1.

Papers should be about 1,200-1,500 words or about 5 pages of text (not including

references); double-spaced, 12 pitch font.

Number your pages and include a cover page

with a title.

2.

You may pick a topic from the following list, or choose your own topic in consultation with

me (contact me by

October 31

if

you are proposing your own topic). Additional topics may

be suggested in class. Your topic should be something that interests you!

3.

Papers should provide an overview of a particular topic, based on reading relevant literature.

Your discussion must go beyond what was covered in class. You may also interview

someone, but

you must talk to me about this first

.

4.

You are expected to have

6-8 good sources, at least 2 of which should be from academic

journals

. Choose carefully and consult me if you are in doubt. I expect you to use academic

sources (journal articles, books, research reports from reputable organizations, government

documents). Restrict your use of newspaper/magazine articles and non-refereed internet

sources. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source (though it may be used to find other sources).

Include recent publications (since 2013) whenever possible. I expect you to consult the

‘Additional Articles’ folder and web links on Brightspace for relevant material and check the

government sources identified in the assignment or in class.

In addition, at least

two items

should be ones you found on your own.

Use the library Research Resources Databases and

ask for help.

I am willing to review your source list and provide suggestions/comments

up until November 5

th

(email it to me, or bring it to office hours).

5.

Papers

must

include citations throughout the text

and

a complete reference list at the end.

Use the

APA style

(parenthetic citation method) standard in social sciences for in-text

citations (author, date, page; in brackets) and reference list at the end. Include explanatory

footnotes or endnotes if needed. For internet sources include standard reference information

(author, date, title, organization etc.) where possible. Do NOT just put down a URL. Any

material taken from another source,

whether or not it is a direct quote

, must have a citation.

Quotes must be in quotation marks or indented (if long). Tables taken from another source

must include a citation for

that

source. Include page numbers for quotes and other specific

information like tables. Please see the Writing Centre (

www.smu.ca/academic/writingcentre

)

and Library for handouts and on-line resources on referencing (including the Sobey School

of Business Style Manual, which uses the APA style – on Brightspace under ‘Term Paper’).

6.

You must use your own words. Papers will be submitted to

Turnitin.com

to help identify

material which is not properly cited or is directly copied. Plagiarism will result in a

recommended

zero

grade for the paper (see the course outline and the

Academic Calendar

for

the University policy and process on plagiarism and the Academic Integrity booklet posted

on Blackboard under ‘Term Paper’). Examples of plagiarism include using a paper written

by another student, copying material from any published or unpublished source without

proper in-text citation, and recycling your own paper from another course (unless you have

prior permission from

both

instructors).

7.

Papers are due

November 18

th

(to Turnitin, plus a hard copy to me)

.

Late papers will be

penalized

.5 point per day

(out of 20).

8.

Papers will be evaluated equally on three aspects: Research (collecting information),

Analysis (organization and synthesis of information, clarity of your argument) and Writing

(grammar, spelling, references, etc.). Consult the Writing Centre if you need advice.

S

UGGESTED

T

OPICS

1.

Discuss broad-based initiative(s) to improve earnings, such as the $15/hour minimum wage

movement and/or the living wage movement. Examples? Impact? Why are they popular

today? Role of unions?

2.

Review the issue of sexual harassment in the Canadian military, including the findings and

recommendations of the External Review into Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment in

the Canadian Armed Forces (Deschamps report, 2015)

and

follow-up initiatives and

evaluations. See also the Stat Can study of sexual misconduct in the armed forces.

3.

Provide an overview of

one

union in Canada in terms of their challenges and initiatives,

relating this to issues discussed in the course.

4.

Examine the status and challenges faced by women in

ONE

particular type of work in

Canada

(e.g., women in management, trades, academia, accounting, law, STEM fields,

military; self-employment/entrepreneurship…). You may choose another country, with

permission.

5.

Examine the status and challenges faced by

visible minorities

in the Canadian labour

market. You may focus on one group.

6.

Examine the impact of children on women’s earnings (see articles on the ‘mommy’ or

‘motherhood’ gap). Include a discussion of policies/practices that might reduce this gap.

7.

Review research on earnings differentials based on sexual orientation (compared to

heterosexual). Note: findings differ for men and women – you may focus on one group if you

want.

8.

If Canada is not your home, apply some aspect(s) of the course material to your own country.

Please consult with me on this.

9.

Review research on how well immigrants do in the Canadian labour market compared to

Canadian born workers and earlier cohorts of immigrants.

10.

Discuss the challenges in Atlantic Canada for attracting immigrants and give an overview of

the Atlantic Immigration Pilot project and its success thus fa