Length: 2000 to 2500 words

Documentation: MLA or APA

The Gist

The gist of the assignment is as follows: (1) identify a problem that people working in a specific field (perhaps your major) are trying to solve; (2) come to some fairly thorough understanding of the problem and potential solutions by analyzing source material; and (3) argue for or against a particular solution to the problem using a Rogerian approach.

What to Keep in Mind

The key to this assignment is narrowing its focus by identifying a very specific problem that exists within a field of study that you are interested in. The problem need not be something huge like global warming or poverty or terrorism. In fact, these problems consist of a myriad of other problems that numerous different groups of people in numerous different fields work to solve. You will make the writing of this essay much easier on yourself if you can discuss the problem you have chosen in terms of one field of interest and what people working in that field say about how to solve the problem.

The Rogerian Part

The solution to the problem you choose may have already been proposed by someone else, or you may be the one developing a new solution to the problem. Either way, you will argue, using Rogerian strategies, for a particular solution to the problem. Remember that the major tenets of Rogerian argument are that all sides be heard and that the solution be in the best interests of everyone involved. Therefore, you will have to show not only that the solution you prefer is the best solution, but that it is the best solution because everyone involved benefits from it.

Here is the list of goals a Rogerian argument attempts to achieve and the phases it typically moves through in order to accomplish those goals.

The Goals

Convey to the opposing parties that they are understood.
Make explicit the aspects of their arguments that you believe are valid.
Induce the parties involved to believe that you share the same moral qualities and desire to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the problem.
The Phases

Phase 1: Introduction of the Issue and Demonstration of Understanding of the Opposing Positions

Phase 2: Contexts in Which the Readers Position May Be Valid

Phase 3: Writers Position and Its Contexts of Validity

Phase 4: A Statement of Mutual Benefit for the Opposing Parties

A Word About Source Use

Obviously, this paper will require research, and be aware that too little research will undermine key parts of the assignment. Use at least eight sources and make sure that most of these sources come from scholarly articles. One goal of this assignment is for you to enter into the continuing conversation concerning the problem you have chosen. You will not be able to do this if you do not interact directly with sources. This means that you will be using sources in a variety of ways: to substantiate your claims; to act as counterpoints to your position as well as to other sources; to guide discussion; and to provide basic information. You will need to respond to your sources, especially those you quote, as if you were in written conversation with them about the issue you choose to explore. This means adopting a respectful tone and going out of your way to be fair-minded about those positions you oppose.

Stylistic Task

The research paper can be a paper where one feels that creativity goes out the window or that ones voice does not matter. To insure that this is not the case with our assignment, I will require that you somehow incorporate seven of the words below into your paper. You may only change the tense if the word is a verb or make it singular/plural if it is a noun. Otherwise, the word must stay in its current form below. Please change the color of the word or put it into bold when it appears in your essay.