How Can Our Writing Impact the Community?

“A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.” – Ralph Nader

Researching and understanding a topic related to poverty and food insecurity is crucial because it allows us to uncover the root causes and complexities of these pressing issues. By delving into the specifics, we can identify the factors that contribute to these challenges and explore potential solutions. This research not only informs our own perspectives but also empowers us to make a meaningful impact in our community. Through a deeper understanding, we can advocate for effective policies, support local organizations, and contribute to initiatives that aim to alleviate poverty and enhance food security for those in need.

Why You Should Care

Understanding and addressing poverty and food insecurity is not just an academic exercise—it’s a crucial step toward creating a more just and equitable society. By engaging with this project, you will gain insights into the challenges faced by many in your community and learn how you can make a tangible difference. This project will help you develop a sense of empathy and social responsibility, qualities that are invaluable in both personal and professional settings.

Project Overview for Civic Action Project Part 1: Issue in Context Research Essay

In this first part of the Civic Action Project, you will write an argumentative research essay that explores a specific topic and its connection to poverty. Your primary goal is to demonstrate a causal relationship between your chosen topic and poverty. You will construct an argument that answers one of these guiding questions:

1. How does your topic cause poverty?
2. How does your topic perpetuate or worsen poverty?
3. How does your topic reduce or alleviate poverty?

Your essay must provide a well-rounded, evidence-based argument that helps readers understand this connection. By doing so, you will explore the causes and effects.

How This Project Feeds into Part Two

In the first part of the Civic Action Project, you will delve deeply into a topic related to poverty and food insecurity. This Issue in Context research essay requires you to thoroughly investigate your chosen topic, uncover the underlying causes and effects, and construct a compelling argument based on your findings. Your goal is to present a well-rounded and evidence-based perspective that sheds light on these critical issues.

Your research essay will serve as the foundation for the second part of the Civic Action Project: creating a poverty simulation scene. The insights and evidence you gather in your essay will inform the scenarios you develop, making them more realistic and impactful.

Both parts of the Civic Action Project will complement each other and be on display at the Food For Thought exhibition. As participants engage in Mary’s story, each chapter will link to an “Issue in Context” paper that will be displayed as an information poster. This approach will allow participants to see issues from both an individual and societal perspective.

Intended Audience

For this project, your audience will be Scottsdale residents, including SCC students.

Important Notes for Your Project

Open Educational Resource (OER) Agreement

This project is a collaborative effort that collects content from students across multiple disciplines each semester. To be considered for inclusion, you must sign an Open Educational Resource (OER) Agreement that allows your work to be shared. Projects may be developed or revised by other students, but all contributors will receive credit in the exhibit.

By following these guidelines, you will ensure your project meets the standards necessary for public display and contributes meaningfully to our Food for Thought exhibition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do I Need to Do?

Write an argumentative research essay (400-600 words or roughly 2-3 double-spaced typed pages) that shows a causal relationship between your topic and poverty. The paper will need an introduction, at least one body paragraph (but no more than three body paragraphs), a conclusion, and a Works Cited page.

What Topics Can I Use?

There are many topics available for this project. Please see the Topics for Issue in Context Paper for a complete list.

What Am I Trying to Prove?

You are constructing an argument about how your chosen topic impacts poverty:

• Does it cause poverty by creating barriers or systemic disadvantages?
• Does it perpetuate poverty by keeping individuals or communities trapped in cycles of hardship?
• Does it reduce poverty by improving conditions, increasing access, or breaking cycles of inequality?

Your goal is to present clear claims supported by credible evidence that connect your topic to poverty in a meaningful way.

What Will I Need to Know?

You will need to be very familiar with the causal relationship between your topic and poverty. You’ll find varying opinions on the topic from economists, sociologists, politicians, community leaders and residents, and so on. As you explore resources on the topic, develop your own perspective by evaluating the sources (i.e. what are the author’s credentials and motives for providing the information?). Spend enough time on the research that you can confidently discuss the topic and support your claims (arguments).

Your essay should move beyond summarizing facts—it should analyze, explain, and connect your research findings to your central argument.

How Should I Research This Project?

When researching poverty topics for your academic paper, start by developing specific research questions to guide your exploration. Then, dive into a variety of sources, including academic journals, books, credible websites, and multimedia content like documentaries and podcasts. This will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Be sure to assess the credibility and relevance of each source to ensure your paper is well-supported and informed. Engaging with both scholarly and real-world examples will enrich your argument and provide a rounded perspective.

What Skills Do I Have to Demonstrate?

