English C1000 - Garcia: Home

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Kitchen Table or Pop Culture Research Project

You will research the roots and solutions to a wicked problem that affects someone from your "kitchen table": a family member, friend, or other loved one in your circle, or yourself. You will then compose a research project that explores the root of the problem and argues for a path toward addressing, solving, or healing from the problem.

Topic

Start by identifying a topic that negatively impacts you and/or a loved one. Your thesis will explain how you see the root of the problem or social issue and also the best way of approaching, dealing with, or solving the problem. Include a counterargument section that deals with objections to your proposed method or solution for dealing with the problem.

Approach

Choose from two approaches to the research project:

• Option 1 - Kitchen Table: uses academic research and personal experience or interviews as a path toward understanding the problem and a way forward.
• Option 2 - Pop Culture: uses academic research and a work of popular culture (a film, TV series, song or album, book, work of art, etc.) as a path toward understanding the problem and a way forward.

Format for Presenting Your Research

Once you choose your approach, you will decide between three different formats:

• Format A: Research Paper
• Format B: Deconstructed Research Paper
• Format C: Zine Research Project

Evidence from Sources

Use concrete evidence from at least 5 relevant, credible sources to support your claims, including:

• 2+ scholarly sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles or chapters from academic/scholarly books
• Sources from credible magazines, news sites, documentaries, interviews, TED Talks, websites, etc.