Case Study: Crafting a Compelling Research Paper on Gen Z Protests in Kenya - A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing a research paper on current events can be both challenging and rewarding. This case study explores the process of writing a research paper on the recent Gen Z protests in Kenya, a topic that has garnered significant attention. We'll follow the journey of a hypothetical graduate student, Sarah, as she navigates the complexities of researching and writing about this ongoing social movement. Through Sarah's process, we'll examine key strategies for source selection, structuring arguments, and maintaining objectivity while dealing with a politically charged subject. This guide aims to provide valuable insights for students and researchers tackling similar contemporary topics, demonstrating how to produce a well-rounded, academically sound paper on a rapidly evolving situation.

Step 1: Defining the Research Question

Sarah begins by narrowing down her focus. She realizes that "Gen Z protests in Kenya" is too broad a topic for a single research paper. After preliminary research, she decides to focus on the economic factors driving these protests. Her research question becomes: "How have economic policies and their impact on youth unemployment contributed to the rise of Gen Z protests in Kenya in 2024?"

Key considerations in this step:

• Specificity: The question targets a particular aspect (economic factors) of a broader issue.
• Timeliness: It addresses current events while allowing for historical context.
• Feasibility: The question can be reasonably answered within the scope of a research paper.
• Relevance: It connects to broader themes of youth activism and economic policy.

Sarah's process:

1. Conducted initial broad reading on the protests.
2. Identified recurring themes in news coverage and preliminary academic sources.
3. Consulted with her advisor to refine the focus.
4. Ensured the question was neither too broad nor too narrow for the assigned paper length.

Step 2: Literature Review and Source Gathering

With her research question defined, Sarah begins a comprehensive literature review. She faces the challenge of finding academic sources on such a recent event, necessitating a creative approach to source gathering.

Sarah's strategy:

1. Academic journals: She searches for articles on previous youth protests in Kenya and economic policies affecting young people.
2. Government reports: Sarah accesses Kenyan government publications on youth unemployment and economic indicators.
3. International organization reports: She utilizes resources from the World Bank and IMF on Kenya's economic situation.
4. News sources: For the most current information, Sarah carefully selects reputable news outlets, both local and international.
5. Social media analysis: She explores academic papers on the role of social media in modern protests, which she can apply to the Kenyan context.

Challenges and solutions:

• Lack of peer-reviewed sources on current events: Sarah decides to use news articles for current details but relies on academic sources for theoretical frameworks and historical context.
• Potential bias in local news sources: She compares multiple sources to cross-verify information and notes any discrepancies in her paper.
• Rapidly changing situation: Sarah keeps a log of key events and updates her sources regularly throughout the writing process.

Key takeaway: A mix of academic sources for theory and background, combined with current news and reports, provides a solid foundation for analyzing ongoing events.

Step 3: Developing a Thesis Statement

Based on her research, Sarah develops her thesis statement: "The Gen Z protests in Kenya in 2024 are primarily driven by the government's failure to address youth unemployment through economic policies, exacerbated by perceived corruption and the impact of global economic pressures."

Crafting the thesis:

• Specificity: Addresses the main factors (unemployment, economic policies, corruption) identified in her research.
• Arguability: Presents a stance that can be supported with evidence and potentially debated.
• Relevance: Connects the protests to broader economic and political issues.
• Scope: Encompasses enough points to be developed in a full research paper.

Sarah's process:

1. Listed key findings from her initial research.
2. Identified patterns and connections between these findings.
3. Drafted several versions of the thesis, refining for clarity and focus.
4. Sought feedback from peers and her advisor.

Key consideration: Sarah ensures her thesis is flexible enough to accommodate new information that may emerge during her continued research and writing process.

Step 4: Structuring the Paper

With her thesis established, Sarah outlines her paper:

1. Introduction
   • Hook: Striking statistic on youth unemployment in Kenya
   • Background on Gen Z in Kenya
   • Thesis statement
2. Historical Context
   • Brief overview of Kenya's economic policies affecting youth
   • Previous instances of youth-led protests in Kenya
3. Current Economic Landscape
   • Analysis of recent economic policies
   • Statistics on youth unemployment
   • Impact of global economic factors on Kenya
4. The Gen Z Protests
   • Timeline of key events
   • Main demands of the protesters
   • Role of social media in organizing and spreading the movement
5. Government Response
   • Initial reactions to the protests
   • Policy proposals or changes made in response
   • Public perception of the government's handling
6. Analysis
   • Connecting economic factors to the rise of protests
   • Comparison with similar movements globally
   • Evaluation of the effectiveness of the protests in driving policy change
7. Conclusion
   • Recap of main points
   • Implications for future policy-making and youth engagement in Kenya
   • Broader significance for understanding youth movements in developing economies

Sarah's considerations:

• Logical flow: Ensures each section builds upon the previous one.
• Balance: Allocates appropriate space to background, current events, and analysis.
• Flexibility: Leaves room to incorporate new developments as the situation evolves.