In your paper, you will demonstrate your ability to articulate clear claims (arguable statements) in your thesis statement and topic sentences. You’ll support these claims with relevant evidence and provide thorough explanations to connect your research findings directly to your arguments. Additionally, your paper should exhibit strong organization and unity, ensuring each paragraph contributes to your overall thesis. Finally, you’ll showcase your proficiency in MLA documentation, correctly citing sources to bolster your research and lend credibility to your work.

How Will This Project Be Used?

This project (part 1 of the Civic Action Project) may be selected for inclusion at the Food for Thought exhibition at Scottsdale Community College. Issue in Context papers will be displayed for the public to learn more about topics dramatized in the interactive poverty simulation (part 2 of the Civic Action Project).

What Else Should I Consider?

At the end of the semester, you will write part 2 of the Civic Action Project, an interactive narrative scenario for the Poverty Simulation, which will be based on your Issue in Context topic. In other words, you’ll be writing a story scene that dramatizes how the topic of your Issue in Context paper looks in real life. Please keep in mind that you will need to provide at least 3 new pieces of evidence for part 2 of the Civic Action Project, so as you research the topic, collect enough evidence that you can use in both projects.

Project Steps

Overview

Writing a quality research paper requires significant time and effort. Throughout the semester, you will develop the project in stages over several smaller assignments. This will help you understand the process and give you time to fine-tune your work.

Step 1: Choose a Topic for the Semester

During the first part of the semester, we will explore multiple topics on poverty via class activities, discussions, and small assignments like readings and discussion boards. Additionally, you should independently explore Topics for Issue in Context Paper and conduct some research to see what topic appeals to you. After a few weeks, you’ll get to select the topic you will study and write about for the semester. While you can change your topic later, I strongly recommend you stick with your first choice since you’ll be developing components of the major projects throughout the semester. Basically, choose a topic that you find interesting and has sufficient sources to support your research.

Choosing a single topic to research and develop over the course of the entire semester allows students to delve deeply into the subject matter, fostering a thorough understanding and mastery of the topic. This focused approach enhances critical thinking and analytical skills, as students build on their knowledge incrementally, leading to more sophisticated insights and a cohesive final project.

Step 2: Develop Research Questions

Once you have decided on your topic, you will generate research questions to learn more about the issue. Start with a few research questions, then continue generating additional research questions throughout the semester.

Asking research questions is a dynamic, ongoing part of your research and writing process. It’s important because it keeps your inquiry active and open to new directions as you uncover more information. Continuously refining your questions can lead to deeper insights and a more thorough understanding of the topic. This approach ensures that your final paper is not only well-researched but also critically engaged with the material, reflecting a genuine exploration rather than just a summary of known facts.

Step 3: Answer the Research Questions

In this class, you will learn research techniques that help you answer your research questions using a variety of sources, from popular to academic, from articles to books, from websites to podcasts. You will evaluate the credibility of each source and gather information and evidence that can be used to support your projects.

Answering a single research question often involves finding various answers from multiple sources and critically analyzing the information to produce logical conclusions. Different sources may have different answers due to differences in perspectives, methodologies, and biases. Each source may prioritize aspects of a topic based on its agenda, target audience, or data interpretation. Additionally, the timing, authors’ expertise, and publication purpose influence information presentation. This diversity underscores the importance of critical thinking and cross-referencing multiple sources for a well-rounded understanding.

Step 4: Plan Your Rhetorical Strategies

In your writing, employing rhetorical strategies (logos, ethos, and pathos) is crucial. Logos appeals to logic, helping you construct sound arguments and evidence-based conclusions. Ethos involves credibility, either your own as a writer or the sources you choose, enhancing the trustworthiness of your arguments. Pathos appeals to the emotions of your readers, making your writing more engaging and impactful.

We’ll spend some time this semester learning about rhetorical strategies in greater depth. These strategies enrich your work, making your arguments more persuasive and your communication more effective. Therefore, before you start writing, you should think carefully about what evidence you will use and how you will use it. Consider who your audience is and what your motivations are for sharing information with them. How do you want them to feel and what do you want them to do with the information you provide?

Step 5: Format a Google Doc Using MLA Guidelines

Create a Google Doc

1. Go to Google Drive and sign in with your Google account.
2. Click + New > Google Docs to create a new document.
3. Name your document using this format:
   LastName_CivicActionProject_Part1 (e.g., Smith_CivicActionProject_Part1).

Format Your Google Doc Using MLA Guidelines

Font & Spacing

All text must be Times New Roman, 12 point font, and double-spaced (including the Works Cited page). Indent the first sentence of every body paragraph using the Tab key.

Page Numbers

Your last name and page number in the upper right corner of every page. (Example: Smith 2) If you don’t know how to do this, see this tutorial for Google docs.

Header

Place the header in the upper left corner of page 1 (your full name, professor names, course, and date).

