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Paper 2 – Research Proposal
Formal Requirements:
500-800 words. Typed, double-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins.
You may use first person (I) when discussing your research, but an objective third person is often better for analysis.
You may NOT use the second person (you) in your analysis.
Must have quotes, paraphrase, and summaries with citations from three relevant research sources.
Instructions:
Paper 2 will be a written proposal for your Research Paper Project, which will later include Paper 3 – Annotated Bibliography (with a Research Presentation) and Paper 4 – The Research Paper. Before you begin detailed research, you need to find a real-world, arguable research problem approved by your instructor, so writing this proposal will help you plan your project and articulate your potential arguments. The real-world, arguable problem for Paper 2 must come from your current or planned Texas State major or a potential career after graduation. The proposal must include:
I. Introduction (one paragraph): Write an intro for the Research Proposal emphasizing your reasons for writing about your chosen topic and the importance of the issue to your future career.
A. Hook: Remember to use a little pathos to hook the reader. Snag your reader’s interest with vivid, concrete language, with human interest. Be subtle but be interesting.
B. Development: Discuss the problem in your future career and include some audience analysis (Consider: Who is your audience/opposition? Walk in their shoes for a while and try to determine why they think like they do, and what are the best, most compelling arguments for their position. What about your argument for change, for a new perspective, scares them the most? Now that you have become them, have understood their fears and resistance, what would be the most persuasive ways to overcome their fears and resistance?) Transition to your thesis statement at the end of this paragraph and see if you don’t have a great suspended, or climactic paragraph.
C. Thesis Statement (one sentence): A thesis statement is one sentence, and always an opinion. In this case it’s an arguable position on a controversial topic. You may end up taking a fairly moderate position on the topic, but your thesis is still specific. (Example: While many think political parties serve to organize the administration of government, mainstream parties in America have polarized the nation by building mistrust among lawmakers and stifling other potential voices in our democratic republic.)
II. Background/History of the subject (one paragraph): Trace a brief history of your controversy and bring the reader up to date on where the issue stands today. Do this section in chronological order, briefly hitting major landmarks from the beginning of the controversy until its current state. You should do basic research online (on the web and/or through the library website) to get this information. Direct quotations for basic history aren’t necessary, but any paraphrase or summary of sources MUST BE CITED using the MLA format.
III. Proofs: Based on your preliminary research, discuss what you want to prove {2 thesis points (not including the counterargument in your refutation)} as your paragraph topics. Use complete topic sentences to label each proof, and include any quotes/paraphrases/summaries from your sources that you will cite as evidence. MLA CITATIONS REQUIRED. Explain how this evidence will support your proposed thesis and what kinds of other evidence you will need to fully develop the argument. [SEE SUGGESTED OUTLINE ON NEXT PAGE.]
III. Proofs (continued).
A. Topic sentence about thesis point #1.
1. Evidence, ideally paraphrased, MLA cited in parentheses.
2. Explanation how this evidence addresses your point and relates to the further research needed.
3. Evidence, ideally paraphrased, MLA cited in parentheses.
4. Explanation how this evidence addresses your point and relates to the further research needed.
B. Topic sentence about thesis point #2.
1. Evidence, ideally paraphrased, MLA cited in parentheses.
2. Explanation how this evidence addresses your point and relates to the further research needed.
3. Evidence, ideally paraphrased, MLA cited in parentheses.
4. Explanation how this evidence addresses your point and relates to the further research needed.
IV. Refutation (one paragraph): While some elements of refutation should be covered in your Proofs, this paragraph will focus on naming and then refuting (disproving) any counterargument unaddressed or you have yet to overcome. The opposing view should already appear as part of your thesis, but the refutation should give the specific attack(s) that the opposing view would make against your thesis claim. Based on preliminary research, discuss these possible counterarguments and any evidence you have for refutation. CITE EVIDENCE.
V. Conclusion (one paragraph): Sum up what you’ve already proven about your topic and what still needs to be proved. Bear in mind that a conclusion is future-oriented, gives the reader a directive about the future, about why this topic is important and deserves further research. If possible, employ subtle yet effective pathos here, and vivid, concrete language.
