Getting Started

Components of a Research Paper

• Title
• Introduction
• Method
• Literature Review
• Data/Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References

Choosing Your Topic

Consider the following questions

• What do you already know about this subculture? What insiders do you know?
• What kinds of connections do you have to the subculture now?
• How easy or difficult would it be to "enter" this subculture as either an insider or outsider?
• In what ways are you an insider or outsider already?
• What do you hope to find out?

Research Proposal (300-600 words)

• Explain your topic and why it is significant. In other words, what specific questions are you interested in answering and what larger understandings do you expect your findings to illuminate?
• How do you plan on gathering your material? i.e. Who do you plan on interviewing/observing? Will there be any issues in terms of access?