Abstract: What it Should Contain (December 9th)

1.  New Topic:

  1. Introduction of the topic you will cover
  2. The problem that your topic presents
  3. How you will prove your problem exists locally

2.  Ongoing topic

  1. Introduction of the topic you will cover
  2. The problem your topic presents
  3. Observations done by previous groups
  4. How you will further their research.

History of the Problem: U.S. History (DUE: February 24th )

This section is where you will deal with the history of your problem in the United States. You DO NOT necessarily need to cover the history of the problem at a local level. Really the point of this section is for you to find 3 examples of your problem existing in American History.

For example, imagine the following project…worked on in 1911:

A.  Problem: Child Labor and its Physical Toll on Children

  1. Historical proof (this is just an outline…not an example of how your rough draft would look)
  2. Lewis Hine and his images
  3. Children’s Bureau and its proof of how widespread child labor is. Children’s Bureau and its proof of the health consequences for children working in coal mines, and textile factories
  4. By 1899 28 states had laws regulating child labor. For example, Connecticut required all children to have schooling, which would, in effect, limit child labor.

Local Proof of the Problem (DUE: March 23rd)

This section is where you will prove that your historical problem exists (or doesn’t exist) on a local level. If you are implementing a previous group’s solution, then you must prove the effectiveness (or non-effectiveness) of the solution. Either way, many of you will be using surveys to accomplish this task. This section must include:

A.  Survey methodology: How did you hand out your surveys? Did you use random sampling? Or did you sample specific classes? Did you use Facebook? Whatever method, you must describe (in great detail) how you did this. Which classes did you choose? Why? How can you assure that you had a diversity of respondents? Did you need to oversample? How was this done? All of these questions must be answered. They will affect the validity or believability of your project.

B.  Data: You must present your data in easy to read form. Most likely this will be charts or graphs. Be sure to properly label charts so it is easily understood.

C.  Data Analysis: You must discuss the meaning of your data. What parts of your data are significant? Why? What parts of your data prove or disprove that the problem exists? Be sure you tell us how to make sense out of your data.

Solutions to the Problem (DUE: April 6th)

This section is where you will make conclusions. First, how will you inform people about your project/data? Will you create a handout for dissemination (you could put your handout on the PTA website, Potty Press, Letter to the Editor (Enterprise), Letter to the Editor (HUB). If your problem exists, how will you specifically attempt to solve the problem. You must have some ideas on how to solve the problem.

A.  You must discuss how the information will get out of the RSJ class and to a larger audience.

B.  You must discuss at least one concrete, specific solution.

C.  You must end this section with a short conclusion. Your conclusion should include:

  1. Restating the problem, and the proof of your problem
  2. A statement of “Why is this project important to the future?”

Final Draft (DUE: April 27th)

Please see “Final Draft Expectations” on the RSJ Handout Downloads page.