ENG 1027 Issue Proposal


The issue proposal is your written commitment to me to a specific focus of research this term.  This research will be connected to many of the assignments you will need to complete throughout the term: the annotated bibliography, the position paper, and the social media campaign.

You are to select a current controversial issue in the United States that interests you and has not yet been resolved and upon which there is disagreement. Over the last two weeks, you should have explored the library's database Opposing Viewpoints and learned about some of these issues, listened to discussions in class about current topics, and thought about a potential research question.

STEP 1:  DETERMINE IF YOUR ISSUE IS ARGUABLE.  To do so, answer each of the questions below.First you need to insure that the issue you have chosen is indeed arguable.  Complete the Twelve Tests of an Arguable Issue below.

NOTE:  If you cannot answer yes to all of these questions, you will need to choose another issue or somehow modify the current one issue.  The issue that you write about this semester must be controversial and cannot be an issue that has already been resolved.  There must be disagreement on the topic.

If for any reason you are unsure if your issue is "arguable," contact me immediately for feedback.

Phrase your issue as a question:  ___________________________
(ex.: Should social media companies be held liable for harms caused by their platforms?)

YES ____       NO____        1.  Is this an issue that has NOT been resolved or
                                                     settled?
YES ____       NO____        2.  Does this issue potentially inspire two or more views?
YES ____       NO____        3.  Are you willing to consider a position different from
                                                      your own and perhaps even modify your views on
                                                       this issue?
YES ____       NO____        4.  Are you sufficiently interested and engaged with this 
                                                     issue to inspire your audience to become interested
                                                     also?
YES ____       NO____        5.  Do other people perceive this as an issue?
YES ____       NO____        6.  Is this issue significant enough to be worth your time?
YES ____       NO____        7.  Is this a safe issue for you? Not too risky? Scary? Will
                                                      you be willing to express your ideas?
YES ____       NO____        8.  Will you be able to establish common ground wit your 
                                                      audience on this issue--common terms, common 
                                                       background and values?
YES ____       NO____        9.  Can you get information and come up with convincing 
                                                      insights on this issue?
YES ____       NO____        10. Can you eventually get a clear and limited focus on \                                                           this issue, even if it is a complicated one?
YES ____       NO____        11.  Is it an enduring issue, or can you build perspective
                                                       by linking it to an enduring issue?
YES ____       NO____        12.  Can you predict some audience outcomes? (Think of
                                                       your classmates as the audience.  Will they be
                                                       convinced? Hostile? Neutral? Attentative?
                                                       Remember, any outcomes at all can be regarded as 
                                                       significant in an argument.

After you have made certain that your issue is arguable, it is time to commit to the issue that you plan to work with for the remainder of the term.  Your proposal  should be five detailed paragraphs (250-300 words) and respond to the following :

PARAGRAPH 1.  Introduce the issue by providing background info (a brief summary of the various viewpoints, who the interested parties are, and why they hold their individual positions, and then present the topic in question form (present your research question that presents three possible answers:  yes, no, and maybe)
PARAGRAPH 2.  Explain why the issue is interesting and compelling to you.  
PARAGRAPH 3.  Describe what you already know about the issue.
PARAGRAPH 4.  Describe what more you think you need to learn to effectively argue a position on the topic.
PARAGRAPH 5.  Explain where you plan to find the info for your paper (which specific library databases/resources that you plan to use).

NOTE:  For PARAGRAPH 1, present the question that you would most like answered about your issue today based on the knowledge that you possess now.  Phrase this question in a manner that allows these three answers:  yes, no, and maybe.  For example, "Should social media companies be held liable for harms caused by their platforms?"  There is a yes answer to this, a no answer, and a maybe.  When completing your research you will need to locate resources that represent each stance.  As explained in class, try to find detailed sources that offer a great deal of information in one source.  A great example would be a neutral source that is information and offers detailed explanation of the yes and no answer to your question (an informative stance where the author of the source never really takes a clear position.

Be sure that it is typed, double-spaced, & Times New Roman Font, 12 point in MLA format.

See the course schedule for the topic proposal due date.