UWRT 1102/03 Inquiry Proposal Paper Assignment Sheet Required Length Approx. 3 pages.

MLA format
Draft due Sept.29. Please bring four copies.
What am I doing? To begin the inquiry process, you will need a researchable question. Not a topic, a question:
something you want to know, something you want to learn about, something you want to research and write about over
several weeks. Consider the questions we have brainstormed in class. In your proposal, you are in a sense selling us on your
question. Start by reading, learning what conversations are taking place about your subject. You have to know something
before you can formulate a question about it. First, readskimwidely on a few subjects relevant to the subject. Then,
propose a tentative question. Next, write up what youve learned, and sketch out a plan for further research.
Why am I writing this? The purpose of this assignment is to identify a relevant inquiry question and to establish that it is, in
fact, researchable. Identifying this question may involve a narrative describing the kernel of the question. A good inquiry
question is also (a) of genuine interest to you, (b) one that you can research by consulting a variety of published experts with
diverse views, and (c) one that you can answer by possibly conducting some original primary research of your own (ie.
Interviewing an expert, surveys, etc.)
Who am I writing to? Write with your peers and instructor in mind, yet also someone who has not read The Book Thief.
Your audience is interested in your inquiry, but may not be very knowledgeable. Theyre also looking for inquiry questions
and sources that address them, so write with the expectation of sharing what youve learned with your classmates and
instructor. Your portfolio may have a broader audience: friends and family you may choose to share it with and members of
the broader UNCC community.
What should it look like? Your inquiry proposal should address the following:

It may include a descriptive narrative: adjectives, similes, metaphors. What story or event drives your inquiry?
Consider how the writer of The Dark Side strove to engage her reader. Be creative.
What led you to this question?

What evidence have you gathered to establish that it is researchable?

Include a brief history/context of the question.

Why is your inquiry question important to your classmates?

What did you know about your subject before you began? How did you learn it?

Where do you need to look next for more information?

What do you hope will be the outcome of your inquiry?

What related questions are occurring to you now that youve begun to think on paper about your question?

How is it going to be evaluated?

Your inquiry proposal will be evaluated on the basis of both its content and form. A good proposal will address the questions
above. It will strive to engage and interest your readers and express your creativity while demonstrating thoughtful reflection
and analysis about your question. Your voice comes through. The second and subsequent drafts will be carefully proofread
and edited for punctuation, spelling, and mechanics. The first draft will be a completion participation grade. Please do your
best! It will be shared in small groups. The second draft will receive a ghost grade, ie. when you revise and edit your proposal
for your portfolio, the grade will probably go up and the original grade will not count (be deleted).
Reflect before you turn in your assignment: Write a reflection to your instructor and peers before you turn in each draft of
your inquiry proposal. Place it in italics at the top of your proposal. Explain any questions and concerns. Tell about your

experiences developing an inquiry question, reading about your subject, and writing a plan to study your question. Tell what
difficulties you encountered along with way, and how you dealt with those challenges.
On second and subsequent drafts, explain the feedback you received from peers and instructor. What did you think?
What changes did you make? Why? Refer to the SLOs on the syllabus. Ex. My peers suggested I add more about the
rhetorical context of x, so I ..(specific example from text of paper).