Title

Center a title below the header. Your title should grab the reader’s attention and preview your topic. Check out these great tips from “How to Title an Essay”

Works Cited Page 

Include a Works Cited with at least four credible sources at the end of your essay on the page after your conclusion. Don’t forget to alphabetize your sources.

Adjust Sharing Settings for Instructor Access

To ensure your instructor can both view and comment on your work:

1. Click the Share button in the top-right corner of the Google Doc.
2. Under General Access, change the setting to “Anyone with the link can comment”:
   • Click the dropdown next to “Restricted.”
   • Select “Anyone with the link”.
   • In the dropdown to the right, choose “Commenter”

Any updates you make to your Google Doc will automatically show in the link you submitted.

Your instructor will be able to view your Version History to track your edits.

Step 6: Craft an Impactful Introduction

Write an introduction for your essay that includes a captivating hook, followed by a detailed topic overview, and a thesis statement.

Introductions are usually 6–12 sentences in length, depending on the topic and length of the paper.

Hook

Begin with 1-3 sentence hook (a fact, question, story, or quote). Remember that the most effective hooks involve pathos, so the goal of your hook is to produce an emotional reaction in the reader. The strongest type of hook you can use for this essay will use a piece of evidence from a credible source. Look for an emotional story about poverty that is relevant to your topic–something that illustrates the humanity of the issue. For example:

Example: Maria, a single mother in Baltimore, wakes up at dawn every day to strategize how she can stretch her meager budget at the local corner store. The nearest supermarket is miles away, a distance insurmountable without a car. She treks through dangerous neighborhoods with her kids in tow, only to find limited, overpriced food options (Move For Hunger).  

Topic Overview

After your hook, transition into a 4–5 sentence topic overview. Here you provide your audience with enough information for them to understand the overall topic. This is a good place to summarize the main issues, offer essential historical background, and prove why this topic is important. Provide another 1–2 pieces of evidence from credible sources to provide context and show that you have researched the topic. To help you decide what information to include, imagine what your audience knows or doesn’t know about the topic.

Example: Redlining policies have inflicted lasting harm on low-income communities like the one Maria lives in, fueling food insecurity by deliberately obstructing supermarket expansion, thereby denying countless families access to fresh, nutritious food and perpetuating a cycle of poverty and health disparities. Decades after redlining was outlawed, the scars remain deeply etched in our communities. In 2019, homes in formerly redlined areas sold for an average of 29% less than those in historically white neighborhoods (Housing Matters). This persistent devaluation results in a lack of economic development and investment. Many redlined areas today lack grocery stores, making it difficult for residents to access healthy food (Springer).

Thesis Statement

The final sentence of your introductory paragraph is your thesis statement, which tells your audience the purpose of your essay. A thesis statement needs a limited topic (e.g. a specific poverty issue) and at least one claim (e.g. what you want to prove about the limited topic). The claim in your thesis statement should clearly establish the causal connection between your topic and poverty. In other words, use your thesis statement to argue how your topic causes, perpetuates, or reduces poverty.

Example: Redlining policies contributed to food insecurity by discouraging supermarket expansion in low-income communities.

Step 7: Create Effective Body Paragraphs

Create at least one body paragraph. Every body paragraph needs a topic sentence, evidence, and explanation.

Topic Sentences

that develops the claim(s) in your thesis statement and tells your audience the purpose of the body paragraph.  Topic sentences must make a single, discussable / arguable claim.

Example: Many supermarkets consider developing in redlined communities a risky investment.

Evidence

Provide 2-3 pieces of evidence from credible sources that support the claim made in the topic sentence.

Example: Redlining policies of the 1930s encouraged banks to deny investments in urban, primarily-Black neighborhoods. Though redlining practices are now illegal, they led directly to supermarket redlining, where large supermarkets are disinclined “to locate their stores in inner cities or low-income neighborhoods” (Mukherjee).

Include in-text citations for each piece of evidence. Either introduce the source using the author’s name (if available) and article/book/website title, or provide an in-text citation using MLA format.

Explanation

The main goal of explanation is to show how the evidence supports the claim made in the topic sentence. For each piece of evidence, you should provide at least two or more sentences of explanation.

Introduce your evidence. Before each piece of evidence, use any combination of the following techniques to introduce the evidence: establish source credibility, define terms, create context, choose a signal phrase.

Example: A report, released from the Health Services Research Journal, concluded that “People who lack reliable transportation and live more than a mile away from a grocery store often rely on less nutritious food” (Berkowitz et al.). 

Explaining your evidence: After each piece of evidence, use any combination of the following techniques to explain the evidence: analyze, evaluate, compare & contrast, cause & effect, refute or concede, or suggest an action.

Example: For many of these people, eating at a nearby fast food restaurant is cheaper and faster than finding a way to travel to a grocery store. 

