McLaughlin / WR 13300 / Fall 2015

Research Essay Proposal/Exploratory Draft

Due by the start of class on 11/10; worth 20 points in the total score for your
research paper (10 points for the proposal and 10 points for the exploratory draft)
Directions: Drawing from the strategies discussed by Wayne Booth in The Craft of
Research, as well as our discussions in class, complete the following proposal and
exploratory draft for your research project. You may type on a separate document, if
you wish. To earn full points, these items should be detailed and should reflect your
careful thinking about your project.
Part 1: Research Proposal
YOUR NAME:
Jorge Nazario
TOPIC (I am studying):

I am studying the effect of humor on serious political issues.

RESEARCH QUESTION(S) (because I want to find out)

Because I want to find out if a humorous approach would be a more effective

and influential way to inspire change in the political and economic issues of
Puerto Rico.
AUDIENCE & SIGNIFICANCE (in order to help _______ understand)

I want to study this topic in order to suggest a possible solution that could
help the Puerto Rican corruption and ignorance in politics.
CONTEXT (This issue is important and timely because)
This issue is important and timely because Puerto Rico is currently facing many
hardships with its economy, energy sources, and administrative policies. Right now,
Puerto Rico is in an unpayable $72 billion debt; it has been in an economic recession
since 2008. Not only that, but Puerto Rico has the most expensive and least efficient
source of energy meaning that every day it gets more expensive to live there, and
already thousands of Puerto Ricans have fled to the US mainland. The government
and its citizens do not seem to know what the best future for the island would be in
regard to its political status and affiliation with the United States. In addition, hope
for a better economic future seems to be dying among the citizens because
politicians cannot seem to go anywhere with their proposals.
EXHIBIT (To illustrate my discussion of ______, I plan to focus on _______):
To illustrate my discussion of humors impact in political issues, I plan to focus on
late night shows such as John Olivers Last Week Tonight and Stephan Colberts Late

McLaughlin / WR 13300 / Fall 2015

Show to demonstrate how they use humor to influence their audience more
effectively.

KEY SOURCES FOUND SO FAR:

MLA citation

Type of source?
News article?
Scholarly journal
article? Book?
Website? Other?

What does the source offer

your project? Background?
Statistics? Theory? Argument?
Counterargument? Example?

BACKIEL, LINDA. "Puerto Rico."

Monthly Review: An Independent
Socialist Magazine 67.5 (2015):
11-18. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Book

The source offers recent news on

Puerto Ricos incapacity to pay its
debt. Gives background and
statistics.

Weaver, Simon. "The Rhetoric Of

Disparagement Humor: An
Analysis Of Anti-Semitic Joking
Online." Humor: International
Journal Of Humor Research 28.2
(2015): 327-347. Academic
Search Premier. Web. 8 Nov.
2015.

Scholarly journal

This article seeks to outline and

synthesize the various
approaches to the rhetorical
analysis of humor and show
how they can be used to
analyze disparagement humor.

Becker, Amy. "What Do We Need to

Know About Political Comedy?"
What Do We Need to Know About
Political Comedy? Communication
Currents, 1 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 Nov.
2015.

Website/Scholarly
Journal

Gives background on how

politicians want their speeches to
be powerful, moving and bold but
sometimes funny, too.

ScienceDaily. University of Michigan,

18 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Website

Argument: Jokes, critiques and

issues on politics have a lot of
influence on how much people talk
about the upcoming political
election

Brown, Ashley. Satire. Ohio:

Charles E Merrill, 1968. Print.

Book

Taylor. "Late-night Comedy

Television

Website

Theory and Background on Satire

Statistics on the influence of

political humor in our audience

McLaughlin / WR 13300 / Fall 2015

Increases Political Discussion."

ScienceDaily, Sept. 2012.
Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.sciencedaily.
com/releases/2012/09/120
918121320.htm>.

today.

