Part I: Exploration
1. Identify the issue or problem that you plan to focus on in your research project.
What types of regulations of smoking in public places should the legal system impose?
2. What is your personal connection to and interest in this topic?
I just hate going to restaurants or even just walking outside my dorm and being bombarded with smoke. I think it’s disgusting and it gives me headaches.
3. What opinions do you already hold about this topic?
I think there should be some regulations on smoking in public places.
4. What knowledge do you already have about this topic? What are your main questions about this topic? What are you most curious about?
I know some places have ban smoking in restaurants. I want to know where (geographically) smoking has been banned in restaurants, and what other public places it has been banned in.
6. Within what scholarly discipline (such as history, biology, psychology) do you expect to do most of your research? How does this discipline approach or study this topic?
I would probably do most of my research in medicine (for the effects of second hand smoke and whatnot) and in law (for the laws that have already been put in place and the laws that have been proposed). I’d also want to do some of my research in business for a counter argument (restaurants, particularly bars, believe they will lose money if smoking is banned).
7. How could you research this topic outside the library (for example, through interviews and/or observations)?
I guess I could interview restaurant owners on their opinion on smoking bans. In places it has already been banned, I could interview the restaurant owners about their business (if they lost business, got more, or it stayed the same).
Part II: Focusing
Write an initial claim, or an open-ended question, to guide your research on this topic. Make it specific but exploratory. Remember that a good claim opens up an area of inquiry about a topic; a claim should invite evidence, support, and debate.
With the effects of smoking being so prevalent, is it the responsibility of the government to put restrictions on smoking in public places?
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5 comments:
You could also research Illinois law and try to find out what loopholes there are. I know that in my hometown somebody figured out that there could still be smoking in Beer Gardens. Previous to the passing of the law, our town had like one or two "beer gardens" After the passing of the law, most of the bars in town now have one, that or a "rooftop lounge". so you can also find problems with the law as well, to strengthen your argument.
I think this is a great topic and is starting to develop into a huge issue in America. I do agree with your stance and I believe smoking should defintley be regulated down from what it is now. Being a past smoker I can look at both views of the arguements. I know that all smokers will not like to be forced out of places or not be allowed to smoke, but I think it will help them in the long run by decreasing the amount that they smoke also. By being told that you can only smoke in certain places, it cuts off any chance that you may light up a cigarette and start smoking. I also agree with you in the fact, now that I don't smoke, I don't want to go in a restaurant or walk down the street and have to breathe in these toxic fumes, not only are they unhealthy, but they also smell extremely bad afterwards. Not only has smoking become a hassale, but in my kinesiology class yesterday we were told that about 50,000 people die a year from second hang smoke related deaths. Like Clark said, there has been a lot of loopholes and you should research them. We need to strengthen our laws and crack down on this, and starting January 1st, Illinois's new smoking act comes into effect and bans smoking in just about every public place.
I think this is a great topic to write about but it has been an issue and talked about a lot for the last couple years. So maybe if you make it more personal rather than factual. I think everyone knows a lot of information about banning smoking.
Lots of great comments here!
I agree with slm that there has been a great deal of media attention to raise public awareness of this issue. As Zach mentioned, Gov. Blagojevich signed the ban into law last summer, and most people are familiar with the dangers of 2nd hand smoke. It seems important to explain why it matters to readers *now.*
Perhaps Drew's suggestion to look at the loopholes might be helpful. I'm not sure whether that research will support the project.
Can you say more about how you can make this issue relevant to readers?
What is your academic major? That might provide some leads on how to refine your research for readers in your academic discipline.
Megan,
I worked with a state senator this summer so I have some insight into the smoking ban. Actually, I was responsible for writing a letter about Blago's ban that is probably saved somewhere on an office computer. I'll try to find it and forward it to you.
In general, I think this is a good topic and there are definitely some interesting reprocussions you can touch on.
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