PROJECT I

Your first assignment will be to work with a listing from the Harper's Index. Harper’s Magazine, if you are unfamiliar with it, is a monthly magazine that explores politics, the arts, and world events. You can learn more about Harper's at its website. One of the magazine's monthly features is the Index, which is a listing of statistics the editors find interesting, annoying, alarming, or absurd.

Take a look at this month’s statistics.

Pick a statistic, or linked statistics (some of the statistics relate to each other) as your first topic of inquiry. Write a paper that deals with some, or all of the following questions:

	Can you find the source of the statistic?
	Do you think it is being manipulated? Why or why not?
	How do you understand the current relevance of the topic?
	What are some historical, cultural, economic and/or scientific circumstances that inspired the listing in Harper's Index?
	How do you think the listing should be interpreted?
	What implications or bearings does the statistic have for our times and places? (TIMES and PLACES can be understood broadly or narrowly, as you choose.)
	What are some of the results or consequences of this situation in the world today?
	What opinions did you develop as a result of your research?
	OR YOU MIGHT FIND THAT YOUR INVESTIGATION TAKES YOU A BIT OFF COURSE, AND THAT YOU ARE REALLY THINKING, INVESTIGATING, AND WRITING ABOUT A TANGENTIAL TOPIC THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY THE STATISTIC BUT DOES NOT CENTER AROUND IT. THAT'S JUST FINE, AS LONG AS YOU EXPLAIN HOW YOU GOT TO THE TOPIC YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT.

Your paper must explain the topic, analyze information about it, and develop an understanding of the issue.