Social Issues Research Project

SOCIAL ISSUES RESEARCH PROJECT

DUE FRIDAY, April 27th WORTH 50 points (see rubric attached)

We live in times of turmoil, progress and change. In the last one hundred years mankind has experienced advances in medicine, science and technology, economic upheaval, not to mention two World Wars and several "conflicts." The rate at which the world is changing makes it difficult to measure progress. Not all changes from this millennium have been positive and the consequences are often disturbing. How will our era be remembered? With urban sprawl, road rage, school shootings, and world hunger, what will future Social Issues and History teachers teach their students about the 20th century? It hasn't been all doom and gloom, has it?

FORM: Essay format with a clear introduction stating your position on the issue, followed by supporting evidence, and finishing with a summarizing, thought provoking conclusion, all in 6-8 pages. You have two choices for type of paper to write

SOCIAL ISSUE OPTION (possible 55/50) / ARCHITECT OF HOPE OPTION (possible 50/50)
PURPOSE: To propose a specific, research based solution to a specific, modern Social Issue in the U.S. today. / PURPOSE: Research a person who has made a positive contribution to society in the 20th century.
I do NOT want a report listing why it’s such a horrible thing, nor do I want to read a description trying to show why both sides are right, finding a solution is so hard, etc. Rather, paint the picture of why and how we need to make a change to make our world a better place in such a way as to demonstrate thorough knowledge of problem AND in depth knowledge of potential solutions in a 6-8 page paper / I do NOT want to read a list of this person's childhood experiences, education, life goals and other important information. Rather, weave those relevant experiences and goals in such a way that it is clear to me you have an in depth understanding of who is this person is and why he/ she deserves to be the subject of a 6 page paper.
In order to write in an informative and well organized paper, you will need to determine
1.  Why people are concerned about that issue
2.  What are the main arguments on both sides of the issue?
3.  Where do you stand on the issue?
4.  What (if anything) should be changed and who should do it? / In order to write in an informative and well organized paper, you will need to determine
1.  What personal experiences shaped influenced this person to make our world a better place?
2.  What changes has he/she tried to make already?
3.  What does he/she hope to achieve in the future?

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:A clear thesis statement which focuses on a specific proposed solution(s) to help fix the issue. Organize the paper to support your thesis statement! TO HELP FACILITATE THIS, also follow these guidelines:

§  Completed in-paper citations for all factual or evidence based statements (either parenthetical or footnoted citations are acceptable); proper use of quotations

§  6-8 pages, double spaced, 11-12 point font, common font (Arial, Courier, Times, etc.)

§  Pictures, graphs, charts & diagrams when & wherever appropriate to enhance your thesis.

DUE DATES ALONG THE WAY:

1)  Friday, March 8th: Brainstorming

1. What is the purpose of this project for your chosen topic?
2. Prior knowledge summary
3. What are the holes in my knowledge/questions I have

d.  What info do I need to seek and where can I seek it out besides a standard Google search.

2)  Tuesday, March 12th: List of 7 sources including

1. one from a deeperweb.com search describing in detail how you got there
2. 1 from Ebsco host (our library search engine) and describe how you got there

3)  Tuesday, March 19th: Annotated Bibliography of 5 sources (including at least 1 non-internet source?)

1. What part of the paper is this source useful for?
2. What evidence do you have for the validity of the source?

4)  Tuesday, March 26th: Highlighted article packet; at least 5 sources

5)  Friday, March 29th: Thesis statement

6)  Friday, April 5th: Outline which includes ALL information you’ve gathered (make it descriptive), and organize the outline to follow the structure of the paper you plan.

7)  Tuesday, April 16th: Bibliography with at least 10 sources; must have at least 3 different types of sources (periodical, net based, text based, video, interview). WIKIPEDIA DOESN’T COUNT!!!

8)  Rough Draft, Friday April 19th

Friday, April 26th: FINAL DRAFT IS DUE TO TURN IN!

TIPS (BASED ON THE MOST COMMONLY COMMITTED MISTAKES)

·  For proposed solutions to nationwide problems, look at other nations for examples. For state problems, look first at other states (or countries), and for local community problems/solutions, look to other communities or states either in the US or other countries.

·  If you speak of “truth” or what “people believe/think” you need to support it with research-based evidence unless it’s common knowledge.

·  A convincing argument requires good supporting evidence that there is a problem, and evidence of your solution, but it ALSO requires you to analyze that evidence and clearly, logically connect it back to your thesis consistently. Evidence doesn’t stand on its own.

·  Avoid using I/You, no matter how tempting it might be to create “effect”. Using I/You is improper grammar in a research paper.

·  Keep track of where you get all of your information so you can properly cite all sources of information in your final paper.

TOPIC CHOICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO (Any Social Issue that connects to your community service project and is not covered directly or in-depth as a class. You may choose another topic if approved by Mr. H.)