Step 5: Writing and Incorporating Evidence

As Sarah begins writing, she focuses on effectively incorporating evidence to support her thesis. She uses a mixture of quantitative data and qualitative analysis.

Strategies for incorporating evidence:

1. Statistical data: Sarah uses unemployment figures from government reports and international organizations to illustrate the economic challenges facing Gen Z in Kenya.

   Example: "According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment reached 13.8% in 2024, a 22% increase from the previous year, underscoring the economic pressures driving the protests."

2. Expert opinions: She incorporates quotes from economists and political scientists on Kenya's economic policies and their impact on youth.

   Example: "Dr. Amina Kibet, an economist at the University of Nairobi, argues that 'the government's focus on large infrastructure projects has come at the expense of job creation initiatives for young people, fueling frustration among Gen Z graduates.'"

3. Historical parallels: Sarah draws comparisons with past youth movements in Kenya to provide context.

   Example: "The current Gen Z protests echo the student-led demonstrations of the 1990s, which similarly called for economic reforms and greater political accountability."

4. Social media analysis: She examines trending hashtags and viral posts to illustrate how Gen Z organizes and expresses their grievances.

   Example: "The hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024 trended for over a week, with over 2,500,000 tweets, demonstrating the digital savvy of the protesters and their ability to mobilize support online."

5. Government statements: Sarah includes official responses to the protests, critically analyzing their content and public reception.

   Example: "President Ruto's statement that 'sacrifice is necessary for economic growth' was met with widespread criticism on social media, with many Gen Z protesters viewing it as dismissive of their struggles."

Throughout her writing, Sarah ensures she:

• Cites all sources properly using APA format.
• Critically evaluates the reliability and potential biases of her sources.
• Balances different viewpoints to maintain objectivity.
• Connects each piece of evidence back to her main argument.

Step 6: Addressing Counterarguments

To strengthen her paper, Sarah identifies and addresses potential counterarguments to her thesis. This demonstrates critical thinking and adds depth to her analysis.

Counterarguments she considers:

1. "The protests are politically motivated rather than economically driven."

   Sarah's response: She acknowledges the political aspects but uses economic data to show the underlying financial pressures.

2. "Global economic conditions, not government policies, are the primary cause of youth unemployment."

   Sarah's response: She discusses how government policies interact with global trends, arguing that local policy choices significantly impact how global pressures affect youth.

3. "Gen Z's expectations are unrealistic given Kenya's economic situation."

   Sarah's response: She examines the education levels and skill sets of Gen Z in Kenya, arguing that their expectations align with their qualifications and global standards.

By addressing these counterarguments, Sarah:

• Demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the complex issues at play.
• Strengthens her own argument by showing she has considered alternative viewpoints.
• Provides a more balanced and comprehensive analysis of the situation.

Step 7: Conclusion and Implications

In her conclusion, Sarah synthesizes her key points and discusses the broader implications of her findings. She considers:

1. The potential long-term impact of the Gen Z protests on Kenya's political and economic landscape.
2. How the government's response to these protests might shape future policy-making and youth engagement strategies.
3. The role of social media and technology in modern protest movements, particularly in developing countries.
4. The implications for understanding youth movements and economic pressures in other African nations.

Sarah ends with a call for further research, suggesting areas that could be explored in future studies, such as the long-term economic impact of youth-led protest movements or comparative studies with similar movements in other countries.

Conclusion of the Case Study

Through Sarah's process, we've explored the key steps in crafting a research paper on a complex, current topic. The case study highlights the importance of:

• Defining a focused research question
• Utilizing a diverse range of sources
• Developing a strong, arguable thesis
• Structuring the paper logically
• Incorporating evidence effectively
• Addressing counterarguments
• Drawing broader implications from the research

This approach allows for a comprehensive, balanced analysis of a rapidly evolving situation while maintaining academic rigor. By following these steps, students and researchers can produce insightful, well-structured papers on contemporary issues, contributing meaningfully to academic discourse and public understanding of important social movements.