Question: Speculating about Causes and Proposing Solutions for a Local or State Issue

Explore a local or state issue in your area, at least one of its causes, and a potential solution. The social issue you choose for your topic should be a problem that can be proven to exist and has potential to be solved.

Begin by stating a thesis that defines the problem, identifies and evaluates at least one aspect of the cause, and offers one potential solution. These three points-problem, cause, and solution-will be used as level I headings for the major parts of the body content.

Requirements: • The paper should be 6-8 double-spaced pages in length (not counting the required reference and title pages) and should use a minimum of eight credible sources. The CSU-Global Library is an excellent place to search for credible, scholarly sources.

• Document and citation formatting should be in conformity with the CSU-Global Guide to Writing & APA. At the top of your outline, include an open-ended research question that defines the problem and asks how the problem can be solved.

Example/research question: What would it take to reduce obesity in the United States/Ohio?

The research question should be followed by a thesis, which answers the research question by stating a problem, cause, and solution. The thesis can be two sentences long if necessary.

Example/thesis: [Problem] Obesity across the United States is on the rise [Cause] partly due to the amount of trans fats contained in restaurant food. [Solution] One solution would be to regulate the amount of trans fats restaurants are permitted to include in the food they serve and to require restaurants to clearly indicate the level of trans fats contained within each menu item.

NOTE: The sample topic above cannot be used for your project. Topics that should be avoided are those currently being debated widely among media sources. Some topics to avoid include abortion, sex trafficking, gun control, and immigration.