501: Demographic Briefing Assignment

A UW SSW Writing Center WorkshopOctober 21, 2019

1. Assignment Overview and Paper Structure

2. Selecting and Revising Topics

3. Writing Introductions

4. Visual Displays of Data

(graphs, charts, etc.)

5. Tips and Info on Upcoming Workshops

Workshop Agenda

1. Assignment Overview and Paper Structure

2. Selecting and Revising Topics

3. Writing Introductions

4. Visual Displays of Data

(graphs, charts, etc.)

5. Tips and Info on Upcoming Workshops

Workshop Agenda

Purpose: Find and document the scope and magnitude of an economic/social inequality through data

- Demographics: Use demographic data from the US Census or a comparable government source or report on one or more topics as it relates to poverty or inequality

- Analysis: DYNAMIC (trends over time) or COMPARATIVE element (looking at two populations)

Total Length: No more than 3 pages (not including reference page)

Assignment Overview: Big Picture

> Demographic Briefing has 3 main parts:

– Introduction: Purpose and key points of the paper

– Context and Definitions: What background information is relevant and necessary for the reader? How are you defining and measuring key terms?

– Data summary: Include an original table or graphic displaying data, created by you

Demographic Briefing Structure

Looking Ahead: Final Paper Structure

A3. Demographic Briefing = “the what”

● Introduce and contextualize data

● Present the data visually. Describe the visual with words

+A4. Different Perspectives = “the why”

● Interpret the data, meaning offer two possible explanations for why the

inequality might exists. You don’t have to prove anything! Just offer

plausible reasoning

● Discuss policy implications given the explanations you provide

+A5. Conclusion (and revisit Introduction) = bringing it all together

Looking Ahead: Final Paper Structure> A3 Demographic Briefing + A4 Competing

Perspectives* = A5 Final Paper

> Your Road Map– A3: State Topic and Question(s)

– A3: Include Context and Definitions

– A3: Present Data

– A4: Interpret Data with Two Theories*

– A4: Make Policy Suggestions*

– A5: Revise Introduction

– A5: Write Conclusion

*Competing Perspectives Workshop on 11/6/19!

Learning Goals

● Learning Goals from 501 Assignment:

○ Demographic Briefing: ask a research question, identify data,

present data visually to discuss a social issue

○ Competing Perspectives: interpret & analyze social issue

(inequality), apply two theories, share policy responses

○ Overall: write a research paper using both data and theory

(perspectives)

> Data! There can be mixed feelings about working with it...

> How are you feeling?

> Who can help you with data at the SSW or UW?

Let’s Check In

1. Assignment Overview and Paper Structure

2. Selecting and Revising Topics

3. Writing Introductions

4. Visual Displays of Data

(graphs, charts, etc.)

5. Tips and Info on Upcoming Workshops

Workshop Agenda

> Topic should look at relation between 2 Main Variables (more if you want!):

– 1. How you will measure inequality/disparity (income; homeownership; etc.)

– 2. Population (race; ethnicity; gender; disability; etc.)

> That relation may be DYNAMIC (looking at one population over time) or COMPARATIVE (looking at two different populations or geographic areas)

> Specify time and place (= scope)

Topic Selection

> DATA: Find data before getting too committed to a topic

> APPROACH: Choose an approach

> Dynamic - a trend occurring over time

> Comparative - comparing two populations

> SCOPE: Narrow scope! Be specific

Data-Driven Topic Selection

Topic Example #1:

"educational attainment and earnings among

men and women in Snohomish County in 2011“

1. DATA: highest level of education achieved and

annual earnings for men and women

2. APPROACH: COMPARATIVE (men vs. women)

3. SCOPE: Snohomish County in 2011

Topic Selection Example #1

Topic Example #2:

“SNAP participation rates among poor households in

King County before and after the recession (2007, 2011)“

1. DATA: households with income below poverty level,

participate in SNAP?

2. APPROACH: DYNAMIC (2007 vs 2011)

3. SCOPE: King County, 2007-2011

Topic Selection Example #2

1. Now consider your own topic: are your Data, Approach, and Scope well-defined? Take a moment to revise as needed (write them down if that helps!)

a. DATA: What variables will you be looking at (what poverty indicator/s and population/s)? What is your data source?

b. APPROACH: Is your approach DYNAMIC or COMPARATIVE?

c. SCOPE: What boundaries are keeping your topic specific? For example, does your data consider a specified place, year(s), etc., such as “Snohomish County in 2011?”

2. Share aloud with folks near you

Checking In: Your Topic

1. Assignment Overview and Paper Structure

2. Selecting and Revising Topics

3. Writing Introductions

4. Visual Displays of Data

(graphs, charts, etc.)

5. Tips and Info on Upcoming Workshops

Workshop Agenda

Writing Introductions for Academic Papers

> In American Standard Academic English, the norm is

that introductions are expected to have certain

components

> The GOAL of introductions = giving the reader a

bird’s-eye-view (naming not detailing) of the paper’s

contents AND to give a roadmap for the paper

(purpose and structure)

Writing Introductions for Academic Papers: Style

> Regarding Style:

– There is no “right” or “valid” way to introduce or write

a paper

– We acknowledge that while Academic Standard

American English is the writing system used at UW, it

can be limiting and oppressive to writers

Writing Introductions for Academic Papers: Style

> Academic Standard American English Conventions:

– Take the “I” out of your work and use third person

instead.

