Problem
Write up a description of at least two potential topics for your research paper. Each of the two proposals should be approximately one substantial paragraph of at least ,200 words.
Answer all the following questions for each proposal:
1. What is the topic? Give a general overview of the issue and problems you wish to investigate.
2. What makes the topic significant? (i.e. why should other people care? Do other people care?)
3. What makes the topic problematic? (i.e. is there more than one reasonable answer to the problem? Why do people disagree about it?) What are the opposing arguments?
4. Why are you interested in this topic (i.e. will you stay interested in this topic all semester? What do you hope to gain from researching and writing on this topic?)?
5. Why should your audience care about this topic?
6. What questions do you have about this topic?
7. What resources do you think will be most helpful for your research? Where do you plan to begin your research?
8. Do you already have an opinion on this topic or are you completely undecided?