Topic-Question-Significance (TQS) Essay
LENGTH: One to two pages, Times Roman, Double-spaced, 1.25” Margins, 12 Point Font.
This essay assignment provides you an opportunity to begin thinking about your capstone proposal. This is the first of several assignments that will serve as building blocks for the capstone proposal that you will submit by the end of the semester.
The first step in this process is to write a short “TQS” essay.
Answer the following questions in one paragraph per question:
- Topic: Identify the topic that provides the context for your research question. It should be neither too narrow nor too broad, so that you can address your research question without losing focus. (My topic is “Understanding trust between social media users.”
- Question: Identify your research question. Are there related questions that flow from your initial question? How do you justify using an interdisciplinary approach?
- Significance (So what?): Explain why addressing your research question is important. (“I am seeking to answer this question in order that or so that…”)
If you have more than one idea for a topic, feel free to submit multiple essays.
Make sure your essay has a single-sentence introduction. Next, the body of your essay must answer the three questions. Finally, you need a concise and creative single-sentence conclusion.
This is a formal writing assignment—you will be expected to pay attention to overall format, grammar, punctuation, documentation, and spelling.
