Proposal for Social Change Assignment (See Calendar for Draft Due Dates)
“Writing for Social Change is based on the longstanding tradition in Western culture of using
literature as a tool for social critique, as a means of calling for social change and justice, and as a
tool for social transformation” (hecua.org). We have already read examples of calls for large
scale change (The Declaration of Independence).
The goal of this research-based persuasive proposal is to help you identify one specific, concrete
area of personal interest (and narrow a topic), develop your skills as a writer and encourage you
to share your voice and participate in a democratic society by examining the role of literature and
literary production in creating social transformation.
Objective: Write a 4-5 page proposal for social change using MLA documentation.
Narrow the topic (propose a specific change in your neighborhood, community, school and/or
workplace). Be specific in your problem statement (thesis). Write as much as you can from your
own knowledge and experience. Then, use research to support your ideas. Include a personal
interview and a local news article. You will need to paraphrase from outside sources which
support your own ideas. Quote any exact phrases or sentences you utilize in your paper. Make
sure to add in-text citations after any ideas you have brought into your paper from outside
sources. Read the section on plagiarism in the syllabus. This will emphasize the importance of
documenting information.
Format: Fit your proposal in this outline, so you can visually see how the components fit
together and help you “trim” your paper. Break your paper into the following sections:
Background
Problem Statement (thesis)
What is Being Done
What Needs to Be Done
Implications for the Future
http://http/virginialynne.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Write-a-Propose-a-Solution-Essay
Thesis and Topic:
Businesses located within the Houston Medical Center should cover the cost of parking for their employees because employees lose part of their salary when paying for parking and some employees struggle with being able to afford rising parking costs.