Eng. 102 College Writing and Rhetoric

Research Topic Proposal Assignment Purpose:

The Research Topic Proposal is designed to help you think about and commit to a topic that has rich potential for research and argument. It also provides an opportunity for you to receive feedback about the viability of your question early in the writing process.

Description:

The proposal identifies and discusses a research question you have chosen to research and write about for the rest of the semester. A complete proposal should be around 250-300 words and answer (but not list) the following questions:

1) Identify and explain the research question: What is your question? What led you to ask it? (i.e., why are you interested in it?)

2) Provide the necessary background information on the topic to help

your readers understand the question. That is, what do you already know and think about this topic?

3) Help readers to see why your question is problematic—that is, why it’s

a genuine problem with no right answers.

4) Explain why the question is significant or important. Who specifically is it important to?

Grading Criteria:

• Quality of Research Question: potential for research and argument

• Comprehensiveness: proposal answers all four questions thoroughly

• Readability: written in clear, correct prose style appropriate for

academic writing Points: 50 points Due Date:

Tuesday of Week 3 by end of day (11:59 pm) See Bblearn menu for specific date