VI. Works Cited Page: Full list of cited sources on its own page in the paper. Put on the last page in correct MLA format with sources alphabetized by first line.
Rubric:
15 points Well-developed, clear thesis statement that proposes a research topic.
15 pointsSufficient preliminary evidence to support background of the subject, proofs, etc.
40 pointsStrong overall organization, topic/transition sentences, and intro/conclusion paragraphs.
15 pointsCorrect MLA Format.
15 pointsAttended conference with printed draft and sources.
Deadlines:
Bring written thesis statement to classThursday2/26
Bring research proposal draft and sources to one-on-one conference (sign up on TRACS)2/28, 3/05
Final Draft Due on TRACS /Assignments by 11:55pmWednesday 3/8
Critical Decision Making in a Company
Critical Decision Making in a Company
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Decision Making in a Company
Decision making process is a very crucial aspect of an organization or company that takes place at all levels. The manager is not always right in single-handedly making a decision and it is therefore advisable to seek advice or consult other stake holders before arriving at a decision based on the situation at hand (Saaty, 2008). Identifying the problem to be solved is the most important aspect of decision making. Failure to identify the problem can lead to serious errors in the decision. Usually, companies have certain rules and regulations that are supposed to be adhered to whenever critical decisions are to be made.
In this particular decision regarding compulsory drug test for all employees, several aspects must be considered. The interest of the company must be protected because without it, the employees, the managers and all the stakeholders would not exist. Therefore, the decision should mainly be dominated by the good of the long-term future of the company. Secondly, since this test is not one of the policies of the company, it has serious legal concerns for employees. This is because a compulsory drug test with clear guidelines of when it should be carried out and the consequences of the result are not outlined in their handbook. Therefore, carrying out such a test will only be possible if the employees give an informed consent (Pettigrew, 2014). According to the federal laws, the employer cannot force an employee to take a drug test or conversely test them. In addition, in case an employee fails the drug test, based on an illegally obtained sample, he or she cannot be disciplined or dismissed.
As the human resource manager in the company, I would advise the chief executive officer to implement the decision of carrying out compulsory drug test on all the employees. However, the management must explain clearly to the workers the reason for carrying out the test and make them understand that it is for the good of everyone, including them. Secondly, the employees must be assured of the privacy of their results and the actions management plans to take once the results are out so that they do not feel their interest are being violated. Based on the criteria that had been previously outlined in coming up with difficult decisions involving employee relations, this decision will ensure both the interest of the employees and those of the company are protected. By carrying out compulsory drug test on all employees, it will ensure there are no cases of discrimination as this would lower employees’ self-esteem and overall morale towards work. Therefore, the company cannot be charged with discrimination whatsoever if the decision is plan is executed and the managers ensure every employee undergoes the test, whether suspected of drug abuse or not.
Secondly, if the decision is implemented, it has to be a new company policy. This will ensure it protects the interest of future employees and future management. As such, any individual who wishes to work with the company must accept the policy of having to undergo drug tests whenever there is need to do so. This eventually will ensure that all persons working in the company do not involve themselves in any form of drug abuse that can endanger their lives, lives of other fellow workers or make the company incur a lot of losses. In addition, this will ensure the company establishes a long-term solution to accidents and losses as a result of drug abuse by employees. Therefore, all workers who seek to work for the company in future will be subjected to agreeing to adhere to the company’s policies prior to being hired.
If the results of the tests are used to ensure better employees’ performance at work through counseling there will be improved performance in the company in general (Bogacz, Brown, Moehlis, Holmes & Cohen, 2006). Secondly, it will make the outside community know the company as one that is concerned with the health and safety of its employees and which does not practice discrimination in any ground. In conclusion, I believe the decision, if well-implemented, will ensure an overall improvement in the conduct, productivity and commitment of employees. The supervisors will therefore have less problems dealing with the employees. In addition, the company will have more profits and no unnecessary expenditure in compensating avoidable losses.
