What audience is affected by this topic and would be interested in your report?

Investigative Report Assignment
Informative Argument, page length: 5-6 pages
Introduction
Drafting a research paper is perhaps the earliest form of academic essay writing. This type of writing is ideal for students to learn how to do academic research. An Investigative Report is simply a subgenre of the academic research paper: “a report serves to highlight the author’s expertise with the purpose of informing or educating an audience” (110). The difference from the research essay is that the report approaches a topic rhetorically, asking the reader to do something with the information they have learned from the report. The Investigative Report has a much closer consideration of audience than the academic research essay. The course text notes that as you write, you: “want to determine the audience for the report. Who are likely to affected by the information? How are they affected? How might they use the information?” (113).
From the course text:
“When you want to find out more about why a particular issue is the way it is, you will want to research the topic and then compose an investigative report in order to present the results of research you have conducted about that problem (or one with which you have personal experience). To begin, you need to decide what topic bothers you to the point that you would like to investigate and report on it? What misinformation would you like to correct? What audience is affected by this topic and would be interested in your report?” (113)
Investigative Reports commonly have the following features:
§ defines an issue, problem, or phenomenon in precise terms
§ makes clear why the topic under construction needs to be investigated.
§ provides trustworthy facts and details that help readers understand the effects of this topic and determine who has a stake in the situation.
§ uses direct quotations to convey the perspectives of various groups with a stake in the issue.
§ relies on appropriate organization and design.
§ identifies the conclusion readers should reach.
Identifying an Opportunity for Change
Your research should begin by identifying an opportunity to investigate, an issue you are strongly invested in enough to want change to happen. This issue is one in which you will research factual evidence and present to an audience affected by the topic.
Consider moving through the following list for pre-writing ideas for your draft. From the course text, page 121:

Describetheproblemorissuewithasmuchobjectivedetailaspossible.
Whatindividualsorgroupsareaffectedbythisissue?
Whomightbeinterestedin,ordisagreewith,yourdetermination?
What are the consequences of the particular issue you are exploring? Where might you begin researching for information to answer your question?
Whatgroupsorindividualsmighthaveastakeinthefindingsofaninvestigativereportonthis topic?
InvestigativeReportAssignment 1
Ways of Organizing
You will want to reference “Writing A Persuasive Investigative Report: A Guide” on page 123 in the course text for more thorough instructions.
Introduction
§ begin by establishing an interesting topic that will hook a reader
§ describe or define the issue and state a clear thesis that presents your argument § establish your ethos to relay your experience to your reader
Body
§ thoroughly present the objectivity of your report through an application of logos
§ present facts, details, and direct quotations to establish support
§ trace the effects of the issue on various groups that might be affected by the topic
Conclusion
§ bring together various perspectives and present an application of pathos to emotionally connect with the audience
§ include an appeal to the audience to adopt a particular attitude or undertake a specific action
You should aim to draft solid claims in your writing, supported by outside sources. You are required to integrate at least five outside sources from your research. Be sure to quote, paraphrase, or summarize passages from your research material and correctly cite them using the appropriate citation style specifics for your field of study. You must include at least one direct quote and citation for any information that you summarize or paraphrase. Be sure to include a Works Cited or References page, properly formatted.
® Forfulldetailsofthisassignment,youwillwanttovisitthecoursetext:
Part 2: Writing Projects: Rhetorical Situations for Composing > Ch 7: Investigative Reports (p 110)
Submitting the Draft
This assignment will run through the Peer Review process as outlined in the course text. The Questions for a Peer Review for this assignment are on pages 125-126 of the course text. See the syllabus for formatting specifics. The due date for this assignment is listed in the Course Calendar.
InvestigativeReportAssignment 2