This is a SCORED assignment. You get either a 5 (COMPLETELY DONE, with thought) or a 0. It is due when you walk in the door on Friday, April 4. DO NOT SKIP THIS. It can be typed or hand-­‐written. ASSIGNMENT: PREWRITING BEFORE DOING in-­‐depth RESEARCH Please do the following for TWO TENTATIVE TOPICS (at this point, you can still change). You are welcome to do some initial Internet research on a few topics to give you some background, but you do not have to in order to complete this assignment. Part I: This part is brainstorming. I do NOT need to see part I. Still, this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Scribble away….. 1.
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After settling on a tentative topic idea, try to list reasons why the topic is a potentially complex topic (why is it debatable) and who the potential intended audience might be. o
My topic is Scientology o
I think it’s a debatable topic because some people think Scientology is a religion, while others think it’s a cult. Still others think it’s a financial scam. o
My topic would meet the specific audience criteria since I would be trying to convince my Bible Study Group. Then, try to list as many WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHY questions as you can think of as they relate to that topic. The goal is to find the BIG research question, and separate it from the smaller questions (that still need answers). For example: o
What is Scientology? o
When did Scientology begin? o
How did Scientology become so popular with celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta? o
Why do some people think Scientology is a religion? o
Why do some people think Scientology is a cult? o
Why do some people think Scientology is scamming the government of taxes and its members of their incomes? Keep going: list as many questions as you can think of: don’t censor yourself. 3.
Then decide which questions (or combination of questions) might be a good guide for researching an argument essay. For your research paper, you’ll still need to answer related who, what, when questions, but you want to start your research with an overall question. You might begin with several and refine later: o
Why do some people believe that Scientology is not a religion? o
Should Scientology be considered a religion? o
What makes a religion officially a religion? How does Scientology fit into this? Part II: This is the part you will turn in to Rubenstein. You are required to pick TWO SEPARATE TOPICS and do this FOR EACH ONE. Once you’ve come up with an overall research question, put it on top. Then list supporting questions or subtopics (perhaps from your brainstormed list above) that will help you answer that open ended overall research question, which ALSO must be answered in your essay. Below are TWO examples of what you should post in the Discussion Board: Keep in mind that you can TOTALLY change your position once you start researching! The goal here is to make sure your topic truly is a debate and to help you do the initial research: EXAMPLE #1: Topic: o
Scientology and religion Issue/Debatable Research Question: o
Should Scientology be considered a religion? Why I think it’s a debatable research question: •
In the past, almost every established religious group was perceived as a cult: Scientology has been labeled a cult: I want to find out if it is one or not. Information I’ll need to research o
History: When did Scientology begin? o
Background on topic: What are the beliefs of Scientology? o
Explain the History of the Debate: Why is Scientology so controversial? When did it become controversial? What are the differences between a religion and a cult? o
Reasons and evidence from the various positions: Why do people think it’s a cult? Why is it not a cult? __________________ EXAMPLE #2: Topic: Bullfighting Issue/Debatable research question: •
Should bullfighting in Spain and Mexico be banned or allowed to continue as a cultural tradition? Why I think it’s a debatable research question: •
Some people believe that as a cultural tradition, bullfighting should be allowed to continue. Others agree, but think it should be changed so that fewer bulls are hurt. While others think it’s a form of animal abuse. Information I’ll need to research: •
Background on the topic: What is the history of bullfighting? •
History of the Debate: When did the debate about bullfighting begin and why? Why do some people argue that bullfighting is a cultural tradition and should not be banned. •
Reasons and Evidence from various positions: Why do some people think it should be banned? Why do others think it shouldn’t be banned? ______________________________ Try this with 2 of the topics. Remember, you aren’t STUCK with these two topics yet. You still need to do some research, research that will definitely add to your questions, and research that may change the focus of your questions entirely. The goal with this assignment is to start brainstorming a topic that you can live with for the rest of the term! Also, once folks start posting topics, you might see one that interests you more: there is no problem working on the same issue as another student. The page below can be used as a template (you can copy and paste it and fill in the blanks: TOPIC or SUBJECT #1: •
Issue OR Debate in the form of a question: •
Why I think it’s a debatable research question: •
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Information I’ll need to research: o Background on the topic: o o History of the Debate: o Reasons and Evidence from the various positions: TOPIC or SUBJECT #2: •
Issue OR Debate in the form of a question: •
Why I think it’s a debatable research question: •
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Information I’ll need to research: o Background on the topic: o o History of the Debate: o o Reasons and Evidence from the various positions: