Help with research paper!

[primetime]

So i'm doing a high-school 5 page research paper over why Communism is the better choice over Capitalism, I have the obvious topics such as favouring the rich, leading to natural hierarchy of classes, and the royal-esque privileges given to big businesses. What are some topics that would be interesting and intriguing to include?

[G4b3n]

If I were you, I would try to come at the topic from a different angle. The vast majority of communists do not view communism as a "better choice" than capitalism. Much like capitalism was not a better choice over feudalism, it was simply the most logical social system to be born out of the one that preceded it. Do some research in the two most dominant areas of communist thought (Marxist and anarchist) and then try to lay out a thesis that fulfills your paper requirements.

[piet11111]

Obviously the whole labor exploitation should be the main drive but seeing how a lot of people are concerned about the environment it might be interesting to do a bit about how a centrally planned economy that doesnt have a profit motive is the only way to enforce cleaner production methods.
And to invest in technology's that under capitalism would mean the end of powerful lobby's like oil.

With capitalism it pays to do the absolute minimum to produce cleanly and even then breaking regulations is barely checked and any major violation will be a fine that is barely enough to put a dent in the money saved by breaking those rules in the first place.

This might be an interesting topic that doesn't get much attention.

[Cliff Paul]

Just cite Albert Einstein's "Why Socialism" repeatedly

[DOOM]

If I were you, I would try to come at the topic from a different angle. The vast majority of communists do not view communism as a "better choice" than capitalism. Much like capitalism was not a better choice over feudalism, it was simply the most logical social system to be born out of the one that preceded it. Do some research in the two most dominant areas of communist thought (Marxist and anarchist) and then try to lay out a thesis that fulfills your paper requirements.

Communists critique the moralist approach, which says that communism is more moral than capitalism, as taking moral into account is completely useless for an analysis that claims to be materialist.
However, living conditions have improved during the transition from feudalism to capitalism.

[Invader Zim]

So i'm doing a high-school 5 page research paper over why Communism is the better choice over Capitalism, I have the obvious topics such as favouring the rich, leading to natural hierarchy of classes, and the royal-esque privileges given to big businesses. What are some topics that would be interesting and intriguing to include?

Well, I'll leave others to suggest topics. However, after eight years of reading and marking undergraduate essays I have some generic tips that will materially enhance any essay. Obviously, you're at school and my students are a little older and at a rather 'higher' stage of their education, but the same principles apply. An essay either does the job or it doesn't. So, these are my tips, and points 1-4, 6, are probably the most relevant, but the latter four may well also help:

First, any research essay should be limited in scope. Five (not '5') pages is approximately 3,000-3,500 words in single-spaced, point 12 Time New Roman. This is actually rather long - longer than most undergraduate essays (usually around 2,500 words each) - but that still is not very much to play with. So, you need to pick three, perhaps four at a push, key themes to discuss. All essays should be thematic, because this is the best way to construct an argument as it allows you demonstrate key points of continuity across multiple different seemingly superficial themes. It also allows you to weigh a variety of evidence and test multiple theoretical frameworks.

Second, your argument needs a sensible hypothesis, that you test throughout your essay. Simply suggesting that 'communism is better than capitalism' is not really satisfactory. You will swiftly run into the question of definition: how does one define 'communism'/'capitalism'? What is meant by the term 'better'? Better in which context? So, you need to set out the parameters of your discussion and analysis.

Third, you need to construct an essay structure. The simplest means of doing this is:
- Introduction (scene setting, general hypothesis, outline of key debates / writings on the topic, the direction of your argument, i.e. what is your conclusion). The introduction is usually, along with the conclusion, the most important section of an essay and should comprise approximately ten percent of the essay. So, make sure it shines. You should then outline each of your main thematic points in turn and each point should be structured like a mini-essay (see below). Finally, you need to conclude your essay, and this should briefly summarise the essay before concisely arguing your ultimate conclusion. The conclusion should also be around 10% of the essay.

Fourth, each theme selected requires careful structure. This should start with a mini-introduction, outlining the key points, and a potted scene-setting history. You should then move on to discussing the different interpretations of the same issue from that scholarly literature which you have read (wikipedia is not a valid source). You should then marshal evidence to support the argument you intend to make. This does not mean ignoring counter-arguments/evidence or sitting on the fence. When you encounter arguments and evidence which contradict your conclusion you need to weigh that evidence: is it sufficiently important that you need to recalibrate your argument? Alternatively, is it insufficiently significant, explained by context, or has been misinterpreted? Regarding, the views of scholars, with whom you are engaging, you will doubtless again find disagreement. It is important, again, to weigh scholarly opinion. It is important, then, to summarise the scholar's view accurately (but concisely - perhaps in a sentence or two) and, if you agree or disagree with them say so (though never in the first person - it just looks shit). You should then move on to your evidence, which you should outline systematically and in as much detail as space will allow. Finally, you should conclude the section with a short summary explaining how the evidence supports the conclusion which you have reached.

Fifth, every time you utilise a point that you have read from your sources, reference it using your school's referencing style (usually Harvard or Chicago). If they don't have one, or it isn't expected, do it anyway - it looks the dog's bollocks. If you are unaware of how to reference, follow the following footnote system: When you want to include a reference insert a footnote (an option in MS Word) and format as follows:

Author Name, Title of Publication in italics (city of publication, year), p. page number [pp. if multiple pages].

Thus:

Ian Kershaw, The Nazi Dictatorship: Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation (London, 1985), pp.48-49.


Sixth, be sure to proof-read your work. There is nothing more annoying than correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation. So, in the case of your post 'over' and 'on' are not synonymous, and commas should not be used at random or substitute for other punctuation.

Seventh, include a bibliography. It should include all the scholarly sources you have utilised, be listed alphabetically, and include all the information listed in your footnote save page numbers and the author's first name (which you reduce to a single letter and place subordinate to surname). Thus:


Kershaw, I., The Nazi Dictatorship: Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation (London, 1985).

Eighth, your bibliography and research generally should be as substantial as you can reasonably make it. I don't know what they ask for in US High Schools, but if UK undergraduates submit an essay of 2,500 words with less than half a dozen serious scholarly items on their bibliography then they aren't likely to get a good grade. Doing the research is at the heart of writing a research essay. It's in the title. Quite often student's bleat that they couldn't find the books - which in your case, not being at a university is forgivable - but in the age of the internet is a worthless excuse at their level. However, you will, doubtless, be able to find some e-books on google books and google scholar.

Anyway, hope that helps. These are, basically the instructions I give to my undergraduates. Most of them ignore them and then wonder why they didn't do well.