This document is the first example of the development of my topic. At this time, I was still conflicted between two topics: standardized testing or parental involvement in the school community. Eventually, I committed to parental involvement in school systems. Because the research I had done was so minimal, I was not sure where to begin on discussing my topic's place as a long-standing problem. As a result, I was not yet using the same diction as I developed through further research about my topic, like using "urban" instead of lower SES, and "immigrant students" instead of ESL students. Yet, I did have enough of an understanding to discuss my experience with the problem and some specific consequences of the problems involving my topic.

Haley Witzeman

Professor Erik Kongshaug

Writing 39C

14 January 2016

HCP: Prewriting/Prospectus

Rewrite of the HCP Prompt:

For the Historical Conversations Project, you will need to write an essay that addresses a pressing problem, whether it be political, social, or cultural. Make sure you clarify the present significance of this problem in a modern setting. You may find it useful to use scholarly articles to expand upon your thought process. In the Historical Conversations Project, you will be using at least two sources to explain the historical significance, having at least one source from the past and another from the present. Tie these two together and explain how this problem evolved into the form it is in now. This is called making a multi-modal composition, or using two “modes” to add depth to the pressing problem. In order to understand this connection, you will have to raise questions regarding your viewpoint as well as the opinions of the authors of your sources. It will be helpful to see what other people have to say about the pressing issues surrounding your topic. The sources and evidence you use can range anywhere from a graph to a table to an image to a scholarly text.

Thinking about the past vs. present pieces of evidence, what makes the past one so memorable and significant? If it were not significant, there would be nothing in writing/table data about it!

Another thing to consider is the credibility of your sources.

Research Proposal

The Historical Conversations Project will test my knowledge of both past and present information regarding my topic. However, I am finding myself getting lost within topics I choose and soon find that I don’t understand much about or cannot find enough information about when doing research. My two potential topics currently are: Community involvement in testing reform with an emphasis on parental involvement and consequences arising from the lack of parental involvement in urban school settings. With that being said, I always found that parents getting involved in the school system has been an issue. Yes, they are a crucial part of the parent-teacher-student relationship.

For this reason, one of my topics of interest, consequences arising from the lack of parental involvement in urban school settings, touches upon one of the most troublesome reasons for flawed school systems. According to President Barack Obama, “parents who don’t parent” are one of the worst things for a growing child. What is the reason for this lack of parenting? Why do adults take on the challenge of a child and ultimately disregard their educational experience? Could the child facing neglect from the parent be a “mistake child”, causing the parents to participate less in their child’s life?

It is understood that a child with less parental influence will be susceptible to engaging in gang activities and joining questionable groups instead of tending to school work. Not only is this bad for the school and their reputation but also for the community. In my Historical Conversations Project, perhaps I will try to attempt to understand whether the root of this issue lies within the parent’s fostering of the child, the school system’s lack of a grip on these students, a school’s lack of proper outreach programs, or a mixture of all of these.

The main issue with a lack of parental involvement lies in the more urban districts that contain families of lower socioeconomic status. Dealt an unfair disadvantage, the kids are set up for a lower quality experience, especially if the parent isn’t in the picture to help support the child.

Ultimately, I am interested in this topic because of how significant the support of a parent can be. I found myself with an unfair advantage, having two supportive parents that cheered me on as I reached for my educational goals. As my mother is a math teacher, she teaches at a public school where a number of students are of a higher social class. Because of this, many students perform greatly in the academic community. Yet, there are some other students, for example Chinese immigrant students that live with their Aunt or Uncle and receive no assistance in their academic pursuit and crumble under the demands of school. Though I will emphasize on urban districts, I found it interesting that even students with wealth can still experience a lack of parental guidance.