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RHET 1040:0004| SPRING 2018
Write a thoroughly researched proposal that offers a specific solution to address some aspect of a problem that you identify on the local, regional, national, or international
level.
The White Paper
#3 Yo
ur
Ta
sk
1. Problem Proposal: Due 4/4 by the start of class
Submit a preliminary problem statement to ICON
2. Pre-Writing/Drafting Activity: Due 4/11 by the start of class
Complete and submit at least one pre-writing/drafting activity on ICON
3. Research Activity: Due 4/13 by the start of class
Complete and submit at least one research activity on ICON
4. Essay #2 Complete Draft: Due 4/20 by the midnight
Submit a complete draft of your essay to ICON and bring laptop or other device to class for peer review
5. Revision Activity: Due 4/27 by the start of class
Complete and submit at least one revision activity and submit on ICON
6. Essay #2 Final Draft: Due 5/4 by midnight
Submit final, revised version of your paper to ICON
Pro
ce
ss
Essay
De
tails
In this paper you will build on the research, writing, and analysis skills you developed in the first two modules to research, write, and revise a problem-driven “white paper” that identifies and explains a specific problem and proposes and advocates for a particular solution. You have the freedom to choose any problem that you think is significant whether it is an issue here at the University of Iowa or an international problem. The key here is to choose a specific, significant problem that you want to focus on and to explore the problem sufficiently to begin to propose a solution. You should not start with a solution in mind, but should instead use your research as a means of finding and articulating a solution.
1. Select, explore, and thoroughly research a problem of your choice
2. Write an effective introduction and background for your paper, providing the audience with the necessary context to understand the issue you’re addressing
3. Write a detailed problem section that integrates research from credible sources to describe the characteristics of the problem
4. Write a solution section that explains the criteria for a solution to your problem, offers a specific solution, and justifies that solution using reader
5. Select sources appropriate to your topic and integrate them effectively into your writing
6. Find sources from at least two disciplinary perspectives and at least two print sources
7. Identify a target audience for your proposal and implement effective persuasive strategies for convincing them of your solution.
8. Produce a bibliography of your research using the citation style of your choice
9. Continue to explore the stages of the writing process through a variety of drafting and revision techniques
10. Continue to build on the skills developed during the first and second essay
Essa
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Pro
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Sections
Introduction
Your introduction offers the reader a sense of the problem that you’re tackling (in 1-1½ pages). The introduction should identify and explain the importance of the overall topic, summarize the main points and positions on this topic, explain any key terms, and offer a roadmap of where the rest of the paper will go. As you craft this section, make sure to tailor it to your particular audience and to
give the reader a summary of both what the issue is and why it is important for them to
pay attention to.
Background/Problem
This section gives the reader a brief history (3-4 pages) of the problem that you’re trying
to address and also identifies and explains significant elements of the problem
(including the ones that you’ll address in the solution section). This section will rely on a good deal of research and needs to provide specific details about why this is a problem.
The key here is to use your research to make a compelling case to the reader about what
the problem is, how the problem has evolved, and why the problem is important enough to
merit a solution.
Solution
The solution section offers a specific concrete solution to the problem that you have identified and supports that solution
with specific evidence culled from your research (in 3-4 pages). Your solution does not need to completely solve the problem, nor does it need to be completely original, but it does need to offer a new element to
the solution or combine or modify solutions proposed by others. You will most likely find that it is easier to tackle a portion or specific element of the problem and offer a detailed solution to the problem rather than taking
on the problem in its totality.
Conclusion
The conclusion is an opportunity for you to synthesize (different from summarizing) all
of the parts of the paper that have come before, to highlight the main points of your
arguments for your solution, and to reinforce the significance of the issue and the
importance of the solution that you have proposed. Far more than a simple review of
your paper, the conclusion is a chance to make important connections and make one
final pitch for your solution. This is the section that your reader will remember most
so it’s important to make it resonate!
