Child Labor in the United States Prior to the 1930s Research…

Students will be required to write a 6-8 page critical analysis research paper that expands on a historical content area (For example: Black Suffrage, Immigration, Reconstruction/Reconstruction Amendments, The Poor Laws, Progressive Era policies, Womens Suffrage Movements, Lesbian/Gay rights, Childrens rights, etc.) by critically analyzing a specific policy developed to address a past social problem. Students will also need to relate the historical social problem and policy to current events. The paper should be in APA format, and checked for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax.. Assignment meets Core Competencies: 2, 3, 4, 5.

Your policy research paper should include all of the following parts:

Part 1: Thesis paragraph with a clear and concise thesis statement: What is your thesis statement what is your argument and what do you want your reader to know when they are done reading the paper?

Part 2: What is the Social Problem/Issue and population(s) impacted?

Part 3: Describe and critically analyze the policy and/or intervention that was developed in relationship to the social problem. Example questions to consider:

• Why was it created? What was it supposed to accomplish?
• What mechanism(s) of change were used (i.e., voting, lobbying, litigation/courts, marches/protests, strikes/boycotts, civil disobedience, leaving/migration/immigration, war/revolution)?
• Who was in favor of it? Who opposed it?
• Who benefited from it? Who was hurt by it?

Part 4: Analyze role of at least 3 Social Institutions (economics, polity, media, family, etc.). Example questions to consider:

• How was power used?
• What impact, if any, did you topic have on core instituions (i.e., family, religion, and school)? What impact did economics have?
• What roled did economics play?
• What role did governemnt (federal, state, local) play?
• How did the medial cover the social problem and policy/intervention/movement/etc?
• How was the Social Welfare of people addressed (positively or negatively)?

Part 6: How did Societal Values impact your topic (i.e., Democratic Egalitarianism, Protestant Work Ethic, Charity Values, Social Darwinism, White Privilege, Patriarchy, etc.)? Analyze at least 3 of these values.

Part 7: Analyze your topic through a Social Work Values lens. Make sure to address ALL of the Social Work values (i.e., Service, Social Justice, Dignity and worth of the person, Importance of human relationships, Integrity, and Competence).

Part 8: What is the current state of this historical social problem and policy (i.e., does this problem still exist? How is it the same and/or different?)

Part 9: How do you see your research and the knowledge youve gained through this paper helping you as a social worker or helping professional?