Unit 2 Intro

Unit 2, 3, 4: Individual Problem/Solution Research Paper

We are starting Unit 2 today, which together with Units 3 and 4 will build up for your final class project, the Individual Problem/Solution Research Paper.  This is a large project, but don't worry, we're taking it one step at a time.  

Projects per Unit

Unit 2: Pre-Research Portfolio

Unit 3: Annotated Bibliography

Unit 4: Individual Problem/Solution Research Paper

Unit 2-4 Assignment Overview and Prompt

IRP Task/Prompt
Choose an organization that is actively working towards addressing a problem in society (e.g. community, state, region or country) affecting a distinct population (e.g. women, animals, children, etc.). Write a problem/solution paper that describes and critiques three current solutions to the problem offered by the organization and recommends how to improve them or critiques two current solutions and suggests one or two new solutions with justifications.

Unit 2

Outcomes: By the end of this unit, students will be able to...

• Identify what constitutes plagiarism
• Describe at least three consequences of plagiarism (e.g. failing grade for the assignment or the course, losing a degree)
• List three ways to avoid plagiarism (e.g. quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing)
• Paraphrase the information from outside sources to put in their pre-research portfolio
• Conduct and document an effective pre-research, which includes choosing a researchable topic, adjusting the scope of the topic, forming a tentative thesis statement, and rough-outlining.

Assignment:

By the end of this unit, students will put together a portfolio that documents all of the pre-research (or planning) work that contributes to their Individual Research Paper. This should include the following:

• A definitive choice of topic and a justification of its compatibility for this research paper assignment
• A brief description of the problem or issue that is being investigated (informal website sources are admissible as links)
• A choice of organization or government website, along with a justification of its compatibility for this research paper assignment
• A brief description of the causes of the issue or problem that is being investigated (informal website sources are admissible as links, particularly the organization’s website)
• A choice of 3 actions that the organization is taking to solve the problem, along with the website links to the description of each action on the organization’s website
• A brief analysis of each of the above-mentioned actions, identifying potential weaknesses and “researchability” of each
• A thesis statement that provides the purpose of the paper and the three actions of the organization that will be addressed in the paper
• A rough outline of how the paper will be structured/organized
• A brief statement of future plans and thoughts in terms of finding sources