This document provides guidelines for a topic exploration and analysis proposal assignment. Students must select and research two social change movements - one from the pre-modern era (pre-1945) and one from the modern era (post-1945). They must analyze and compare the leadership structure, success in promoting social change, and how the movements paralleled each other. The proposal assignment requires identifying the two topics, outlining the planned paper sections, summarizing initial research findings, and including an initial bibliography.

1. Assignment: Topic Exploration and Analysis (Proposal)
In Week 6 of this course, you will submit an 8-page research
paper (Final Project) in which you are required to:
Analyze an important social change movement of the
pre-modern era
(pre-1945).
Analyze an important social change movement of the
modern era
(post 1945).
Compare and contrast both movements.
Analyze and explain the leadership structure of both
movements. Who led these social change efforts? Was it an
individual or a collective effort? What prompted individuals to
become leaders of the movements?
Analyze how the movements parallel or complement each other.
Evaluate the success of these movements in promoting social
change.
This week, as part of the Final Project writing process, you will
complete a Topic Exploration and Analysis (Proposal). In this
proposal, you will select your research topics (the two social
change movements), create a beginning outline of what you plan
to cover in the Final Project, provide a short summary of your

2. initial research findings, and provide an initial bibliography.
In preparation:
Review the Final Project Guidelines document, located in this
week’s Learning Resources.
Select and begin to research a social change movement pertinent
to the
pre-modern era
(pre-1945). For ideas, look at content contained in Weeks 1–3
of this course. Pay particular attention to the selection of
readings in the course text for each of these weeks.
Select and begin to research one of the following social change
movements pertinent to the
modern era
(post 1945):
African American civil rights movement
Chicano movement
American Indian or ”Red Power” movement
Women’s rights movement
LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) rights
movement
Disability rights movement

3. Maintain a listing of scholarly resources that you locate and are
using. The Walden Library provides a rich selection of material.
Keep in mind that websites are generally not considered sources
of scholarly material.
Note:
In your initial research this week, look at the historical
background of each issue, the leadership structure in each
movement, examples of specific changes that resulted related to
each movement, and challenges the movement faced or is still
facing. Consider the impact, successes, and failures of each
movement.
The Assignment
Write a 1- to 2-page essay that includes:
Identification of the two social movements you will address in
your Final Project
A brief outline of what you plan to cover in the paper
A short summary of your initial research findings
A bibliography of resources you used