Background and Problem Statement

Instructions

ILOs:

  • Construct a text that incorporates critical reading, analyzing, and interaction with sources.
  • Show fluency within the various stages of the writing process.
  • Control such surface features as syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Instructions:

  • You will be writing the researched argument paper in three steps. This week we’ll start with the easiest step, which is the background. It’s easy because you don’t really have to give your own opinion here. Think of it as a sophisticated report similar to the ones you would write in grade school. The reader needs a good background to understand what’s at stake in the issue you’re writing about. You will use several of your sources to give a history and background of your issue, including solutions that have already been tried. The tone in this section should be as neutral as possible. I shouldn’t be able to tell how you feel about the issue by reading only this section.
  • Include a Bibliography or References page that just incorporates the sources you use in this section (Zotero can do this for you).
  • This is NOT your introyou will write that later, so don’t worry about an intro. This is also not your argument. If you think about problem/solution, this part of the paper thoroughly introduces the problem and provides the information the reader needs to make an informed judgment. Minimum 700 words.