A Fact-finding Report Assignment | Essay Help Services

After rereading/reviewing Units 1-3, particularly prior lessons on critical thinking and points-of-view, consider and ultimately select a single question in order to research, organize and draft your own fact-finding report. Primarily, a fact-finding report focuses upon a single, researchable question or controversy in order to understand competing answers espoused from opposing viewpoints. More specifically, fact-finding reports seek to fairly and objectively compare alternative answers to a common question, not to endorse one perspective’s “facts” over others and certainly not to argue in support of any answer/position, in particular. As well, this 3-5 page research essay should enlist MLA formatting and correctly cite claims/evidence from at least three reliable academic sources.

Writing Goals

As past unit lessons have demonstrated, one’s personal or political point-of-view can greatly influence the “facts” that they deem most relevant or reliable when determining an answer to a question. In practice, these alternative perspectives and ideologies then result in relatively sound, compelling (and sometimes diametrically opposing) arguments supporting different answers to a common question. Thus, this essay provides you the opportunity to select a specific question personally, socially or politically meaningful to you and objectively examine two or more possible answers, as well as the facts presented in support of each . While the number of topics for this sort of researched essay are essentially limitless, some of the more common approaches to fact-finding reports can include the following:

* To intently explore two or more alternatives/options prior to making a personal, real-world decision (i.e., buying a car, selecting a career or college major, deciding upon a child care provider, choosing a home, etc.)

* To fully understand two or more opposing positions in a current debate (i.e., health care reform, the war on terror, same-sex marriage, school vouchers, etc.).

* To consider possible, alternative answers to a question not yet resolved (i.e., global warming, life after death, euthanasia, UFOs)

* To identify competing, realistic solutions to a current problem (i.e., illegal immigration, failing schools, cyber-bullying, gun violence, etc.).

* To contrast divergent causes attributed to a current condition (i.e., political protests, rising divorce rates, teen pregnancy, increasing poverty rates, etc.)

Topic Selection

As you begin to consider potential topics for this project, first try to narrow your selection to one which interests you enough to conduct a good deal of thinking (and yes, a good deal of addition researching) about. For instance, if you currently are facing (or soon will face) a major decision in your own personal or professional life, this sort of report might prove a valuable first step toward an informed and sound decision. Or, if you are a bit more politically minded, you might choose to focus upon a particular current event or reality creating some measues of social discord/controversy. Too, you might opt for a more philosophical question in order to lay out competing rationales for “knowing the unknowable.” At any rate, as you work to consider, narrow and select your central questions for this project, please feel free to contact your instructor if you have further questions.

Research and Formatting

This project requires you to research and cite sources in MLA format. Thus, a Works Cited page containing three or more cited sources is required as the last page of your draft. As you research, draft and revise, be sure to review MLA documentation rules–both within our ENG 1022 units and in both our eBook and MyWritingLab. Also, be sure to review other sample student fact-finding examples.