Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

Phil Druker/English 317/ U Idaho

Proposal Problem Section

Writing the Specific Project Problem:

 Step 1:  The research question (RQ).

1. Consider your objectives.  Think about what your whole project is about.
2. Think of a question this project will answer.
3. This could be your project hypothesis stated as a question.

 Note:  Avoid “yes/no” questions that start with IS, ARE, WAS, WERE, DO, DOES, DID.

 Wrong:

Does Pasterurella haemolytica affect bighorn sheet? 

Too general.  Answered with “yes” or “no.”

            Right:
                 Use question words like how, why, when, where....

            How does Pasterurella haemolytica affect bighorn sheep and what management
                   practices work to alleviate the problem?

Step 2: The audience.

1. Consider who needs the answer to your research question.
2. Consider who will read your final report.

Wrong: The general public.
Note:  the chances of the general public caring about bighorn sheep and Pasterurella haemolytica are pretty slim.

 Right:
Wildlife managers -- especially wildlife managers dealing with bighorn sheep or managers dealing with areas that support bighorn sheep.

 Step 3: Combine the RQ and the audience.

 Not so good:
            Wildlife managers are not aware of the threat of Pasterurella haemolytica and need information about how to control it.

            Note:  How can you prove that wildlife managers are unaware?  Dealing with the general lack of awareness by showing
             that managers think the disease is spread in some other way might make good background information.
 

 Right:

            Wildlife mangers need information on how  Pasterurella haemolytica affects bighorn sheep and what management practices work to alleviate the problem.

 Step 4:  Criteria == If you have specific project criteria you need to meet, these criteria can be stated as a problem and placed in this section.

 Problem section criteria