Title: Unit 7: Problem/Solution
Course: Advanced Composition for the Digital Age SP14 > Section: Unit 7: Problem/Solution

There are problems in the world and there are solutions. Research them both and report back.

Estimated Completion Time: 20 hours

Unit 7 Problem/Solution: Objectives

Well, it's time to take all of the skills you've learned so far this semester and apply them to some issues that affect you personally. Everyone can think of something that needs to be changed. It can be something small that occurs within a personal or family dynamic; something that occurs within a local community; at the county or state level; it could even be something that affects the entire nation or the planet.

Your last big task is to select one of these problems and become an expert on it. This should be something that you feel a personal connection to or that affects you personally. Because you'll be spending so much time looking into this issue, you'll want to make certain that it's something relatively important to you.

Once you become an expert on your topic, it will be time for you to offer some potential solutions to this problem and how you'd like to see them implemented. You will understand any potential conflicts or conflicting points of view that may prevent your solutions from being successful and address how you will overcome those issues as well.

Just to be clear, this is something that can be as small as a better way to perform a task (like the inventor of the Dyson vacuum cleaner) or graffiti in your community to something really big, like the need for clean affordable energy or the decline in investigative journalism.

One more word of caution: Take your time. You're going to be working a lot with this topic so make sure it's something you really want to address.

To get you inspired to fix this issue I suggest you watch some of the available Ted Talk videos from ted.com . This organization brings together some of the world's most creative thinkers and performers to give short talks about the work they do in their field.

If you want an example of someone who saw a problem in his community and did something about it, I suggest you watch this video about The Boy Who Built a Windmill.

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Now take a look at his Daily Show interview: (Sorry if there's an advertisement) | After having watched that I don't think that you can say there is nothing you can do about your problem. With the skills you have and the access to technology and information you are already many steps ahead of William Kamkwamba. What do you think he would think of someone in a rich nation that wastes the opportunity to be educated or to try and fix some of the problems that all of us face?

It's time to get started then. And when you get frustrated think of William. There is help available from your instructor and your classmates. Use the people and the Research Resources available, that's why they're here.

Step 1: Unit 7: Research Project Part 1 Pre-Writing
This is the most important step that will prepare you for all that is to come. This will lay the groundwork for the rest of your projects and get you started off on the right path. DO NOT START WRITING YOUR PAPER UNTIL YOU RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Step 2: Unit 7: Assignment: Research Paper
While not technically a "Research Paper," this is what we've come to know this type of writing as. This is an opportunity for you to become an expert and develop your voice so that you will sound like the authority on this issue that you have now become. Who knows, maybe this will lead to a career for you someday. Please review the directions completely before you begin writing your paper.

Step 3: Unit 7: Assignment: Podcast
Can you take what you did with the formal style of writing for your Research Paper and turn it into something that sounds a little more informal and conversational?

Step 4: Unit 7: Assignment: Letter to the Editor
There are still many people out there who access news sites and papers to become informed on topics. This is an opportunity for you to practice writing on opinion piece for a news outlet (if you're ready, there's even a chance for you to submit it and see what develops).

Step 5: Unit 7: Assignment: Be Represented
We are all represented at various levels of government. Find your local, state, national, or tribal representatives and let them know how you feel about this issue. Let them know what you'd like them to do and how they should vote.

Move on to the FINAL EXAM/Course Survey! (It's not so bad.)

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