The document provides directions for writing a proposal for an argumentative research paper. It explains that the proposal should explore three potential topics of interest and conduct initial research on them. The proposal should be one page, single-spaced, with three parts: a background section with short paragraphs describing each topic, a proposal paragraph stating which topic will be researched, and a benefits and feasibility section explaining how researching the topic relates to future plans. A sample proposal is provided addressing high stakes testing as the chosen research topic.

1. Writing Your Proposal
ARGUMENTATIVE RESEARCH PAPER
2013

2.  Directions for your proposal along
with a sample proposal can be
found on p. 5-6 in your Research
Packet.

3.  To explore three possible topics of
interest
PURPOSE:

Although you will look at three topics for
this proposal, you will only write your Arg.
Res. Paper on ONE of these topics.
 To conduct some initial research


Make sure there is enough out there
Make sure your opinion is strong enough
 To get some initial feedback from
your teacher about the feasibility of
your topic

4. FORMAT:
 1 page
 Typed
 Times New Roman
 1” margins
 SINGLE-spaced
 Appropriate page header in the upper
left corner

5.  Three parts:
 Background (4 SHORT paragraphs)
FORMAT:
Par. 1 -- Explain your potential career
field
 Par. 2 – Describe potential topic #1
 Par. 3 – Describe potential topic #2
 Par. 4 – Describe potential topic #3

See sample on next slide.

6. Section is clearly
labeled in all caps
Par. 1 gives an overview
of the career path
Par. 2 summarizes
bullying
Par. 3 summarizes
cheating
Par. 4 summarizes high
stakes testing
BACKGROUND
The field of education is faced with many problems today. These
problems can be found in curriculum areas, teaching practices, school
climate, and student achievement. The three specific problems I did my
research planners on are bullying, cheating, and state testing
requirements.
Bullying is when students pick on or torment another student. This
could include name calling, intimidation, humiliation and harassment.
Bullying seems to be a problem that affects the individual student, teachers
and actual student achievement.
Cheating in school is a problem that can range from sharing answers
on an individual assignment to plagiarizing from the internet on written
work. Cheating has always been a problem in schools, but with technology
like the internet, camera phones and smart phones, students have more
access than ever to use other peoples’ work. Additionally, the stigma and
shame of cheating has decreased over the years due to the competition of
getting accepted to your college of choice and earning scholarships.
Students are willing to do whatever it takes to get the grades they
need, even if it means that they have learned very little.
Many states have a testing system in place to measure student
achievement and schools’ effectiveness. Educators may feel that the tests
do not measure whether a student has learned specific skills or will be
successful beyond high school. Students and parents may feel that the
schools are not preparing students for these tests. The overall problem
may be the question of “How can you measure achievement and
effectiveness through one test?”

7. 
Proposal (1 paragraph)
Discuss which of the three topics you are
proposing to do your research on.
 Explain WHY.
 Consider availability of information,
relevance, interest, etc.

FORMAT:
See sample on next slide.

8. PROPOSAL
Section is clearly
labeled in all caps
Section clearly explains
why this writer wants to
focus on high stakes
testing.
The problem in education that I have chosen to do my
Argumentative Research Report on is the problem of state testing
requirements. While the problem of cheating in school seems more
interesting to me, I feel that there is more quality information out there on
state testing requirements. I also found several resources that propose
alternatives to state testing or examine ways to make the tests more valid.
So, while there is probably not one solution to this problem, I would still be
able to discuss some other possibilities.

9.  Three parts:
 Background (4 SHORT paragraphs)
FORMAT:
Par. 1 -- Explain your potential career
field
 Par. 2 – Describe potential topic #1
 Par. 3 – Describe potential topic #2
 Par. 4 – Describe potential topic #3

See sample on next slide.

10. Section is clearly
labeled in all caps
Writer explains how
researching this topic
will impact their posthigh school plans.
Note: If you are
researching a topic that
is NOT specific to your
potential career
path, then you will need
to discuss how learning
about this topic will
impact your life.
BENEFITS AND FEASIBILITY
As a student who wants to be a teacher, I feel that researching
state testing requirements would give me insight into a very controversial
issue in education. While I have taken these tests as a student, I have the
unique experience of seeing the issue from two perspectives. It will be very
beneficial for me to research the criticisms of these tests and how they
originated. By looking at different perspectives and ideas of how to change
and improve the testing systems, I will be able to gain insight into the
future of these tests and what I may encounter as a future educator.

11. RUBRIC:
5
The writer has zero
formatting errors.
4
The writer has 1-2
formatting errors.
3
The writer has 3-4
formatting errors.
0
The writer has 5 or
more formatting
errors.
The writer has
thoroughly
addressed all of the
required sections.
The writer has
addressed two of the
three required
sections or needs to
go into more detail.
The writer has
addressed only one
of the three required
sections or needs to
go into more detail.
The writer has not
addressed the
required sections and
lacks the appropriate
detail.
The writer has zero
errors.
The writer has 1-2
errors.
The writer has 3-4
errors.
The writer has 5 or
more errors.
Format
____/5
Content
____/10
GUMPS
____/5