McLaughlin / WR 13300 / Fall 2015

Part 2: Exploratory Draft

1) You should begin with a statement of what you hope to accomplish with the
project, and with what audience (e.g., I plan to argue that the NCAA must
revise its existing social media policy in order to combat the recent increase
in recruiting violations). Explain why you find this topic interesting and
important. Provide relevant background information to show the existing
conversation around your topic and the new perspective you hope to offer
through your project.
I plan to argue that humor is one of the most influential techniques one can
incorporate into a rhetorical discourse, so that people know how to best address
their public. I find this topic interesting because this knowledge could potentially
give the speaker the power to write an effective speech that causes the change it is
seeking. I also find it very interesting to learn how much humor is too much humor,
and how can one balance the humor with the seriousness of the topic so that the
speaker maintains his credibility and is not mistaken by comedian. This research
paper will be directed to the educated Puerto Ricans, especially the political figures
that want the best future for the island and actually have the power to cause a
positive change in the government and its citizens. However, this can be directed to
any person who has the intention to write an influencing discourse. I have found
that the University of Michigan conducted a research in 2012 on the significant
impact late-night comedy television jokes, critiques and issues on politics have on
how much people talk about the upcoming political election. In addition, I have
found that the National Communication Association wrote an article in 2014 in
which they were also researching the importance of humor in political news and
analyzed the history of their relationship.
2) Identify and discuss the intended audience for this project and what this
audience has at stake in the topic you are researching. Questions to help you
identify an audience: Who will benefit? Who will lose something? Who is in a
position to be persuaded to follow the new course of thinking/action for which
you plan to argue?
My research paper is intended for well-educated Puerto Rican citizens who want to
make a change, government officials, television hosts that have to give public
discourses, and anyone who desires to give a rhetorical speech. These people will
especially benefit because they will learn that by applying these techniques they
will be able give a more influential speech. People that will probably lose something
are those corrupt politicians that will be exposed for who they really are and what
they have done. The Puerto Rican citizens and morally correct politicians will be
persuaded to take action to unite and actually fight for a better future of Puerto
Rico.
3) How do you imagine your essay unfolding at this point? What are the distinct
claims/points you anticipate making in order to convince your audience of
your arguments quality and relevance? Provide a tentative outline.

McLaughlin / WR 13300 / Fall 2015

Right now I imagine my essay will be providing valuable information for any person
who gives rhetorical discourses. I will commence my essay talking about humors
role throughout history and its role nowadays with politics. I would continue giving
information on some techniques and its basic theory. I would then mention specific
examples of how humor has helped shape politics today, how political humor has
helped persuade countless of additional people, and how humor has especially
helped say things for what they are. I would also integrate specific sources and
examples with these claims to further improve my credibility.
Overview on Outline:
Introduction: Humors role throughout history, its role nowadays with politics, and
its potential ability to change Puerto Rican politics.
Thesis Statement: A politician that knows how to incorporate humor in serious
political and economic issues could have the potential ability of influencing Puerto
Ricos problems in a positive way by showing the people what actually needs to be
done with the status referendum and energy problems, and by letting the citizens
know the truth, in a more engaging way, about certain politicians.
Claim1: humor has helped shape politics today (Stephan Colberts speech to
congress)
Claim2: political humor has helped persuade countless of additional people
(University of Michigan research)
Claim3: television jokes, critiques and issues on politics have influenced on how
much people talk about the upcoming political election (Late night TV Shows)
Claim4: humor has especially helped say things for what they are, increasing the
credibility of the speaker and improving the transparency between the public and
the government (Example with a misplaced joke in a senators speech)
4) Discuss what sources youve found so far and what other ones you would like
to look for. What kind of evidence will your audience expect? How will you
accommodate those expectations? Who do you anticipate might disagree
with you, and why? What evidence will they likely point to?
I have already found a couple of websites addressing political comedy nowadays,
and also found information on Puerto Ricos current problems. In addition I have
found a couple of books that will help me write the introduction on the history of the
techniques of humor/satire and also help me write about the background of humor
and its effects on the audience. Right now I more focused on getting a good source
for information on good satirical techniques. My audience is looking to hear about
real examples of how humor can influence so I will also give them real examples of
the Late Night Show and Last Week Tonight. I anticipate that someone who doesnt
know how to take a joke may be offended and against integrating humor to serious
political discourses, nevertheless, it is something inevitable about humor: someone
will always be offended. They would most likely point to the fact that this is a
serious matter and that this is affecting millions of lives, and that it would be
disrespectful to make time for jokes and ridicule other people under whichever
circumstances.
5) Fifth section: Share any concerns or questions you have about the project.
Where do you anticipate running into problems?

McLaughlin / WR 13300 / Fall 2015

I am currently concerned with how well I will be able to integrate the whole research
project with the topic of Puerto Rico to essentially prove that humor in the politics of
Puerto Rico could have a huge impact. For now, I am concentrating on my central
argument that humor shapes and influences politics in general and that using it
could lead to more effective political speeches. I am thinking about perhaps,
towards the end of the research paper, mention a hypothetical example of what
should and could happen in Puerto Rico by yielding the information I have provided.