CAPSTONE VOCABULARY and Submission 1

Topic Approval 1 page worksheet – Identify the social problem and the policy solution – Identify the unit of analysis – Identify the preliminary arguments for both sides Due on 1/30/2012

SUBMISSION 1

Submission One – 10% Paper One consists of 2 parts: 1.Annotated Bibliography 2.Research Proposal (worksheet)

Research Proposal Worksheet. Overview ONLY! Do not go into depth. Get the arguments right! In prose form, this becomes the introduction to Submission Two.

Sub 1: Annotated Bibliography Basically a feasibility study Requires 14 sources total, pro- and con- Books, scholarly articles, activist websites and government resources No “helper” sources (limited journalistic sources and magazines allowed, but NO Wikipedia, NO Taking Sides or Controversial Issues citations etc.) Include: MLA Works Cited plus “annotations” (comments on each source’s authority, and on how you will use each source) Due on Valentines EVE (2/13)!

How Many Sources 14 Total – 7 for the Pro Side – 7 For the Con Side These should be solid/authoritative sources

Good vs. Bad Good – Scholarly journal articles – Government documents – Reputable newspapers – Webpages of influental groups Bad – Wikipedia – Private Individuals with webpages – Non-influential groups – Trade publications (People, Esquire)

Annotation involves 2 things Develop a standard MLA citation for each entry Summarizing each source – Why it is credible – How it will contribute to your project

Recap Submission One = Annotated Bibliography + Research Proposal (worksheet) Research Proposal is revised for the introduction to Submission Two and subsequent submissions. Put all the stuff in your Research File

CAPSTONE VOCABULARY Talking the Talk, is just as important as walking the walk

TOPIC QUESTION The title of your project Concern about what should be done about a specific social problem (i.e., a normative question) Answers imply a policy, so be specific Lets use a hypothetical, b.s. topic: Should abortion be legal?

POSITION One specific answer to topic question Particular stance on topic – Yes, abortion should remain legal. – No, Laws should be changed to make it illegal in all cases.

SIDES Identify all who share a position using shortcuts (efficient) Tell readers – Opponents and Proponents – Side A and Side B – Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Avoid generalizations

PARTIES TO THE CONTROVERSY “Who holds each position?” Important actors with a vested interest – Abortion Groups – Doctors groups – Religious groups – Politicians

GENERAL PARTIES TO THE CONTROVERSY (aggregate data) Broad types of people who have taken a specific position Qualify as precisely as possible Not all of one type of people ever take one position (e.g. All Dems or Reps)

SPECIFIC PARTIES TO THE CONTROVERSY (Individual Data) “Leading the charge” for a given side Specific individuals or named groups – Rick Santorum, Presidential Candidate – Nancy Pelosi, Former Speaker of the House

ISSUES Broad concerns that the sides are arguing over No opinionated language Generally sides “share” issues Usually 4-5 issues per controversy

EXAMPLES OF ISSUES Personhood, i.e., When does the fetus become a person? Choice, i.e., How much control should women have over their bodies? Safety, i.e., Is it safer or less safe for women if abortions are legal?

ARGUMENTS Gives the OPINION of the side (which includes all the parties to the controversy) about each specific issue Each side may have several arguments about each issue Each argument should relate back to the side’s position.

EVIDENCE What each side uses to SUPPORT its arguments Can include: – Statistical information – Case studies – Expert testimony Quantity and quality

EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE The pro-life side argues that the fetus is a person. To support this view, they point to a study done at the University of Maryland Medical School which showed that 93% of 1000 fetuses tested in utero at approximately weeks reacted to stimuli (Cortez 119). Dr. John Langen, Ph.D., Professor of Theology at Notre Dame University, and Biblical scholar speaks for the pro- life side when he contends that there are numerous Biblical passages that supports fetal personhood (1130).

PLANS/ACTIONS “What are the sides doing to insure their position is the one in force?” Practical, concrete actions Examples: developing proposals lobbying working with electoral system at all levels using the media

EXAMPLES OF PLANS/ACTIONS Pro-Choice: – working with lobbyists – electing sympathetic candidates – working with/ protecting doctors Pro-Life – grassroots campaigns – media campaigns (emotional appeals) – electing sympathetic candidates

VALUES Ultimate “goods” Bedrock of each side’s case All parties on a side hold all values

REVIEW Topic question = the clearly stated controversy Positions = possible answers to the topic question Parties to the controversy = describes who takes each position – General = broad types of people – Specific = named groups or individuals who are leaders on each side

REVIEW, cont. Issues = Concerns that the sides are arguing over Arguments = opinions of each side related to each issue Evidence – what a side gives to support each argument

REVIEW, cont. Plans = Concrete actions taken to insure that the side’s position is the one in force Values = Ultimate goods

REVIEW EXAMPLE Topic question: Should abortion remain legal? One position: No, abortion should be illegal in all cases. Side Nickname: pro-life.

REVIEW EXAMPLE, cont. General Parties to Controversy on Pro-Life side: Conservative Legislators from both parties, some doctors; some Christians and religious groups; etc. Specific P to C on conservative side: Rick Santorum, Focus on Family,

REVIEW EXAMPLE, cont. Pro Life’ side’s plans: electing Republicans, especially in the upcoming Congressional campaign; etc. Pro-Life’ side’s underlying values: The life of the fetus; family; responsibility; maturity;