In the past, My research experiences have mostly consisted of using different sources and notes in order to write about one side of a topic. For this project, I will be discussing the uses of marijuana and information about its legalization. However, rather than taking one side of the debatable topic and writing about reasons why marijuana should be legalized, I will be taking a step back and capturing the spirit of the community surrounding this topic, and talk more about the zeitgeist, or the spirit of our time and why this topic is important to so many people in today's society.
What is my zeitgeist topic? My topic is based on the legalization of marijuana and why this captures the spirit of our time.
Why does this research topic matter? The reason this topic matters is because the percentage of people who believe it should be legal is higher than ever before. I discuss more on why I think this topic matters in my blog post #10.
What is my research question? My research question has been shifted and changed multiple times which I talk about more in my blog post #11, but overall it comes down to "Why do more Americans need marijuana today than ever before?"
What is my genre? My genre of writing will be an op-ed
Which citation style will I use? My citations will be done in a standard APA style
What is the main theme (message) of my argument? Answer in thesis statement form. My main message is that the increasing demand for legalized marijuana represents an american zeitgeist because of peoples better understanding of its major health benefits and capabilities to help treat different conditions and illnesses. I go more in depth on why I decided to choose this as my thesis in my blog post #12
Who is my audience? My audience is mainly people who may not fully understand how and why marijuana is seen in this new positive light compared to past generations.
Drafts Here I will post drafts of my research project.