For this assignment, you will synthesize information from 5 or more sources on a topic of your choice, that has a potential area of debate or argument. Your goal is to understand the topic from all angles- to explain the scope of the topic, and to describe how or what major participants in the topic debate.
Note that you are NOT taking a position on the topic or issue. Instead, your role is to investigate, develop understanding of the topic, as well as places of debate about the topic, AND THEN you are to “synthesize” the information so that your readers can better understand the topic and what is debated about the topic. You will present all this information about the topic in an organized essay, as described in the course, using citation and college level formatting.
In general, topics that intrigue or confuse you will work better than topics about which you already have a strong and passionate opinion or knowledge. It will be easier to investigate and synthesize a topic objectively if you have not already taken a side or opinion about that topic. Use this paper as a chance to dive into a topic you would like to understand better, rather than a topic you already know about.
You will be using multiple sources to provide information about your topic. Select sources that represent several legitimate points of view held by people with acknowledged experience, authority, responsibilities, or interests in your topic. Synthesizing information requires that you clearly and objectively understand each point of view expressed about the topic. As you move forward on research, we will use the Annotated Bibliography (Module 4) as a starting place to organize your research. In the Annotated Bibliography, be prepared to include, as appropriate, any or all of the following information on your source authors:
· Background on values, experiences, or responsibilities that have shaped the views of stakeholders (the people in each category).
· Basis (evidence) for why these views seem appropriate for these stakeholders.
· General statement of what those views are.
· Examples of the actions and decisions that those views might lead to.
· Analysis of the rhetorical strategies used by the writers in each category to influence you. (How are these writers trying to create certain moods and attitudes, to establish the significance of particular issues and themes, or create a response in you?)
In Writing about your topic, not only will you have to explain information about the topic, but also how the topic is viewed and if there are areas of debate. This information will have to be explained and analyzed- try to explain the different points of view, or the different concerns, priorities, conclusions, or solutions in regard to the issues in the topic. You are looking for not only information about the topic, but about the issues in the topic. Explain what groups debate about the topic, and what they think. You ARE NOT passing judgment on these debates. A good way to find areas of debate in a topic are to look for the differences and similarities explanation of the topic:
· Differences and similarities in definitions of key terms
· Differences or similarities in explaining what is going on, and why
· Differences and similarities in understanding of the facts
· Differences and similarities in values
· Differences in the relative importance placed on certain facts or values
· Differences or similarities in arguments about cause & effect
· Differences or similarities in proposals for what to do about the problem
· Points where most groups agree, and why
· Points where most groups disagree, and why
You need to use at least five sources from the Ivy Tech Virtual Library databases in your writing. You need at least one source that presents points of views about an area of debate in the topic. You can have more than this. Any presentation of information or points of view should be those of your sources, not your own, and SHOULD NOT be presented as your own. You may be forming opinions as you read and evaluate, but don’t present your opinion in this paper. This is an information paper only- not argument/persuasion.
Consider what your own readers are like, too. Put some thought into the audience analysis activity before undertaking your first draft (See the section on Audience Analysis below, Activity during module 5). Part of your purpose is to inform and educate your readers, and to do that you need to think about what those readers are like, what motivates and interests them, and what why they should care about what you have to say on this topic.
MLA or APA manuscript style with in-text documentation and Works Cited or References page (this page does not count in the minimum word count requirement).
· Clearly developed main point (thesis) that analyzes connections or explains disagreements on a problem or issue.
· Broad understanding of the issue, supported with relevant evidence and examples and using an unbiased and professional tone to discuss various points of view.
· Observation of the conventions of Standard English
· Audience awareness.
· Use of at least five print sources from the Ivy Tech Virtual Library databases, representing a variety of viewpoints on the problem or issue.
