Assignment 3: Topic Selection Memo

Introduction For the remainder of this course, you will work with ONE topic of your own choosing. Considering this topic, you will

• complete academic research to investigate the issue, 
• compose a formal, academic research paper to an academic audience, and
• translate the argument into a medium suitable for a popular audience. 

This work will span the remainder of the course. First, though, you will propose your topic in a memo to your instructor. 
Since you’ll be working with a topic for the rest of the course, please choose a topic wisely. Choose something that you feel passionately about. Choose something you can invest yourself in. Your topic must be academic in nature (so not an argument that Coke is better than Pepsi), and it needs to be reachable. This must also be a debatable topic, so you should see at least two clear sides to the issue. Additionally, you should choose something you can work with in a 4-5 page argument, so don’t try to tackle a broad topic such as gun control, abortion, or social media. Instead, select a NARROW and FOCUSED topic you can cover thoroughly in 1,000 words.
The Assignment  Your memo will be four paragraphs:

1. Identify your topic and why it is relevant in today’s culture. 
2. Discuss your personal connection to the topic, including any potential biases or obstacles.
3. Discuss what information you need to gather about this topic in order to make a logical, effective argument. 
4. Identify possible opposition to your argument and discuss how you might convince someone who opposes you. 

Resources 
Memo Template Memo Template – Alternative Formats  Acceptable Length Four complete paragraphs; approximately one page in memo format Formatting Requirements

• Follow the Memo Template.  
• Use one-inch margins. 
• Use 12-point Times New Roman font. 
• Use single line spacing in the document. Double space between paragraphs.