Economic Problem

The Nation’s #1 Economic Problem
Research Project One (500-750 words)
This research project is based on last week’s reading – the 1938 “Report on Economic Conditions of the South.” The link that I gave you through Blackboard provides page numbers at the top of each page and again at the bottom of a page, in parentheses (except for p. 23). Please cite the page numbers for your evidence.
There is a grading rubric below the instructions; these are the standards by which this project will be assessed.
INSTRUCTIONS:
► Pick one element of the reading that surprised you. Describe it, and why it was surprising to you—without using the first person (“I” or “we.”). For example (please choose a different one):
The Report views the population increase of the South as a positive thing. However, more children means more mouths to feed, in a region that is already poor.
Then find two other elements from the reading that are related to the first, and explain how they are related.
Structure: Your introduction should set out for the reader what your paper will do, and each paragraph should have an introductory sentence that does the same work for the paragraph’s claims. Have something to claim for the paper as a whole and express that thesis in your paper’s title. Then support that argument with evidence from the reading. At the end of the paper, write a conclusion that provides a take-away message (your argument, now thoroughly supported) to the reader.
PS – First: I don’t mind the first person, as you can tell from this sentence, but I think it’s useful to acquire skill as a writer in avoiding it, for when it is forbidden. Second: This is a short paper. If you need to go over the word limits you may do so, but generally I prefer succinct writing—another useful skill to have as a writer, though certainly there is a place for more flowery work.
RUBRIC
A – has an argument expressed clearly in the introduction, conclusion, and title. Supports this argument with evidence from the reading. Distinguishes the three elements chosen with paragraphs and thesis statements, and makes explicit the links between them. Is gracefully written without a lot of distracting typos.
B – has an argument expressed at least elliptically in the introduction, conclusion, and title. Supports this argument with evidence from the reading. Distinguishes the three elements chosen with paragraphs and thesis statements, and makes explicit the links between at least two of them. Is clearly written, at least most of the time.
C – lacks an argument and/or title, or has only 2/3 elements requested, or lacks an introduction and/or conclusion. Has all three elements but does not link them together. May have significant grammatical and/or typographical errors.
D – contains several (at least three) of the above errors, or has too few elements, or no title.
F – has no title or title does not express the argument. Has fewer elements than required, or does not link elements, or imagines elements or links not found in the reading.