For the researched essay, you will choose a focused issue with current relevance that is related to The Best We Could Do. Here is a step-by-step process for choosing an issue. The highlighted components are what you will submit for this assignment:
1. Understand the difference between a topic, a situation, and an issue by viewing these slides: “From Topic to Situation to IssueLinks to an external site..”
2. Choose a general topic related to The Best We Could Do by doing the following:
Review themes and significant events in The Best We Could Do
Review your annotations
Peruse these quotes from Download quotes from The Best We Could Do Download The Best We Could Do that might inspire a theme for research
Read your classmates’ posts to Discussion Board 10: Wrapping Up Reading, Starting on Research
3. Narrow that topic to one that can be adequately addressed in a relatively short essay and in the time you have to write this essay. There are many resources on the Internet that address narrowing a research topic/issue. Choose at least ONE of the resources below to help you think through how you should narrow your topic. You don’t need to read them all, but I would recommend that you read more than one.
“Developing a TopicLinks to an external site.”
“Developing Research Questions and Narrowing Research TopicsLinks to an external site.”
“Step-by-Step Guide and Research Rescue: Finding and Narrowing Your TopicLinks to an external site.”
“Using Stasis Theory to Narrow Your TopicLinks to an external site.”
“Pick a Topic and Develop a Research QuestionLinks to an external site.”
Keep in mind that many invention strategies such as clustering, brainstorming, freewriting, listing, and discussing are useful as you decide on a narrowed topic.
4. Determine the specific issue (what reasonable people disagree about) that you would like to research. Phrase this issue as a question that different people would answer differently. For example, in the slides in step one, the question could be phrased as “What effect will the arrest of El Chapo have on Mexico?” There are four answers given: 1. The arrest will have little benefit to Mexico; 2. The arrest will bring more violence to Mexico; 3. The arrest will change nothing until American demand for drugs diminishes; 4. The arrest will not change the underlying glorification of the drug trade in Mexico.
This essay has an argumentative purpose, not an informative purpose, so you must identify a research question that allows you to take a stand on a question that people hold different opinions about. Refer to the Spectrum of Purposes document Download Spectrum of Purposes documentfor more information.
5. What questions do you have about this assignment, the process of developing a research question, or the process of research?
For this assignment, turn in your responses to the four highlighted sections.
General Topic is “exploring how war affects families.”