Step 8: Write a Memorable Conclusion

Craft a conclusion for your essay that effectively wraps up your arguments, reinforcing your thesis statement. Begin with a brief summary of your key points, followed by a conclusive statement that ties all your ideas together and emphasizes the importance of the topic. This step is crucial to leave a lasting impact on the reader.

Step 9: Revise the Global Issues

Global issues are the main aspects of your essay:

Claims

Does my introduction end with a clear thesis statement? Does the thesis statement include a limited topic and at least one claim that shows how the topic connects to poverty, either by causing it, perpetuating it, or reducing it? Does each body paragraph begin with a topic sentence, and does each topic sentence make only one single, arguable claim?

Rhetorical Appeals

Does the writing include facts, statistics, and expert testimony (logos)? Do you create an emotional connection between the topic and intended audience (pathos)? Is the writing well-researched, error-free, and demonstrates your interest in the topic (ethos)?

Organization

Organizing your writing means placing ideas in an order that makes sense to your audience. For example, when you return from the grocery store, you organize items in a logical fashion. Food is placed in the kitchen, toothpaste is stored in the bathroom. You should similarly organize your writing to help your reader understand your ideas and how they relate to one another.

Unity

Unity is closely related to organization. A unified paragraph means that everything is relevant to the main point and nothing is off-topic. If you found a refrigerator in a bathroom, you’d (hopefully) agree that it doesn’t belong there. Make sure your writing doesn’t drift off-topic, and that every sentence supports the claim in the topic sentence. Unity can also be created by using transitional words and phrases to help show how ideas connect to one another.

Development

Development means that you have thoroughly explored a topic or idea (and not intentionally or accidentally left something out of your writing). Imagine eating a salad that only has lettuce–that salad needs to be developed with additional elements (tomatoes, croutons, dressing, etc.) to be satisfying. If your paragraphs or essay do not feel sufficiently developed, ask yourself if you need to conduct further research or if you need to analyze the evidence in greater depth.

Evidence

Is your evidence relevant and specific to the claims? Does the evidence sufficiently support your arguments? Do you have the right amount of evidence (not too much, not too little)?

Explanation

Are you using explanation techniques both before and after each piece of evidence?

Coherence / Clarity

How clearly are your ideas communicated for the intended audience? Are you using a diction (word choice) that is appropriate and engaging? Is your writing clear? Can you simplify sentences and clarify connections between ideas?

Step 10: Check the Local Issues

Local issues are the small issues of your paper, such as formatting and grammar. Before submitting your text, evaluate it using the following checklist:

Check Your Work in Grammarly

Copy and paste your text into Grammarly. Either accept or decline each suggestion. Please note that AI will provide some useful tips and suggestions, but not every comment will be correct. You will need to use your judgment to determine whether to apply the advice. You can also ask your instructor for input and clarification.

Cite All Your Sources

Make sure all evidence includes in-text citations. Grammarly can also help you format your work using MLA.

Format the Works Cited Page

Make sure the Works Cited page is double-spaced and uses Times New Roman font. Citations must be alphabetized.

Read Your Work Aloud

It may feel silly, but reading your work aloud will greatly improve your writing. Your ear will catch problems your eyes miss, such as awkward phrasing, clunky transitions, confusing sentences, and grammatical errors.

Work with The Writing Center or the Embedded Tutor

SCC offers free and convenient tutoring services from the Writing Center. You can visit in-person, submit online, or schedule a live online session.

Step 11: Submit Your Draft to Canvas

Upload the link to your project to Canvas.

What a Successful Project Looks Like

A successful project for Part One of the Civic Action Project: Issue in Context Research Essay will be thoroughly researched, well-organized, and clearly articulated. It should present a compelling argument supported by credible evidence and provide a nuanced understanding of a topic related to poverty and food insecurity. The essay should demonstrate critical thinking and insight, effectively connecting the research to real-world implications. Additionally, the essay must be meticulously formatted according to academic standards, free of grammatical errors, and include proper citations for all sources.

Helpful Resources

These resources will improve your understanding of the project and/or skills necessary to complete it.

• The Writing Center – Use the Writing Center to improve your work, even if you are a talented writer. The best way to improve your writing is by getting feedback.
• Embedded Librarian – Contact Nancy Deegan at nancy.deegan@scottsdalecc.edu for researching resources and strategies.
• Embedded Tutor – Contact Lorraine Howland at lorraine.howland@scottsdalecc.edu for personal feedback on your work. 

Bonus for Superior Work

If your first draft earns a grade above 90%, you do not need to submit a final revision of the project at the end of the semester and will receive full credit.

Rubric

The rubric is available on Canvas. The most successful students read the rubric before beginning your project, and use it as a checklist throughout the writing process.