> Ex. “This paper investigates…”

– With verbs, use active voice (does/is doing) not passive

voice (being done/is done).

> Ex. “This paper investigates poverty...”

– Not “Poverty is investigated by this paper...”

Writing Introductions for Academic Papers: Format> Components to address:

– PURPOSE = To answer your research question(s), An

Investigation/Inquiry/Comparison regarding your topic, Make a

case for your thesis; etc.

– RELEVANCE = Why is this topic/paper important? Don’t spoil the

ending, but give a sense of what information or understanding

may be gained by reading your paper

– MECHANICS OF ANALYSIS = Basically, how will we come to our

conclusions? (What data set are you using? What variables? What

theories? Etc.)

– STRUCTURE = Help reader visualize sequence or progression

“This paper investigates the relationship between educational attainment and earnings among men and women in Snohomish County. Two questions are considered. First, to what extent do gender disparities in annual earnings exist? And second, how might these disparities change with educational attainment? Following a brief demographic report exploring 2011 US Census data, I posit two theories to explain this earnings inequality. Finally, using the context of these theories, I analyze two policies that aim to reduce gendered earnings disparity and offer suggestions of how each might be most successfully implemented.”

Paper Introduction Example

Using Definitions

> Define all of your terms and major concepts;

don’t assume the reader already knows what

you’re talking about

> Discuss the source of the data and/or how and

when it’s collected

> Discuss limitations of data as needed

Here's a link to the Census Bureau Glossary of Terms

Scope will be limited to households with income below the poverty level, which will be referred to as “poor households”. Receiving roughly 93% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits nationally, poor households will act as a litmus test for participation in King County (CBPP, 2012). SNAP participation is classified as one or more members in a household receiving food stamps within the last 12 months (US Census, 2011A). To determine the number of households falling below the poverty level, the American Community Survey (ACS) compares yearly household income with poverty thresholds appropriate for family size and composition (US Census, 2011A).

Using Definitions: Example

1. Assignment Overview and Paper Structure

2. Selecting and Revising Topics

3. Writing Introductions

4. Visual Displays of Data

(graphs, charts, etc.)

5. Tips and Info on Upcoming Workshops

Workshop Agenda

> Using figures (tables, graphs, or charts) to display your data may assist the reader in understanding the data

> Visuals may enhance or clarify your point; as a tool for persuasion, these can be powerful (and manipulated - look at them critically)

> Tip: percentages (%) may make comparisons easier to understand

Displaying Data: Visual Representations as a Tool

Displaying Data: Example

> Number each figure – ex/: Figure 1

> Give a concise title in italics– Employment Status and Household Income, 2015

> Put citation below figure – ex/: Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates,

2011-2015.

> Explain/interpret the data below the graphic> Is the data clearly represented in your graphic?

Check-in with yourself and your peers> Use clear, neutral language

Displaying Data: Figures

> Format visual clearly or your reader won’t understand your message

> APA general formatting- Table #- Title - Subheadings - Notes

Describing Data Example

> Don’t describe all of the data in the figure. Give the highlights!

> Always refer to the figure number: “Figure 1 shows…”

> Never: “The figure on page three...” Or “The figure above shows…”

> Use numerals (1, 2, 5) to refer to figure numbers, not words (one, two, five)

Describing Data: Figures in Text

> Use numbers when>Writing about percentages or other statistics> Referring to a numbered table> Numbers refer to population sizes or ages> The number is 10 or above

> Use words and numbers when:> You’re rounding a number (Example: nearly 7

million)> You're using numbers together in a potentially

confusing way (Example: nineteen 14-year-olds

Describing Data: Numbers & Words

> Focus on organization> Use headings > Use shorter sentences when possible> Back up claims with data and citations > 501 is a good assignment because you get to re-visit it

several times

> APA Questions?– See Purdue OWL: APA Formatting Webpage– UW Libraries’ citation guides: UW Citation Guides

Helpful Tips

● Part II of 501 (Analysis)○ Nov 6th 10-11am in Room 305 A/B

○ Nov 6th 2:30-3:30pm in Room 305 A/B

● 500 Annotated Bibliography Assignment○ Wednesday Nov 13, 5:30 - 6:30pm in Room 030

○ Thursday Nov 14, 5 - 6pm in Room 305 A/B

○ Sat Nov 2, 12 - 1pm via Webinar

Upcoming Workshops

Your Writing Tutors:Amber Barcel, she/her

Jemma Stratton, she/her

Alisa Tirado Strayer, she/her

How can you meet with us?Schedule an appointment to meet 1-on-1Stop by our drop-in hours on Monday and ThursdayDrop by the Weekend Writing Group Sat 12 - 3pm

Other questions? Email us at: sswwrite@uw.edu

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