research proposal

Research Proposal Assignment

Due Tuesday, July 9

· Your topic proposal should take at least two full pages of development.

· Write in complete sentences, follow MLA heading and formatting forms, and use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

1. Clearly identify the social problem your topic addresses. (If stakeholders disagree on what the problem is, identify BOTH social problems.)

2. Include a draft of your thesis, in the form of a value-neutral “should” question. The question must reflect an actual policy proposal by an actual stakeholder and should include the name of a specific entity capable of enacting the policy.

3. Identify stakeholders who take at least two different perspectives on your question. For this assignment, stakeholders should be organized and have some kind of power to impact the issue. List the different groups of stakeholders (these will be names of actual groups), and clearly explain the perspective of each. (This will provide at least one “yes” and one “no” answer to your question. Explain why for each answer. Note that your paper requires two stakeholders on each side.)

4. Briefly describe the conflict, or clash, in your topic. What makes this controversial? (NOTE: The conflict is NOT necessarily the same as the social problem. For example, if we identify teen pregnancy as a social problem, one relevant controversy is that some people believe that comprehensive sexual education is the solution, while some believe that abstinence is the solution.)

5. List the issues at stake in your topic and in the solution suggested in your thesis.