Sample Proposal Review: "Let's Make it a Real Melting Pot" (207-11, TWW)

Sample Proposal Review:

"Let's Make it a Real Melting Pot"

Priorities/Consequences in "Let's Make it a Real Melting Pot"

Prioritizing the Problem or Prioritizing the Solution?

• "Let's Make a Real Melting Pot" is what we might call a "priority problem" proposal: its solution is simple (we make a change the U.S. Constitution) but the challenge is in convincing enough people that this change should be enacted.
• Thus, the author here Prioritizes problem, emphasizes positive consequences (making the US a "true democracy") of solution and negative consequences (keeping naturalized Americans "second-class citizens") of not following it.

Thesis: "We must...take a stand against the discriminatory practice applied to all foreign-born American citizens by this obsolete provision of the Constitution."

Paragraph Breakdown (remember: a proposal argument typically introduces or acknowledges a problem, identifies a solution, argues that the solution is feasible, and then issues a "call to action" by emphasizing positive consequences - or reduction of negative consequences - if their solution is accepted).

Introduction

1. Raising the issuing, emphasizing it through a thought experiment: "Imagine that an infertile couple...How do Stu's parents explain this rule..."

2-3. How the problem began: Constitutional Convention

4. Recent controversy:  Amend for Arnold

Thesis

5. Thesis & Exigence: "We must...take a stand against the discriminatory practice applied to all foreign-born American citizens by this obsolete provision of the Constitution...The present time is ideal for change"

Consequences

6. Positive consequences of accepting proposal: will "mend national image of US," "fulfill the longtime promises of the nation"  

Call to Action

7. Restating importance, encouraging grass-roots action