Chapter 4: Planning and Proposing Researched Arguments

Outcomes

1. To teach you that you always have lots to write about and that you can get it out without too much agony;
2. To practice some brainstorming and discovery writing strategies that may be new to you;
3. To use discovery writing and browsing strategies to choose a topic for your researched argument;
4. To design a search plan to gather information from print, electronic and personal sources as evidence to support your claim;
5. To draft a research proposal which:

• Identifies the research topic, purpose, and audience
• Lists the search questions
• Lists search keywords
• Presents the search plan

Main Assignment

This assignment is the first in a four-chapter series on developing a researched argument and presenting it to two different target audiences:

• Chapter 4: Through discovery writing you will find a topic for your research project. Then you will plan your research and draft a proposal.
• Chapter 5: You will find and evaluate research sources.
• Chapter 6: You will organize and write an academic research argument to present to this English 1121 class.
• Chapter 7: You will rethink and rewrite your researched argument as a presentation to a specific target audience here at the college, in your community, or at your workplace.

Produce at least ten pages (2000 words) of discovery writing by trying the free-writing and mapping strategies described at the WorldWide Writers' PLACE in Discovery Grove and also described in Envision, Chapter 4.  The purpose of this writing is to help you explore possible topics for your research project by discovering what problems and questions are on your mind.  These 10 pages are private writing; I will check your work for completion, but I will not read what you write.   In your private discovery writing, you don't have to write in complete sentences.  You don't have to correct errors.

Plan your researched argument for this term by designing a search plan and drafting a research proposal.  In your research proposal you should:

• Identify the topic, purpose, and audience of your researched argument. Describe how you selected your topic. How is this topic relevant to you. To whom do you want to write about this topic? How do you want to affect your readers' attitudes or behavior?
• List the search questions. What information do you hope to find in your search?
• List your search keywords. What terms are you using to locate information in the online library catalogs  and on the internet?

Present your search plan. How do you plan to gather information from print, electronic, and personal sources? Which kinds of sources will be most helpful for your topic?

Sample Proposal | Chapter 4 Rubric

Steps to Complete this Project

Part I:  Discovery Writing  

Step 1: Write to discover what is on your mind.  If you find a topic that is personally relevant to you and engages your interest, you will be much more interested in working on the remaining four chapter assignments.  So you should begin by discovering what is on your mind.

• Read Envision, pp. 106-114.
• Read this linked article: Donald M. Murray. "Write What You Don't Know." The Writer, May 1998:7.   It is an example of a process essay.
• Read "Some Notes about Good Topics for Researched Arguments."
• Then, at the Writers' PLACE, try Open-ended free-writing or Blasting through Writer's Block.  Write for at least 20 minutes or until you have completed at least 400 words typed (about 2 handwritten pages).

• Visit the Writers' PLACE: Brainstorming Topics or Structured Free-writing
• Read Envision, AT A GLANCE, p. 113 and CREATIVE PRACTICE, p. 114.
• Make a list of some questions or problems that interest you and are affect you personally right now.
• Select one of these problems or issues or images and free-write two pages of your thoughts about it.

Carry a digital camera with you for at least one day.  Shoot photos of any subjects that are interesting to you or irritating or controversial. Especially look for images that are related to one of the problems in the list you made in step 2.   If you can, shoot a series of photos that you may use to illustrate the problem or issue you want to research.  To get ideas, explore the resources posted for Chapter 4 at the Envision web site.   You may use the same image that you used for the Chapter 3 assignment.

Do two pages of focused free-writing about the image you have chosen.

NOTE: Just as you did in your Chapter 3 argumentative essay, you must use photographs, tables, graphs, or some other visual images as support for your thesis in your researched argument.  Your paper will be even stronger if the subject of a photo or artwork is the subject of your paper.  All photos, tables, graphs and visual images MUST be your own work.  It is a violation of copyright law to download images without the written permission of the photographer, writer or artist.

Step 4: The Writers' PLACE: Blind-Writing or invisible writing

Read Envision, AT A GLANCE, p. 114.
Choose one of the topics from the list you made on Day 2 and try blind-writing 2 pages.

Read Envision, pp. 117-122.

Make a map or cluster of one of the topics you are considering.

As part of your discovery writing (or research log) answer the "Webbing Questions to Focus the Topic" on pp. 117-118.

Step 6: Research Sketch

• Read Envision, pp. 108-113.
• Generate a research sketch or a research freewrite.  In this last phase of your discovery writing you should:
1. Choose the visual image you plan to use as the basis of your researched argument.
2. Identify the topic you have chosen and state a working hypothesis.
3. Identify key sources,
4. Anticipate problems you foresee in completing a researched argument on this topic.
• For an example of this last phase of your discovery writing, see the example, "Bries Deerrose: Research Plan," pp. 121-122.  Note the integration of the visual image in the research plan.

Part II: Research Proposal

Next you will write a detailed research proposal that uses visual rhetoric and discusses your plans, methodology, expectations, purpose and research in depth.