ReferencesSaaty, T. L. (2008). Decision making with the analytic hierarchy process. International journal of services sciences, 1(1), 83-98.
Pettigrew, A. M. (2014). The politics of organizational decision-making. Routledge.
Bogacz, R., Brown, E., Moehlis, J., Holmes, P., & Cohen, J. D. (2006). The physics of optimal decision making: a formal analysis of models of performance in two-alternative forced-choice tasks. Psychological review, 113(4), 700.
Critical Commentaries
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Critical Commentaries
Item #1: A Work of Art. Zapatista Landscape, 1915 by Diego Rivera
The work of Art Zapatista Landscape was a creation of Diego Rivera of 1915. Zapata was known to be a leader of a peasant revolt south of Mexico City at the time of the Mexican revolution. I settled on this work of art as I found it especially intriguing. The fact that Rivera employed Picasso’s Cubism makes it a revolutionary subject. It is almost as if the image is elusive. I see many combined and widely circulated images of a face, a rifle, a shadow, and even a hat. To see these figures, one must play close attention as the images are elusive and seem to fade away within a matter of minutes. I selected this image because I wanted to delve more into how River came up with this image. He managed to effortlessly curve up a human head and torso while not exactly forming a figure. To say the least, I find his skill iconic. The fact that that alleged figure is holding a black rifle that cuts the image across diagonally is also phenomenal. Not many artistic can easily pull such a stunt. The artwork also shows various outdoor elements, including a sombrero, a serape, a cartridge, a rifle, a wooden box, and the hills of Mexico, making the image even more outstanding. Worth noting, I is almost as if the main image is hanging from the sky as if it is floating. This is another surprising component of this image that I found interesting. These are the qualities that made me want to review the artwork of the Zapatista landscape by Diego Rivera.
Item #2: A Photograph: Worker’s Hand (1927) by Tina Modotti
The Worker’s Hand (1927) photograph is an image of a pair of hands resting on a working tool. It is hard to tell whether the person is a man or woman. However, it is no doubt that the person is a worker or laborer in Mexico. The photo was captured by Tina Modotti in 1927. I decided to review this specific photo because when I first saw the photograph, I was immediately captivated by its sight. I was drawn to the amount of detail that Modotti showcases on the photo from the dirty coast in the background and the dusty hands of the person in the photo. Upon seeing this photo, I had a million questions in my mind. I immediately wanted to know who the person was, where they are from, their story, and why they were in such a dirty and seemingly sad state. The photo tries to communicate a message of the realities of hard work. The worker seems tired and worn out, as evidenced in their dirty tool, hands, and clothes. The individual also seems to be holding on to the shovel or tool for dear life as if it was their only source of hope. This points to menial jobs being their only source of livelihood. I can only imagine how difficult life is for low-income workers. The mentioned aspects only made me want to find out more about the photograph of the pair of hands resting on a tool.
Item #3: A Film Still. The Pearl (1947)
The Pearl 1947 film directed by Emilio Fernandez, stars Pedro Armendariz, Fernando, Wagner, and Maria Elena. Its writers include Emilio Fernandez, John Steinbeck, and Jack Wagner. The Mexican-American film follows Quino, a pearl diver, and highlights man’s purpose for evil, greed, and defiance of societal norms. I decided upon reviewing this specific film because I was curious to know more about how the life of Kino changed. I was amazed that the discovery of a pearl could transform the lives of a poor small Mexican family whose livelihood was fishing. I wanted to know more about what the fisherman was prepared to do to keep the precious pearl and his helpless family out of danger. Since thieves were after the pearl, I wanted to know what he was prepared to do to avert them. I found the plot interesting. The plot builds up slowly, and the audience gets to see Juana and Quino when they are escaping from their assailants. They face lots of problems, including their son getting bitten by a scorpion and the audience gets to witness it as it slowly unfolds. Another reason why I selected this film is that I found the book captivating. It has a lot of suspense which is exactly what draws me to movies. It was also easy to follow which made want to keep finding out more about what happens next.