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

y L

ea

rnin

g O

utc

om

es

Pro

gre

ssio

n

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

at

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