I chose the underfunding of women's healthcare and the disparities between men and women in healthcare.

For this research paper, you will examine an issue that faces a community you belong to. That community can be a local, national, international. What challenges are our communities up against? What problems need to be solved? What role can we, as individuals, play in solving them? As writers, you can be active voices in your communities, inspiring those around you to make positive changes. In this research paper, you will be researching an issue that impacts one of your communities, analyzing how the issue affects that community, suggesting possible resolutions to the issue, and considering what we as individuals can do help bring about a positive resolution.

In other words, your topic examines a social, political, or cultural "hot topic," identifies and explains the problem, (2) explores multiple credible perspectives, and, if possible, (3) ultimately proposes a solution (or at least steps toward a solution).

Objective:

Compose an essay in which you investigate a challenge, or set of challenges, of one of your communities. First, choose an issue that you are passionate about. What gets you excited? There is more than likely a community challenge or problem related to one of your interests. First, set out to research the issue broadly, and see how the research applies to your specific circumstances. How did the issue evolve over time? Do other communities have this problem? What's at stake? Next, discuss possible, future resolutions. Are there solutions out there that have worked in another circumstance? Are these solutions viable? Why or why not? Finally, examine what we, as individual members of communities, can do to make a difference. Call for action.

In this project, you will:

• Use sources to engage with an issue of public concern
• Demonstrate awareness of audience, and appropriate organizational and rhetorical strategies
• Present and analyze complex ideas and viewpoints
• Cite correctly, and use sources appropriately
• Use visual media to communicate ideas