Due Dates: Friday, November 24, by 5:30 PM

Length of Paper: 5 Pages Maximum

Format: 1” Margins (APA format)

Number all pages (APA format)

Double-spaced; 12-point font, Times New Roman

Step #1 – Topic:  Choose one topic from the following areas of employment law.  Use the cases included in the textbook:

-Race Discrimination in the Workplace

-National Origin Discrimination in the Workplace

-Sex Discrimination in the Workplace

-Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace

-Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

-Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Workplace

-Gender Identity Discrimination in the Workplace

-Religious Discrimination in the Workplace

-Age Discrimination in the Workplace

-Physical Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

-Mental Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

Step #2 – Choose a case pertaining to your chosen topic from the textbook.  

Step #3 – Organize the paper in a modified IRAC method, as follows, being mindful of the performance standards listed below.

I    Introduction – Write a brief historical background of the topic area of law   (approx. 1 page)

I Issue – State the Issue of the case (1 sentence)

R Ruling – State the Court’s ruling of the case (1 sentence) 

F Facts – Describe the pertinent facts of the case (approx. 1 page)

A Analysis – Analyze the case by applying the pertinent facts of the case to the elements of the law and/or theories of the law (approx.  2 – 2 1/2 pages)

C Conclusion – Write a brief summary and concluding remarks (approx. 1 paragraph)

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

Structure and Organization

Clarity of Introduction

Quality of Writing and Adequacy of Case Review

Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Format

Development of Main Points

Clearly states the relevant facts of the case

Applies the facts of the case to the elements/theories of the law 

Quality of Writing and Adequacy of Analysis

Analysis of Case Law and Statutory Developments in the Area

Concluding Summary

Summarizes Key Ideas

Quality of Writing and Adequacy of Summation/Conclusion. 

Teachers guid lines for perfect paper. 

How to Write a Perfect Paper:

Write for your audience (in this case your professor). This means follow their guidance and parameters. Most editors and publishers reject manuscripts that do not explicitly adhere to their guidelines (page length, references, style, etc). Remember, your professors may have a great deal of knowledge about your topic so please don’t write as if they are novices; e.g., avoid, “you should…you can; etc.”. The same concept applies to speaking, by the way. ALWAYS customize your speeches and writing to the listener/ reader. Be respectful, positive, interesting and educational. 

(For research papers) Choose a topic that personally interests you. What challenges re you facing at work? What is going on in the world (or should be) that you are passionate about? Writing an effective paper requires a lot of time so be sure you have the commensurate energy to write right! Never write (or speak) on something that doesn’t interest you because you will bore your audience, too. Topic selection frequently requires a narrower focus to comply with page and length requirements. Please avoid the mistake of trying to solve a very complex set of problems in a single paper. Even book authors set limits by clarifying the scope (see below). 

Start with a clear purpose and scope. Put this in the first paragraph and/or abstract (if abstract is required) — (I do not require abstracts). Many students/inexperienced writers fail this introductory focus so the rest of the paper suffers disorganization and reader confusion. Don’t make your reader guess. The scope previews your subtopics as well as relevant areas you are NOT going to include. There should be no less than two, nor greater than five, subtopics that are clearly indicated by relevant subheadings (left-side justified; first letter of each word capitalized; do not bold, capitalize or enlarge). Think of your subtopics as the main points you want to get across to the reader; and then write everything in support of those main points. Make a compelling case for the reader to absorb your thoughts!

References. Academic writing requires writers to substantiate their thoughts and opinions with experts/published authors (e.g., literature search) so please do so by integrating, synthesizing (combining) and evaluating the best of classical and contemporary (last five years) writers’ thoughts with your own thoughts. Search for counter-evidence/contrary opinion, too, and include opportunities for further research. This demonstrates your critical thinking.

Edit, edit and then edit some more. This is not just for APA-compliance; spelling and grammar; and paper length. It is also to edit for a neatness, standardization, smooth flow and sequencing of substantiated ideas. Can lengthy paragraphs be shortened or replaced by efficient, self-constructed tables? What can be said better, more efficiently? What needs to be expanded? How can creativity be expressed and integrated to make it more interesting and readable? Is the paper mechanically correct/flawless? These tough questions require the writer to make some additional decisions before you hit “save as” and “send”! Rest a few hours (overnight if you can) and review your draft with a clear head/open mind! 

APA Format:

Each week you need to “cite” your work Cite means:  “where did you get your information from?”  Was it a website? A textbook? Or another book?

Here is a great website to help you to learn the correct APA format:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ 

APA expectations: 

i. Students are expected to use the APA format for papers.
ii. You must cite any work that is not your own.
iii. Students are expected to, at a minimum, inform the instructor of where they found  information used in discussion forum or email responses.

Keep in mind too:

Only professional websites maybe quoted. All answers need to be in your own original words and thoughts.  You may find it useful to use resources from the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board.  The Society for Human Resources (SHRM) is another cite with much useful information.