POL S 385 POLS/LSJ/SIS Writing Center

Research Paper 8 – 10 page persuasive essay that identifies an important problem in the world food system and prescribes a solution or set of solutions designed to address it. Evaluated on coherence, organization, clarity, thoroughness, grammar, style, responsiveness to feedback on proposal

Paper Components – Articulation of the Problem (3 pages) Goal of this section: Describe the contours of the problem in a way that sets you up to offer a compelling solution or set of solutions. Why is this a problem? What groups are affected? In what way? Are different groups affected among different dimensions? What are the political, social, and economic conditions that structure this problem? Do any individuals/groups benefit from keeping this problem in place? If yes, how does this influence the structure of the problem?

Paper Components – Structuring a Solution Outline your proposed solution: Who can/will implement the solution? What will implementation require in terms of economic resources, political commitment, shifting of consumer allegiances, etc. What aspects of the problem outlined above will be addressed by the solution(s)? If the solution has been attempted before, how does you proposal capitalize on what was learned in the earlier attempt?

Paper Components – Structuring a Solution Persuade me to accept your solution by anticipating potential objections: What systemic effects and unintended consequences do you anticipate? How do you justify these unintended consequences? What are the costs (social, economic, ecological) associated with your solution? Who will bear them? How do you justify these costs? If there are major competing proposals, why is your solution the one that should be adopted? How does your solution deepen our understanding of the intersection of political, economic and ecological forces in the world system?

Tips to Keep in Mind Persuade don’t just present Be specific name your actors know the level of government implicated in any implementation stages distinguish those who benefit/bear burdens of particular problems and solutions Avoid straw man arguments: To make the most compelling case, you need to be upfront about the strongest objections and answer them seriously.

Thesis In this case, your thesis should provide a brief outline of the contours of the problem followed by a summary of your solution and the reasons why it is the best option available for addressing the problems.

Example Thesis The fact that 40,000 people die each day from hunger is a human rights disaster. Particularly problematic is the lack of protein, essential vitamins and fatty acids--all of which will only worsen in the face of climate change and the collapse of world fisheries. Yet a promising solution has existed since 1974, when the UN World Food Conference cited spirulina, a protein-rich blue-green algae, as “the best food for the future.” This essay shows why, forty years later, spirulina remains a promising yet undeveloped solution. Despite a wealth of success stories from Africa and Asia, the promise remains unrealized largely because of cultural factors: people simply do not know how to incorporate blue-green algae into their diets. The missing link, I argue, is an educational program that teaches people how to not only grow but also how to cook with and enjoy spirulina.

Evidence Evidence will be critical in both setting up your problem and arguing for your solution. What types of evidence do you need to establish the problem? What types of evidence do you need in support of your solution?

Conclusion The conclusion is essentially a rear-view mirror: here’s what I’ve done and here’s the route I’ve taken. It introduces no new evidence Conclusions remind the reader of the stakes of your problem and the capacity of your solution.

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