Social media and Michigan township

Semester Paper:
Each student is required to complete a 10 to 12 page research paper that relates to material from the course. The paper should be analytical and written in a professional manner. Grammar and spelling will be considered in determining the grade of the paper. Professional journals should be used. You should use a minimum of 10 peer review journal articles in your paper. Sources that may be helpful in locating journal articles include Google Scholars, EBSCO HOST, JSTOR and other indexes available through the EMU Library. The final product should be double spaced in 12 point Times New Roman format using APA style format.

Your topic must be submitted to the professor for approval by October 14, 2021. You will present your paper to the class.
Elle, I like the topic. There is research on how governments use social media. Given the issue you have raised regarding the image of the township, social media could be particularly helpful. Interviews may be helpful. If you plan to do them, I would need to review the questions. You may also do some website assessment of one or two cities and see how or if they align with suggestions in the literature and how they increase access to citizens.

Research Topic: Social Media in Michigan Townships

I plan on accomplishing a case for use of social media by the township itself, the departments and trustees. I want to accomplish buy-in with support and evidence that overwhelmingly will create a yes vote on a media use policy, and permission to begin a coordinated social media platform to further our relationship, better our image to residents, surrounding areas and other governmental arms.
Currently Sumpter Township is experiencing issues surrounding it’s image. Part of the problem is the local paper that continues to single-out Sumpter and print information that is clearly not factual. The Trustees have addressed the issue in the boardroom, but the correct information doesn’t get dispensed to the public. Sumpter is long behind the times with it’s digital footprint and social media use. Sumpter is seen as stuck behind the times, which lends to the image of us not being an effective and efficient government for the public.
I plan to accomplish the research by using the platforms referenced in the syllabus and by researching/interviewing other municipalities’ use of social media – specifically townships, as they are a unique governmental entity.
Research Paper Grading Rubric

PLSC 510

Topic Focus (10 points)

(Clear research statement or question; purpose clearly established; importance of work

demonstrated)

Review of Literature/Background Research (15 points)

(work grounded in previous research; unbiased writing, well organized, purposeful writing)

Method of Analysis (15 points)

(data collection, plan of analysis, measurement instrument, environmental description)

Results/Case Analysis (15 points)

(results clearly explained, tables or figures explained, results are adequately interpreted)

Conclusion (10 points)

(summary, thoughtful insight, suggestions for future research, linkage to scholarship)

Cohesive Writing (15 points)

(sections clearly connected to each other; flow of paper; information tied together well;

sentences are clear, active, and to the point; shows originality and creativity)

Spelling and Grammar (5 points)

Sources (10 points)

(number of sources included; current sources, peer review sources; source quality)

Citations (5 points)

(cites all data obtained from other sources; APA citation style is used in both text and

bibliography)