1. Writing Exercise
Based on your readings, how could you incorporate the findings from fieldwork you conduct into your proposal film?
What are the advantages of collecting data on your own (fieldwork) over using other people’s research?
Which parts of your proposal could a survey or interview support?
How could the results of a survey strengthen your argument?
How could excerpts from an interview strengthen your argument?
This will be collected; please complete on paper or on Canvas.

2. Planning the argument: fieldwork
Day 20 of English 15

3. Using fieldwork as evidence
Prove that other people think your problem exists
Prove that stakeholders—those who either suffer from the problem or hold the resources to solve it—support your proposed plan
Prove that an expert on your issue supports your plan

4. Expert Groups
What are the benefits and drawbacks of surveys as a fieldwork method?
Macy, Luke, McKenna B., Tanner
What are the characteristics of a credible survey?
Lexie, Dillon, Nolan, Vidas
What are the key steps in the polling process?
Regina, Logan, Kyle M., Dylan
What are the benefits and drawbacks of interviews as a fieldwork method?
Ryan, Rico, Joe, Colin G.
What are the characteristics of a credible interviewee?
Collin W., Jacqui, Kyle V., Remy
What are the key steps in the interviewing process?
McKenna K., Rob, Sam, Sydney

5. Survey Tips
In-person questionnaire – ask questions verbally and record responses
Paper questionnaire – distribute and collect copies
Online questionnaire
SurveyMonkey
Google Forms
Others?

6. Identifying causes of a problem
Make a “cause map” like the one below, but also include effects.
Corporal punishment of kids
Children disobey caregivers
Children need to be disciplined
Caregivers can’t control anger

7. Matching cause to solution
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF DISCIPLINE
Give kids time-outs, remove privileges, verbally chastise
IMPROVE CHILD-CAREGIVER COMMUNICATION
Resolve underlying causes: kids want attention, pent-up energy, can’t self-express
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Educate caregivers on strategies to control their emotions; separate children from abusers if hitting continues
Corporal punishment of kids
Children disobey caregivers
Children need to be disciplined
Caregivers can’t control anger
Matching cause to solution

8. Which solution would work best?
IMPROVE CHILD-CAREGIVER COMMUNICATION
Train teachers of preschool and young students how to teach children to verbalize their feelings and needs.
AUDIENCE: Preschool and elementary school administrators
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF DISCIPLINE
Provide free parenting classes that educate parents on how to assign non-corporal punishments that match the misbehavior.
AUDIENCE: Community centers
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Train teachers to look for signs of child abuse. Have social workers monitor at-risk parents and encourage them to take anger management classes.
AUDIENCE: Social workers
They all address underlying causes…

9. Best solution depends on local needs
Sunnyville has preschools & elementary school.
No community centers in Sunnyville to host class.
Sunnyville’s social workers already do this.
IMPROVE CHILD-CAREGIVER COMMUNICATION
Train teachers of preschool and young students how to teach children to verbalize their feelings and needs.
AUDIENCE: Preschool and elementary school administrators
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF DISCIPLINE
Provide free parenting classes that educate parents on how to assign non-corporal punishments that match the misbehavior.
AUDIENCE: Community centers
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Train teachers to look for signs of child abuse. Have social workers monitor at-risk parents and encourage them to take anger management classes.
AUDIENCE: Social workers
Best solution depends on local needs

10. Localized audience  successful proposal
????

11. Developing a plan to solve a problem

12. Crafting a plan of action
What steps need to be taken from the current situation to reach the proposed solution?
STEP 1: How will the process of change be initiated?
Who needs to be involved? How? Why?
Who will pay?
Whose labor will be required?
…STEP N: How will the process of change be completed?
feasibility
feasibility

13. Questions about feasibility
Locate answers to the following questions in the essay:
Whose money? How much—what’s the dollar amount?
Whose labor? How much time—exactly how many hours, over what timespan?
Besides money and labor, what other resources would the project require? Where would those resources come from?
Beyond the rhetorical audience of the proposal, who else would be impacted—negatively or positively?
Given these factors, would you (imagining yourself to be the rhetorical audience) deem the project feasible?

14. Organizing Proposal Arguments
How much of the script should be devoted to…?
Describing and analyzing the problem
Presenting the plan and explaining the solution’s feasibility & acceptability
Calling the audience to action

15. Envisioning essay structure
How much of your script is devoted to…?
Describing and analyzing the problem
Presenting your plan and explaining your solution’s feasibility & pertinence
Calling your audience to action
No more than 1/3
At least 2/3
~1 paragraph

16. Addressing acceptability

17. Audience analysis
What are a few different strategies you could use to learn more about your intended audience?

18. Three arguments for acceptance
Three types of arguments can persuade your audience that your proposal is acceptable:
Argument from consequence
Argument from precedent
Argument from principle

19. Argument from consequence
An argument from consequence claims that if X is/is not done, Y will follow.
Cost analyses: “If I don’t turn off lights at home, I’ll end up wasting more than $20,000 in electricity bills over my lifetime.”
Proposal for selling cruelty-free toiletries:
Student convenience & safety: “…if cruelty-free products were offered on campus, students would be safer and less inconvenienced because they would not have to worry about off- campus transportation or security.”
Promise of economic success: “…many students at this university would choose cruelty-free products over other brands if they were available on campus.”

20. Argument from precedent
An argument from precedent claims that X will work in this situation because it has worked previously in Y situation.
If you haven’t found precedents, you probably need to do more research!
Success at other universities: “…other colleges and universities have enacted similar proposals to help combat animal testing and have had great success with the new products.”

21. Argument from principle
An argument from principle claims that X is a good idea because it matches up with our sense of what is right.
In line with university mission: “…offering cruelty-free products on campus would be an action in line with our university’s efforts to be a progressively minded, service- and value-oriented school.”

22. Practicing the three arguments
Argument from consequence claims that if X is/is not done, Y will follow.
Argument from precedent claims that X will work in this situation because it has worked previously in Y situation.
Argument from principle claims that X is a good idea because it matches up with our sense of what is right.
Do we share a sense of what is right? What’s our common ground?