Hier_Rowland_Senior SemiarSpeculative Prospectus
Health and Medical Seminar
Step One: Focusing Your Research with a Speculative Prospectus
Description of Assignment:
This assignment is designed to help you focus on a very specific current issue related to the field of Science or Health and state your opinion on it. The speculative prospectus will help you articulate your current ideas about your topic, as well as your future research plans, laying out a “map” for your future studies, and possibly certain aspects of the presentation to come.
You can think of this prospectus as a statement of intention that speculates on the research you would like to pursue. You will certainly be able to change or modify your original position as your research progresses. In fact, you should not be concerned if you do switch sides more than once throughout your process. This is a natural response to continued research on a particular issue, and it is appropriate to keep an open mind as you work with your topic.
This speculative prospectus is a summary and need not be developed like a formal essay. I am only asking for 1-2 sentences per prompt. Follow the format below, using the headings to organize your prospectus. In addition to this written component of the assignment, you will also be presenting the essence of your prospectus in a 1-2-minute presentationnext week.
#1) Research Area:
In 1-2 sentences tell me the topic areayou want to research. Sometimes it helps to frame this by thinking of a problem that exists where you think something could be changed to make things better. For instance, you might think that there is a problem with care for the elderly in America, and one change might be increasing the meals-on-wheels types of programs. Or, in the general arena of sustainable energy, you might think of issues related to wind farms, solar power, hydropower, biopower, geothermal, nuclear power and from that consider a public policy issue, such as the Kyoto Protocol. It often helps to select a topic that is controversial in some way; that is, something over which reasonable people might disagree.
#2) Research Question:
In 1-2 sentences craft a working research question which captures the essence of the issue or debate. What specific issue regarding this topic you interested in pursuing? It is preferable to center your question on the word, “How…”. For example: “How does cellulosic ethanol compare with other types of ethanol or biofuels, and how could the industry attract the level of public and financial support in the US which the technology deserves?” or “How can the US implement and enforce a cap and trade carbon policy in a way that would garner public support and benefit the economy?” or “How is the general public being led to believe that hydrogen fuel cells are more of a panacea than they truly are, and what can be done to shift this emphasis?” The more specific you can make this question, the better, because that makes the research process far more focused, and easier overall. However, it is highly likely that the question will continue to evolve as you delve further into your research over the coming weeks.
#3) My Current Position On This Issue (subject to change):
In one sentence, state your position on the issue (of course, you may change this position at any time in your research process). Do not elaborate; summarize your stance in one sentence only.
#4) What I Need to Find Out Generally about my Subject Matter:
In 1-2 sentences summarize what specific facts would a person need to understand in order to address the question in an intelligent and well-informed way? For example, if you were to write about the Three Gorges Dam, what information would you need to track down right away? How do dams work? How much does it cost to build a dam? Where are they most cost-effective? How much electricity can a dam provide over its lifecycle? How does that figure compare to other forms of renewable or nonrenewable energy sources currently being used in that area? Scientific data? Economic data? Socio-political information? If in doubt, try out the journalist’s questions: Who? When? Where? Why? How? What? Which? To what extent?
#5) What I Need to Find Out First about the Rhetoric Surrounding my Issue:
In 1-2 sentences speculate on what kinds of documents might be out there informing the public on the issue. Is the issue presented in different ways to different audiences? What range of literature/advertising/media might you consult? For example, are there newspaper articles, op-ed pieces, advertisements, pamphlets, websites, et al. ? (Come up with examples besides the ones I’ve listed here.) Where could you start to look for such items? Who were these items designed for in the first place and with what agenda? Are they successful? Are they failing? Some combination of both?
#6) Possible Counterarguments to my Current Position:
In 1-2 sentences summarize what you think people who disagree with you would say about your position (what you wrote in #3). Once you’ve considered your own perspective on the issue at this point, it’s important to consider what the opposition’s perspective might be. These counterarguments could be ones which are already apparent within the debate, or they could simply be points which you suspect could be problematic about your own position so far.
#7) Avenues of Research:
List 10-20 keywords where you plan to begin your research, both for technical material and rhetorical material (which may overlap, in some instances). Be as specific as possible at this stage. In other words, don’t just write, “consult books and magazines,” but write specifically which books (or category of books), which journals, which magazines, which databases in Rowland Library’s information system are likely to be of importance to your topic? This question is meant to encourage you to actually start investigating possible sources in the library or online.
#8) Related Key Words:
List 10-20 keywords related to specific subjectsthat may be directly or indirectly related to the one you are interested in researching. Use your imagination to think of synonyms or related concepts, e.g., technology, automobiles, transportation, batteries, alternative fuels, renewable resources, green politics, etc. List as many search terms / keywords as you can come up with so far.
#9) Why I Chose This Topic:
In 1-2 sentences explain your impulse for choosing this topic. What are your reasons for wanting to spend several weeks thinking and writing about this issue? These reasons may be personal, academic, political, social, economic, or some combination of any of these. (Tip: If you can’t think of any compelling reasons, you may want to reconsider your choice of topic.)
#11) My Current Understanding of This Topic:
In 1-2 sentences summarize whatyou already know about your research area. Where did you learn about it, and from whom? If you chose your topic precisely because you wanted to know more about it, it is appropriate to explain that, and be specific about what you hope to gain from the project.
#12) Why My Topic is (or should be) Important to Others:
In 1-2 sentences explain why anyone else should care about this topic. In other words, provide some sort of response to the infamous question, “So what?” How are various people involved (taxpayers, voters, future generations, indigenous people, wildlife, economy, health, etc.)? How does this set of issues affect people other than yourself? Are the externalities only local, or could they be global as well?
Important Details and Deadlines:
Typed, 1-1/2 spacing. Keep the numbers and bolded headings.Due Dates: / Working Draft (written) due on ______
Final Draft (written) due on ______
1-2 minute Oral Presentations to be delivered on ______
NOTE: You may turn this in earlier for quicker feedback.
Evaluation: / The written portion will be evaluated based on clarity, specificity, and
thoroughness; the oral portion will be evaluated based on organization,
subject knowledge appropriate to the early phases of research, and
elocution (including adhering to assigned time-limitations.
Adapted with permission from handouts of Grant Hier (UCI, LCAD) and Kimberly Moekle (UCI, Stanford)