1. Assignment 4 Research Paper: Going Down the Rabbit Hole
We’ve spent the semester looking at “personal” issues with a “political” lens - political meaning
how larger institutions affect viewpoints, what the “dominant discourse” around any one topic is,
and the possibilities of talking about that topic from other viewpoints.
* Keeping that in mind, I’d like you to use this research paper as a chance to “go down the
rabbit hole” of one issue that is intriguing to you. How does it work? Where do the ideas
surrounding it come from? What research is going on right now? How do other cultures/
communities view this issue?
This paper will involve examining your own evolving thought process, and include several
perspectives on the “issue” chosen, such as:
A. A group that acts as spokesman , or representative of your approach to the issue,
B. An ambassadorial group - that is, one not directly identifying with the issue, but that
speaks in support of it,
C. and an opposing group that views the issue differently;
How do these all choose to speak, represent, and otherwise use rhetoric for their purposes?
1. The first section of the paper will be 1 - 1.5 pages encompassing:
- your own perspective , background knowledge, and initial assumptions about this issue.
Why are you drawn to it? What questions do you wonder? What do you hope any
knowledge you gain about it, can do for you?
- Additionally: what have been your responses to rhetoric around this issue? How does
your socioeconomic status, gender, beliefs, or raising, affect how you relate to the
concept?
2. The second section of the paper will be 4-6 pages where the bulk of your research will come
in. This is the rabbit hole I’d like you, as the writer, to take readers down. What did you learn
about this issue? (See starred * questions above for prompts.)
What is the “dominant discourse” on this issue - that is, what do most people in the culture seem
to think of it? Are there several competing discourses, or views that seem to hold similar sway?
Present a group that hallmarks your own view, and a similar one. Lastly, what is an opposing
viewpoint on this issue?
- This will involve looking at words and images used in each group’s rhetoric, or discourse
around the issue. Do the groups use different language? Do terms mean different things
to different groups? What concepts are more valued and less valued, for each?
3. Lastly, this section of 1.5 - 2 pages asks you to synthesize what you have learned and why it’s
important. Reflecting on your research process is sort of like a biopsy of the end product. What
questions did you ask in your research? Where did ‘going down the rabbit hole’ broaden out into
areas you didn’t expect? Where did you pull your focus back in at? Why did you make these
choices?
- Finally, after you’ve looked at an issue from several different sides, what new
perspectives have you come away with? Why is this knowledge intriguing or helpful to
you? How do you see it impacting your own life or choices?
Engl. 102 Palmer
2. Assignment 4 Research Paper: Going Down the Rabbit Hole
Required Sources: (at least) 1 book, 2 scholarly journal articles, 2 pop culture articles, 2
websites. These (or additional sources) must incorporate analyzing 1 image (photo/ painting), 1
research study and/ or statistical data, 1 “out of the box” source such as documentary/ art exhibit/
movie/ song.
Engl. 102 Palmer