·  Abortion
·  Age Discrimination (young or old)
·  Alternative Energy
·  Animal Rights
·  Binge Drinking
·  Censorship
·  Child Labor
·  Child Soldiers
·  Child Modeling
·  Church-State separation
·  Cloning
·  Consumer Advocacy and Information
·  Corporal Punishment
·  Correction and Rehabilitation (Jails)
·  Creation vs. Evolution
·  Death Penalty
·  Disabilities
·  Drunk Driving
·  State/National Drug Policy
·  Drugs in Sports
·  Educational reform/ Equity
·  Employment and Workplace Issues
·  Environmental protection (many subtopics)
·  Euthanasia
·  Factory Farming
·  Famine
·  Feminism
·  Flag Burning / ·  Food Safety
·  Gangs
·  Gender Issues
·  Genetic Engineering
·  Global Warming
·  Government vs. Religion
·  Gun Control
·  Health Care Policy
·  Homelessness
·  Fair/low-income Housing
·  Human Rights
·  Immigration Reform
·  Immunization
·  Incest
·  Internet regulation/laws
·  Legalization of Marijuana
·  Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual rights
·  Media Ethics and Accountability
·  Men’s Movement
·  Minimum Wage
·  Nuclear weapons ban/disarmament
·  Organ & Body Donation
·  Obesity in society
·  Patriotism
·  Peace and Nonviolence
·  Philanthropy/charity
·  Political Term Limits
·  Pollution; soil, air, water, noise / ·  Population growth/limits
·  Pornography (or Child pornography)
·  Poverty
·  Prayer in Schools
·  Premarital Sex/teen sexuality
·  Prostitution
·  Public Nudity
·  Racism (combating racism, racial profiling, minority rights, etc.)
·  Same Sex Marriages/Gay rights
·  Social Security Reform
·  Socially Responsible Investing
·  Sports facility construction
·  Stem cell research/technology
·  Sustainability (multiple subtopics)
·  Sweatshops
·  Tax Reform
·  Terrorism
·  Tobacco related (smoking, 2nd hand, etc.)
·  Transsexual phobia
·  Urban Sprawl reduction
·  Video Game regulations
·  Violence (multiple possible subtopics)
·  Voluntary Simplicity
·  Waste Management
·  Welfare Reform
·  Whistle blowing
·  Zoos
Proof/Evidence / Analysis /

Grammar/Citations

/

Intro/Thesis/Conclusion

A / Paper provides continuous, clear evidence to support thesis. Many types of sources cited throughout paper. Eases the analysis component of the paper. / Always analyzes evidence with insightful commentary that effectively reinforces main thesis for the reader; enhances reader’s understanding of topic and makes main point seem thoroughly convincing. / Uses a wide variety of sentence types at grade-level. Correctly uses powerful sophisticated vocabulary, and if appropriate uses figurative language to enhance writing. Paper is free or nearly free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and tense and thoroughly follows MLA citation standards. / Introduction clearly shows the Thesis Statement and makes an anticipatory connection to the remainder of the paper. Conclusion clearly reiterates the thesis statement and logically concludes the paper in superior fashion.
B / Suitable evidence with convincing justification-very helpful with analysis. Several sources cited. / Evidence usually (though not always) analyzed with commentary that clearly attempts to re-connect reader with main point though effectiveness at convincing reader of main point validity may be lacking or inconsistent. Reader increases understanding of topic as a result of writer’s commentary though there are some points missed or depth is sometimes lacking. / Usually varies sentence types, and written at grade level. Uses appropriate grade-level vocabulary. Paper has some errors in grammar punctuation or spelling, but these do not lead to confusion. The paper also follows MLA citation standards. / Thesis statement is clearly presented early in the paper but may not make an anticipatory connection to the remainder of the paper. Conclusion reiterates the thesis statement and effectively concludes the paper.
C / Paper provides some clear evidence, but not enough for proper justification of thesis. Few sources cited. / Analysis of evidence is inconsistent. Sometimes presented in a way that re-connects reader with main thesis though connections are often weak or leave the reader with questions or doubts. Commentary does not necessarily enhance reader’s understanding of topic. / Occasional use of a variety of sentence types, and they are not at grade level. Sentences are short and choppy. The vocabulary is basic or repetitive. Paper has an accumulation of errors in grammar, spelling punctuation and tense that may cause confusion. Some of the MLA citations are correctly done. Overall, it looks like more proofreading was necessary. / Thesis statement is found in the introduction but is vague or not easily understood. Any anticipatory connection to the rest of the paper is difficult to locate. Conclusion reiterates the thesis statement but a logical conclusion to the paper is difficult to find.
D / Inadequate evidence, lack of in depth information. No sources cited. / Analysis of evidence has no apparent connection to thesis or main point of paper. Commentary is disconnected from the point of the paper and confuses reader. / No variety of sentence types and shows little control of sentence structure in writing. Vocabulary is limited, basic repetitive, not at grade level and at times incorrect. Paper contains serious persistent errors in grammar, spelling punctuation and tense that cause confusion. Much of the MLA citations are left out or incorrectly done. / Thesis statement is found too late in the paper to effectively guide the reader. Conclusion shows an attempt to logically conclude the paper but stops short.

ARCHITECT OF HOPE RECENT CHOICES:

Nancy Brinker

Leonardo DiCaprio

Mother Teresa

JK Rowling

Bob Marley

Justin Beiber

Pele

Derek Jeter

Aung San Suu Kyi

Steve Young

Rev. Cecil Williams

Harvey Milk

Jane Goodall

John Lennon

Bill Gates

Shakira

Oprah

Dr. Raymond V. Damadian

Paul McCartney

Bono

Dr. Seuss

Andre Agassi

Walt Disney

Lance Armstrong

Pope John Paul II

Ronaldinho

Angelina Jolie

John Wooden

Warren Buffet

Justin Timberlake

Mark Klaas

Bruce Lee

Bethany Hamilton

Jim Valvano

Ellen DeGeneres

Mohammed Ali

Michael Phelps

Paul Newman

Salman Khan

Magic Johnson

George Clooney

.