The assignment is a theoretical critical analysis
Minimum 1500 words. Minimum 6 sources five of which must be academic
To complete the assignment I will need you to:
The purpose of this assignment is to identify a theory, critical concept, or seminal work that
can be used to analyze/understand/discuss the topic you have chosen to focus on for your
research paper. In other words, this assignment prepares you for writing your research
paper.
To complete the assignment, you will need to do the following:
1. Identify a theory, critical concept, or seminal work of relevance.
2. Obtain and read a segment of the primary text – see notes below.
3. Identify published research and other academic literature that describes and
explains, critiques and/or applies the theory/critical concept/seminal work to specific
context.
4. Relate the research you have done to your own topic.
In order to develop a meaningful understanding of the primary text you are reading, it might
prove helpful to consult online popular sources (via google and youtube) that explain the
concept in a more accessible way. This, however, does not mean that you do not need to
read the primary source. The popular resources should act as an aide to your reading and
not a substitute for a deep and thorough reading of the original text.
Your paper should include the following:
A. An explanation of the theory, critical concept, or seminal work of relevance.
Once you have developed an understanding of the concept, based on your
reading of the primary text and online research of popular and scholarly
sources, write an explanation, in your own words, which references the
portions of the primary text you focused on.
B. A discussion of other scholarly research which has reinforced, critiqued or applied
this research to a specific context.
C. A detailed analysis of how the research above is relevant to your own topic.
You will be looking at research which is not about “topics”, but rather about
behavior, processes and structures. The same theory/critical concept/seminal
work can provide a basis for understanding in many different settings.
Therefore, in your paper you will need to explain in depth how this research
could be relevant to your particular research question(s).