INDIVIDUAL PROJECT WORK
Emerging Democracies: Challenges And Prospects
Undertake interdisciplinary research on a topic related to the challenges faced by the so-called emerging democracies, i.e. formally democratic states of the developing world that are still in the process of transition from colonial or authoritarian rule to a democratic regime.
Overview
Each student is expected to carry out an individual research project in which they will investigate a selected aspect (e.g. political institutions, civil society, etc.) of the democratic process in a new democracy (former colony), analyse the data and make conclusions. The results are to be presented in the form of a ten-minute PowerPoint Presentation (see the Manual). The project must demonstrate the student’s knowledge of the issue in question and their ability to find reliable sources of information as well as critical thinking, and presentation skills.
Details
Stage 1. Identifying the problem to look into (one week)
■ Decide on the country whose democratic process you would like to investigate.
■ Formulate a research question (the answer to it will be your claim).
■ Think of a working title for the project.
■ Make a preliminary outline or a list of issues to look into.
■ Submit your research proposal in Google Docs, by email, or in hard copy (discuss with your professor in advance).
Stage 2. Researching (two weeks)
■ Find reliable sources of information and investigate the topic of your choice.
■ Articulate the claim you are going to make (the main conclusion of your
findings).
■ Make a list of arguments in support of your claim.
■ Make sure the arguments are substantiated by evidence, i.e. facts.
Stage 3. Preparing a PPP (one week)
Study the guidelines for making presentations in the Manual.
■ Study the parameters and criteria for assessing project presentations in your assessment files.
■ Discuss in class any questions you have left.
■ Prepare a PPP.
■ Do not forget to make a slide with a list of the sources you used (references).
Stage 4. Presenting research
■ Present the results of your research in class.
■ Answer your classmates’ questions.
■ Listen to your classmates’ and professor’s feedback.
■ Reflect on the strong and weak points of your presentation.