Final paper | GEN 499 General Education Capstone | Ashford University

Global Societal Problem, Argument and Solution

Prepare: Prior to beginning work on this assignment, please review this Sample Final Paper GEN499 (attached) for additional guidance on the expectations of this assignment 

The topic of your essay needs to be the following global societal problem: 

 Poverty and income inequality 

Reflect: Based on the topic that you have chosen, you  will need to use critical thinking skills to thoroughly understand how  this topic can be a global societal problem and determine some logical  solutions to the problem. 

Write: This Final Paper, an argumentative essay, will  present research relating the critical thinker to the modern, globalized  world. In this assignment, you need to address the items below in  separate sections with new headings for each.

In your paper, 

Identify the global societal problem within the introductory paragraph. Conclude with a thesis statement that states your proposed solutions to the problem.

Describe background information on how that problem developed or came into existence.  Show why this is a societal problem.   Provide perspectives from multiple disciplines or populations so that  you fully represent what different parts of society have to say about  this issue.

Construct an argument supporting your proposed solutions, considering  multiple disciplines or populations so that your solution shows that  multiple parts of society will benefit from this solution.  Provide evidence from multiple scholarly sources as evidence that your proposed solution is viable.

Interpret statistical data from at least three peer-reviewed scholarly sources within your argument.  Discuss the validity, reliability, and any biases.  Identify the strengths and weaknesses of these sources, pointing out  limitations of current research and attempting to indicate areas for  future research. (You may even use visual representations such as graphs  or charts to explain statistics from sources.)  Evaluate the ethical outcomes that result from your solution. Provide at least one positive ethical outcome as well as at least  one negative ethical outcome that could result from your solution.  Explain at least two ethical issues related to each of those outcomes. (It is important to consider all of society.)

Develop a conclusion for the last paragraphs of the essay, starting with  rephrasing your thesis statement and then presenting the major points  of the topic and how they support your argument.  

The Global Societal Problem, Argument, and Solution Paper 

Must be 1,750 to 2,250 words in length and formatted  according to APA style.  

Must include a separate title page with the following: 

Title of paper

Student’s name

Course name and number

Instructor’s name

Date submitted

Must utilize academic voice.  

Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.  

Must use at least eight scholarly sources. 

Source Document Requirements: 

Multimedia sources (such as videos) may be used, but no more than  two such sources may be used. If multimedia sources are used, they must  be authored and distributed by credible sources, such as universities,  law schools, medical schools, or professors, or found in the University Library.  

Government sources may be used, but no more than two such sources  may be used. Examples include whitehouse.gov, state.gov, usa.gov,  cdc.gov, and so forth. These websites can be used to make a stronger  point about your proposed solution within the argument.  

Where documents are used for source materials, those must be  peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles, and academically published  books. Popular media sources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television  and radio shows, etc.) must not be used. Materials from advocacy groups  (e.g., Greenpeace, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for  Women, etc.) must not be used. 

Sites such as ProCon.org and Wikipedia must not be used.  

Religious texts must not be used.  

Must document in APA style any information used from sources. 

Must have no more than 15% quoted material in the body of your essay  based on the Turnitin report. References list will be excluded from the Turnitin originality score.  

Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style. 

Your paper should include academic sources that explain multiple sides of the issue. 

Your interpretations of the evidence should be objective and state  the conclusions and theses presented in the evidence clearly and fairly.

Your paper should place the various forms of evidence in relation to  one another and demonstrate why one form or perspective is stronger  than the other positions that one could take on the issue.

Your paper should point out the limitations of current evidence and attempt to indicate areas for future research.