your answer in the most convincing way possible.

Part four:

What changes need to be made to address this issue in the future? In your section, please include:

• The integration of course concepts
• The role that business and other stakeholders in implementing these changes
• The possible obstacles or constraints to implementing these changes
• How these obstacles might be overcome

Resources to help

English language resources:

http://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/resources/eal.html

Writing resources:

http://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/

Grading Rubric

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Q: Do I need to have a title page?

A: Yes

2) Q: Can I reference in-class lectures and powerpoint slides?

A: You cannot reference my lectures or the slides. However, most of the course material is taken from the assigned readings (e.g. Textbook, UM Learn readings), so almost all of the slides and the lecture material can be traced to the readings. If you want to reference something from the slides, I suggest you find the reading that the slide is based on and reference that.

3) Q: How many academic sources do you want referenced?

A: 5-10 at a minimum please, but the best papers usually include over 20.

4) Q: What is an academic source?

A: Academic journal articles or books. A good rule of thumb is that if it is listed on Google Scholar it is 98% likely to be considered an academic source by me.

5) Q: Can I reference non-academic sources (e.g. newspaper articles, Stats Canada, websites)

A: Yes, but these non-academic sources cannot be all that you reference in your paper. You need academic sources too.

6) Q: Is the textbook or UM Learn readings considered an academic source for the purposes of the term paper?

A: No – for the term paper you need to get at least five academic sources beyond the course readings. You can still reference the course readings in your paper, but this is not considered one of your academic sources.

5) Q: Should I use sub-headings?

A: Sure, but it is not required. Use sub-headings if you think it will make your paper easier to follow for the reader.

6) Q: Can I go over 3500 words?

A: No. If you do you will be deducted points on the “clear expository writing” section