Prospectus

        The balance of your writing for this course will focus on developing a proposal (see St. Martin's, chapter 7). Your topic should be one that has both a special interest to you and is feasible, given the limits of your knowledge, time, and resources.

        In this assignment, your aim is to explore the issue you've chosen, to propose a tentative solution, and to lay out a blueprint for developing the final project. Please note: even though parts of this paper may end up rewritten and in your final draft, this paper is NOT intended to be the first draft of your final proposal. It is intended to set out a plan as to how you will proceed through the research.

        You're welcome to click here and check out a sample Prospectus, but be sure to read the entire assignment:

Prospectus 1

Prospectus 2

 Prospectus 3

Prospectus 4

Your paper should address the following:

  1. A well-defined problem, 337-8, 360, 365-6

    2. Anecdotes – stories that dramatize the problem you are addressing, 685-6
    Statistics – help to show how widespread and serious the problem is, 682-3
    Authoritative sources – help to lend credibility to your claims,684-5

  2. A tentative solution, 366-7

    3. How do you intend to correct the problem? You are welcome either to come up with your own or to offer one that has already proven successful. Note: In many cases it is still premature to have a clear solution.

  3. Identify your audience, 366

    4. Because you are proposing a solution and thus calling people to action, you need to have a sense of whom you're calling. Once you know your audience, you can determine both your tone and, more importantly, what sort of arguments would be most convincing. To assess your audience, try to identify your audience's values, beliefs, and assumptions as they relate to your topic.

  4. Possible arguments
    • An Argument from principle

      • Using this strategy, you argue that a particular action should be taken because doing so is right according to some value, assumption, principle, or belief that you share with your audience. For example, you might argue, We should create publicly financed jobs for poor people because doing so is both charitable and just. The formula for this strategy runs:

      We should (should not) do (this action) because (this action) is _______.

      Fill in the blank with the appropriate belief or value that your audience holds: good, just, right, ethical, honest, charitable, equitable, fair, democratic, and so on.

    • An Argument from consequence

      • Using this strategy, you argue that a particular action should (should not) be taken because doing so will lead to consequences that you and your audience believe are good (bad). For example, you might say, We should create publicly financed jobs for poor people because doing so will provide them money for food and housing, promote a work ethic, and produce needed goods and services. The formula for this strategy runs:

      We should (should not) do (this action) because (this action) will lead to these good (bad) consequences: _______, _______, _______, etc.

      Think of consequences that your audience will agree are good or bad, as your argument requires.

    • An argument by analogy or precedent

      • Using a precedent strategy, you argue that a particular action should (should not) be taken because doing so is similar to what was done in another case, which proved to be successful (unsuccessful). For example, you might say, We should create publicly financed jobs for poor people because doing so will alleviate poverty in this country just as a similar program has helped poor people in Upper Latvia. Using an analogy strategy, you compare the proposed action with a similar action that your audience already accepts as good or bad. For example, We should create publicly financed jobs for poor people because doing so is like teaching the poor how to fish rather than giving them fish. The formula for either strategy is as follows:

      We should (should not) do (this action) because doing (this action) is like _______, which turned out to be good (bad).

      Think of precedents or analogies that are similar to your proposed action and that have definite good (bad) associations for your audience.

  5. Likely areas for research Chapters. 20 & 21.

    Be specific as to what sources you intend to seek, and describe the kind of information you hope to gather from each source.
  6. Provisional Objective

    What do you hope to achieve?

        Notice that all but the first of these elements are tentative. This work is to be decidedly exploratory. However, by exploring the topic and setting out a plan, you will gain direction for your proposal and confidence in your chance for success.

        Also, with this paper you will need to demonstrate that your topic is workable, that your are committed to it, that you have some idea what it will entail, and that you are ready to embark on the project.