In your research proposal you should include a paragraph or section for each of the following:

1. Abstract: Begin your proposal with a research abstract that introduces the narrowed topic and presents your working hypothesis. (See step 7 below.)
2. Relevance: Explain the significance of the research project and describe any expertise you have on this topic or explain the reason for your interest and your motivations.  In other words, describe why this topic is relevant to you. (See step 8 below.)
3. Search Questions: Draft a list of search questions.  (See step 9 below.)
4. Search Keywords: Present a list of search keywords for library database and internet searches. (See step 9 below.)
5. Sources: List possible sources for investigation, including at least one field source (interview, observation or survey).
6. Search Plan: Outline your research methods or planned approach to the research. (See step 10 below.)
7. Time Line: Include in your outline a detailed time line for investigating the topic.
8. Research Difficulties: Describe any difficulties that might arise in pursuing this topic. (See step 11 below.)
9. Image(s): Include a carefully chosen and representative visual image or visual rhetoric text. (See step 12 below.)

Sample Proposal | Chapter 4 Rubric

Read Envision, pp. 122-134; 227-228.

Read the MLA Handbook, 1.1 to 1.4 (pp. 3-8).

Read "Some Notes about Good Topics for Researched Arguments."

You may choose to research the same topic you used for the Chapter 3 argument based on an image.   You will expand your argument and strengthen it with evidence that you gather through your research.

Your proposal should begin with a working title.  If you have not yet selected a title, you may want to use the title exercise at the WWWriters' PLACE to help brainstorm.

In your opening paragraph present your research abstract.  Use your notes from the last phase of your discovery writing to generate this first section of your proposal.  Your abstract should introduce your topic and present your working hypothesis. 

Step 8.  Explain the significance of the research project.

• Read Envision, p. 124.
• In the second paragraph of your proposal you should explain the significance of your project.  What is at stake in your topic?  Why should it matter to your readers? What contribution will your research make to a larger academic community?
• Describe any expertise you have on this topic or explain the reason for your interest and your motivations.  In other words, describe why this topic is relevant to you.

• Before you begin to gather information, you should draft a list of questions that you hope your research will answer.  For some helpful tips, go to "Asking Questions" by clicking on Planning in the WWWriters' PLACE header at the top of this page..
• At the WWWriters' PLACE, view the PowerPoint presentation "Designing a Research Plan."

To find answers to your questions, you will have to do a little research. Most sources of information fall into one of three categories:

Print sources include books, magazines, newspapers, government documents, pamphlets, unpublished manuscripts, letters and diaries. (PowerPoint: Searching PALS)

Media and electronic sources include audio recordings, films, videos, television broadcasts, electronic databases and sites on the internet.

Field sources personal sources include interviews, surveys, and observations of people who are experts on your topic. (PowerPoint: Personal Research.)

 
 

NOTE: These field sources are sometimes called personal sources because you meet the sources in person rather than in print or in electronic media.  This does NOT meant that a personal source is your own personal experience or an interview with a close friend or family member.

Make a short list of keywords.  Include this list in your proposal.

At the WorldWide Writers' PLACE, view the PowerPoint presentation, "Searching PALS."
Make a short list of keywords or search key terms to conduct searches in library databases and with internet search engines.
View "Search Engine Strategy and Syntax on the Internet at <http://PowerReporting.com/category/Search_tools/Tutorials/>
Add to your list additional keywords and phrases for Internet searches.

• List possible sources for investigation.  You will be required to consult at least 3 print sources, 4 internet sources, and one field source.
• Outline your research methods or planned approach to the research.
• Include in your outline a detailed time line for investigating the topic.

 Log into D2L and share your proposal with a classmate. In your message, post your questions and concerns about your work. Also offer your response to others' proposals. Does each proposal include all of the sections required by the assignment? Does it include a visual image? Give feedback to at least two of your classmates.

Based on your readers' suggestions, revise your draft.  Proofread and edit carefully.  Along with the final draft of your proposal, be sure to include a carefully chosen and representative visual image or visual rhetoric text such as a graph, map, chart or table.

Step 12.    Insert your visual image in your proposal or upload it as a separate electronic file (.jpg or .gif) or send in a print copy of your visual image via U.S. mail.  Submit: (1) your discovery writing and (2) your  proposal for your  researched argument to the ASSIGNMENTS DROPBOX at our D2L course site.

Assignment Checklist

1.  Submit your 10 pages (minimum 2000 words) of discovery writing.

Remember, I will not read this writing; it is your private work. If you have done  your work on your computer, you may save it as an electronic file and submit it to the ASSIGNMENTS drop-box.  I will only check the number of words (minimum 2,000 words) in the file and close it again.  I will not read your private writing.  If you have chosen to do your discovery writing on paper, then you should stop by my office to show me your pages or mail your 10 pages to me by U.S. mail.  I will check them for completion and return them without reading them.  (By 10 pages, I mean 10 sides of 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper.  If you have written on both sides of the paper, then you will send me 5 sheets of paper.) My mail address is:
Elizabeth Nist
English Division (H127)
Anoka Ramsey Community College
11200 Mississippi Blvd. NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

NOTE: There is no process memo for this assignment because the proposal is a kind of process paper.  In your proposal you are describing your plan for the research process.

Additional Readings

Sample Proposal | Chapter 4 Rubric

To view more sample student papers, go to the Envision companion website ... Student Resources ... Chapter 4 ... Student Writing...
To view additional sources, go to the Envision companion website ... Student Resources ... Chapter 4 ... Resources and Readings ....