THE PROPOSAL
WRITING PROJECT #3 | THE PROPOSAL
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this year (April 22nd), we will dedicate an entire unit to researching various problems that impact our environment and climate change.
In this writing project, you will write a research proposal that enumerates feasible solutions to a problem or issue linked to sustainability. You must first decide if you want to tackle a problem directed at climate change or a problem directed at environmental impact. *Note well: these are not necessarily the same kind of problem, and it is inaccurate to conflate the two terms.
Keep in mind that your interest is crucial in aiding the creative process. The more interest you have regarding the problem you select, the easier the process will be in researching and writing the proposal itself.
Below are some key elements of a proposal.
· A well-defined problem. This assignment requires that your research extensively shows the causes and effects of your selected problem and should suggest a sense of urgency as to why that problem needs to be solved now.
· A plan for solving the problem. Your devised plan should enumerate the steps involved in effectively carrying out your proposed solutions.
· The benefits of your proposed solutions. A well-argued proposal will use rhetorical strategies to convince its reader that the solutions are greatly beneficial.
Paper Guidelines:
· MLA format (Double-spaced, 12 point font, 1” margins)
· Minimum Length: 5 pages
· Minimum of 5 credible sources
· Total Points: 100
Due: Monday, December 7th, 11:59PM
POSSIBLE TOPICS
**You are not limited to these options
Climate Change
Greenwashing
Loss of Biodiversity
Plastic Waste
Air Pollution
Overpopulation
Energy Conservation
Food waste
Household and Industrial Waste
Deforestation
Global Emissions
Meat Diets
Melting of Polar Ice Caps
Diminished Natural Resources
Overfishing
The Garbage Patch/Ocean Trash
Non-sustainable Travel/ “Overtourism”
Landfills
WP3- PROPOSAL OUTLINE
I. FOCUSED, WELL-DEFINED PROBLEM
a) Establish/introduce the problem
b) Frame the problem
c) Provide historical context, if necessary
d) Explore causes and effects of the problem
e) Use statistics and research to support the existence/severity of problem
**This portion should comprise the introduction and first half of your paper.
II. WELL-ARGUED SOLUTION
a) Introduce solution or set of solutions
b) Options:
v Adapt a similar solution that has been tried or proposed
v Propose an entirely new solution/ set of solutions developed by YOU
v Focus on eliminating a cause or minimizing an effect of the problem
c) Include costs-benefits analysis (How do the benefits outweigh the costs of the solutions?)
III. REBUTTAL
Options:
a) Respond to objections to cost or plausibility of solution(s)
b) Respond to other proposed solutions that flawed or problematic
IV. CONCLUSION
