Exploratory Draft

Week 1: Week 1 - Exploratory Draft

   Exploratory Draft

The purpose of this assignment is to help you identify

• what you know,
• what you think,
• what you think you know, and
• what you need to learn

about your Research Project topic.

You do not need to do any research for this paper; instead, you will use it—and the experience of writing it—to guide your subsequent research. You must write at least one well-formed paragraph in response to each of the following sets of questions (i.e., at least 5 complete paragraphs):

1. what is the problem? why is it a problem? who is harmed by this problem?
2. what are the most important causes of the problem? who is to blame? what have they done, or failed to do, to create the situation?
3. what do you think should be done to address the problem? how would this help? what different solutions might others propose, and why do you think your idea is better?
4. what are the possible costs or drawbacks of your proposal?
5. who might object to your proposal? who might object to any of your answers to any of the preceding questions? why might they object?

If you have trouble answering any of these questions, say so in your paragraph and try to explain why you can’t answer the question at this point. You will be graded on the clarity of your writing and the thoughtfulness of your answers. The Exploratory Draft must be typed, double-spaced, with 1" margins; it is due Tuesday of Week 2.