Esther+Han+RP+Post+1

The type of paper I am leaning toward writing is a position paper. I am interested in writing a paper relevant to contemporary society, something like social media or any controversial topics being debated today. Many of the topics I brainstormed are argumentative, and two separate sides are clearly distinct. This approach will allow me to explain and persuade my audience by invoking naysayers and using both cited and consulted sources to bolster my main points. Writing a position paper clearly outlines my responsibilities and tasks for completing this research project: discussing a controversial issue, choosing a stance, and providing details and information to support my main argument.
 * I: Presentation of Research Findings **


 * II: The Pursuit of New Knowledge **
 * How has the use of cellphones changed our society?
 * Text messaging affect teenage literacy
 * Has the use of modern technology and the internet affected the social skills of people today?
 * To what extent?
 * ====Should the drinking age in the U.S. be changed to 18 years? ====
 * Should tobacco use be illegal?
 * Should an amendment for legalizing gay marriage be instituted into the Constitution?

From first-hand experience with the internet, social networking sites, and technological devices (ie. cellular phones), the rapid advancement of technology in our society today has greatly affected how people communicate and interact with each other. As our world becomes more dependent on the use of technology and social media, maintaining decent social skills has not been as enforced as it used to be. People start to lose more patience with new technology (as technology advances, people don't need to wait as long), and they slowly begin to rely on technology to face difficult situations (text messaging somebody an apology as opposed to talking to them in person). I am not so sure if this is my final decision, but I might want to broaden my topic to have more room for brainstorming main ideas.
 * III: Background & Early Knowledge **

I have interests in researching and writing about this topic because I like to be aware of current events and the issues and development of our current world. I also would prefer defending a position and supporting it with cited sources, rather than answering a philosophical question. I am interested in seeing how people have developed over the past century and how certain advancements in our history have affected our lives, either negatively or positively. Part of my motivation is based on personal experience and interest; I heavily rely on modern technology to communicate with others, do things that I am too lazy to do, etc. I am able to see the various directions this project might undergo; it could be potentially difficult for me to find sources written by fictional authors and poets and structure may be a bit messy and unorganized. I really care about this topic because I personally believe people have been losing social skills due to all of the advancements we have today; talking to people in person has become a harder task for many, and the world has become too dependent on technology itself (especially to perform tasks we find too difficult or tedious). I also personally rely on technology to prevent facing people in person and having to confront or apologize to them face-to-face.
 * IV: The Rationale **