An issue proposal is a thesis-driven prospectus of a research project, which identifies an issue related to the topic you have chosen to research and creates a plan for the research work you will complete.
An issue proposal serves an important function in both educational and institutional research settings. In some cases, issue proposals are referred to as research proposals; they clarify a current research goal and identify a timeline for a research project. In ENG103, you will begin with an investigation into current news and analysis of your research topics; this will then lead to a further examination of a specific, current problem related to this topic. Your issue proposal paper is the first step in declaring your research.
To begin, choose an issue you have identified and initiate an investigation into the broader topic or a topic of interest within the general area. While conducting this initial investigation, you can begin to outline your findings and positions and then further articulate your proposal according to the following structure.
Structure
Introduction
In a concise and focused paragraph, define a current issue in the topic being researched (an issue that has not currently been solved), and explain the nature and scope of this issue. This introduction must include a focused thesis that argues why this particular issue is pressing and important (and, remember, there may be many different issues related to this topic, depending on your perspective and/or values).
Background/Context
This section is sometimes called a “statement of the issue/problem.” In a maximum of three paragraphs, explain the background and context of the issue. This includes, but is not limited to, why this issue exists, where the issue is occurring, the players involved, as well as the primary scientific, cultural, economic, societal and/or political failures that shape the issue. This section should expand on the definition of the issue offered in the Introduction, and, using specific, cited evidence, provide detailed picture of the current situation related to the issue at hand. Make sure to quote or paraphrase from at least two current, relevant sources, and to cite them according to MLA guidelines, to support any claims made in this section.
Research Questions
Since issue proposals identify research goals, one requirement of this proposal is that you must begin to plan out a research agenda for the next two papers. After you have clearly defined the nature and scope of the problem at hand, the next step is to develop specific research questions you will need to ask to identify who is most affected by the issue. Although a complete knowledge of the causes and effects of the problem will not be known until research is conducted, it is nevertheless important to have done enough background research to be properly oriented to later propose solutions. Therefore, in this section, you will list the questions (in paragraph form) that will help you identify the who’s, what’s, where’s and possibly begin to touch on the how’s and whys of the issue. NOTE: This section will lay the groundwork for both the Exploratory Essay and the Advocacy Essay you will write later in this semester.
Then, since your Issue Proposal must discuss an issue that has not yet been solved, your next set of questions (again, in paragraph form) should begin to help you explore why this issue is currently without a solution, as well as who is currently interested in working towards a solution. This section should include explicit research questions that you can use to determine the answers you will need. The point is to begin to determine from your preliminary research what additional questions you think you will need to answer to fulfill the requirements of your next two essays and to let these questions guide the next phase of your research.
Review of the Research
This final section (usually one paragraph long) will provide a brief review of the research undertaken so far.
Your Issue Proposal will lay the foundations for the rest of the semester, so defining the issue, researching some of its history and finding out who’s involved in this issue will be crucial to your success in both your Exploratory Essay and Advocacy Essay.
Research Proposal Requirements
Minimum 3 pages in MLA Format
Works Cited page with at least 4 cited sources
4 Sources included