Project:

Topic Exploration and Analysis This week, as the first step of your Course Project, you select and analyze a social issue. The main goals of your analysis are to develop a problem statement, address the "heart" or "root" of the issue, describe the situation as it looks today, and explain why this social issue is important to investigate.

There are numerous social issues that prompt attention today and that directly or indirectly impact both small and large populations. These include issues as diverse as animal rights, euthanasia, the gender wage gap, intimate partner violence, access to health care, disability rights, detention of unaccompanied migrant children, and veterans rights, to name but a few.

As you consider a social issue on which to focus, keep in mind that you will be researching and writing about the social issue throughout the remainder of the course.

An objective of this project is to build a well-researched foundation on which you might pursue further involvement.

For that reason, you are encouraged to select an issue about which you have genuine concern and interest. Is there a social issue that has impacted you or a family member personally?

Are there inequities that impact your life or the lives of others in your community? Are there global concerns that resonate strongly with you?

Personal passion and connection to an issue often fuels the kind of committed action that attracts participants and achieves objectives.

For this project, select an issue that you genuinely care about.

To prepare for this Project:

With the thoughts above in mind, select a social issue for further research.

Gather 2-4 resources about this issue from the Walden Library. You will use these resources in writing this Topic Exploration and Analysis.

Develop a problem statement (e.g., "The problem I will address in this study is."). By Day 7 In a 2- to 3-page paper (not including the cover page and references), address the following:

The problem statement you have developed (e.g., "The problem I will address in this study is.")

What are the "symptoms" of the social issue? What does it "look like"?

What are the conflicts that exist regarding this issue? What are the interests, rights, and values of all parties involved with the social issue?

What are some potential ethical dilemmas involved with the social issue?

How has the social issue developed? What are some possible causes?

Why is the social issue important to investigate? Support your statements with APA Style in-text citations using the articles you gathered from the Walden Library.

In order to receive full credit, all Assignments are due on time. Should you encounter an unanticipated and uncontrollable life event that may prevent you from meeting an assignment deadline, contact the Instructor immediately to request an extension.

Your Instructor's contact information is in the Contact the Instructor area in the left navigation bar.

For a full description of the late policy, please refer to the "Policies on Late Assignments" area of your Syllabus. Submission and Grading Information To submit your completed Project for review and grading, do the following:

Project draft and review the originality report To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the assigned readings from the Loeb course text.

Review the Gladwell, Goldberg, and Ling articles in this week's resources for insights into lessons learned from social movements of the past.

Think about historical social movements that have had a direct impact on your own life. Reflect on the laws or social norms that have been challenged, upheld, or changed, allowing for an improved quality of life for specific populations.

Consider your perspective on the elements of historical social movements that have particular relevance today.

Bear in mind the strategies used by historical social movements and how they have built momentum to today's movements.