Wh
ite
Pa
pe
r F
orm
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Throughout the course of this unit, you will have a wide variety of options for completing the process documents that build toward your complete paper. There are no required writing assignments (except for the composition plan, which we will work on together) and you will be able to select the writing activities that you complete from the “menu” below. There are 100 points associated with the process documents for this essay and you can earn these 100 (though no more), through whatever activities you choose, though you must be sure to complete at least one from each category by the due dates above. The detailed descriptions for the activities can be found on ICON.
How you earn your points is completely up to you, but I recommend trying at least one new exercise for each type of writing. I also recommend spreading your exercises throughout the course of the unit so that you are not scrambling to earn enough points at the end.
Pre-Writing/Drafting
• Composition Plan (7) • Freewriting Practice (7) • Outline (10) • Concept Map (7) • Paper Sketch (7) • Chunking (5/¶) • Weekly Habit (10) • Preliminary Conference (10)
Pro
ce
ss
Researching
• Research Journal (10) • Research Consultation (20) • Annotated Bibliography (15) • Literature Review (15) • Synthesis Matrix (15) • Interview (10) • Believing & Doubting (5) • Research Conference (10)
Revising
• Paragraph Outline (5) • Paper Coding (5) • Reverse Outline (5) • Paragraph Dissection (5) • Paragraph Drill (5) • Syntax Highlighting (5) • Sentence Rewrites (5) • “Find” and “Recplace” (5) • Writing Center Visit (15) • Revision Conference (10)
Criteria A-Level Assignment B-Level Assignment C-Level Assignment
Introduction
Section
Clear, concise introduction to the topic and specific problem, including the
stakes of the problem. Also offers a clear roadmap of
the paper
Clear, concise introduction to the topic and specific problem, including the stakes of the problem.
General introduction to either the topic or the
specific problem addressed in the paper, possibly including the stakes.
Hook
Concise, engaging, and representative question,
anecdote, or other strategy that effectively captures and holds the reader’s attention
Concise, engaging, and representative question,
anecdote or other strategy that engages the reader’s
interest
Engaging question, anecdote, question, or other
strategy that piques the reader’s interest
Problem
Section
Explores and explains a specific, discrete problem, including its background,
why it’s a problem, and the elements that will be
addressed in the solution
Explores and explains a largely specific, discrete
problem, including details about it’s background and
why it’s a problem
Explores a problem including providing some
detail about it’s background and an explanation about
why it’s a problem
Solution
Section
Offers readers a clear, concrete, and specific
solution to the problem, including details about
implementation
Offers readers a clear, concrete, and specific solution to the problem
Offers readers a mostly clear, concrete, and specific
solution to the problem
Conclusion
Synthesizes previous sections of the paper and makes a final pitch for the
proposed solution, considering the larger context of the issue
Synthesizes previous sections of the paper and makes a final pitch for the
proposed solution
Summarizes previous sections to make a final pitch for the proposed
solution
Research
Integration
Effectively integrates research from at least
twelve sources, at least eight of which must be cited
in the text of the paper
Effectively integrates research from at least ten
sources, at least six of which must be cited in the
text of the paper
Effectively integrates research from at least eight
sources, at least five of which must be cited in the
text of the paper
Persuasion
Both problem section and solution section build upon themselves to persuade the reader of the problem and solution, offering specific
details and a refutation of at least two counterarguments
Both problem section and solution section persuade the reader of the problem
and solution, offering specific details and a
refutation of at least one counterargument
Both problem section and solution section persuade the reader of the problem
and solution, offering specific details for each
Justification
Proposed solution is explained in such a way
that it aligns and addresses specific elements of the
problem
Proposed solution is explained in such a way that it largely aligns and
addresses specific elements of the problem
Proposes solution is explained and its alignment
with the details of the problem are largely implicit
Bibliography Citations perfectly
consistent and correctly formatted
Citations almost completely consistent and correctly
formatted
Citations largely consistent and correctly formatted
Mechanics
Free from distracting or significant errors in
grammar, and punctuation. Organization enhances reader’s understanding
Free from distracting or significant errors in
grammar, punctuation, and organization
Free mostly free from significant or distracting
errors in grammar, punctuation, and
organization