Research Paper Assignment

Overview: Complete a research paper based on one (or more) of the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program reports or a local incident or incidents that impacted on the way the fire service "does business." Do not use any of the reports we covered in class.

As a guide, consider the following questions. What was the effect of this death on the fire service as a whole? Was the effect permanent? Did it produce legislation? How did it affect your department? Where are legislation and legal cases going in this area? How did it change, or not change your own department? Insure that you review what impact this has had on SOP's, procedures, rules and regulations were in place to prevent this. Was ICS functioning? What changes have been made and what additional ones would you recommend to improve safety procedures in your department?

I. The Research/Position Paper:

Subject: The topic of your research paper must be approved by the instructor. Your research paper must reflect your own original thoughts, even though the issues may have been previously presented elsewhere.

Format: The research paper will be 10-12 text pages long using Ariel or Times New Roman 12 point font and double-spaced throughout. The cover page, bibliography, footnotes / endnotes do not apply as text pages. Include a cover page with the title of the paper and the student's name. The research paper must include a bibliography of at least six academically critical sources. While an encyclopedia may be useful as a starting point, it cannot count as one of the six sources. If there is a question about whether a source meets the academic criteria, contact the instructor. These sources may all be secondary, but primary sources may also be used. The student is encouraged to use as many sources as appropriate. However, a huge bibliography will not compensate for a weak or poorly-constructed paper. Review the "Citation and Reference Style" section of this syllabus.

Style: The style of the research paper must be in the format of a position paper for your department with the idea that this is to be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction to clarify or correct a problem with the issue being addressed. As this is being written for politicians insure that you write clearly and present any options and why you chose the option you did and the legal and regulatory backup for your decision. Transition from one idea to another should be smooth. Do not number your paragraphs or sub-paragraphs and do not break them up. The following criteria are essential for the research paper:

1) introduction providing a thesis statement;

2) body providing a discussion of central themes supported by properly cited sources; and,

3) conclusion drawing together the themes of the paper in a succinct and persuasive manner.