Research so far...

-What is your research question/inquiry question?

I am not 100% sure what my question is going to be. But I have been researching healthcare in third-world countries and would like to inquire more about America's role. I guess what I want to know is if America is playing a big enough part in helping out these countries in need. Should America help more or less?

-Why did you settle on this question? What interests you about the topic? Explain.

I am interested in this topic for multiple reasons. First of all, my parents are missionaries and do a lot of working helping out third-world countries through volunteering, donating, and planning missions trips. I have always enjoyed traveling to third-world countries and it is clear that there is a need for better healthcare in these countries. Also, the company I am working now participates in donating health-care supplies to Cuba and other countries so I would like to find out more about what the send and how it helps. I really want to know more about what healthcare is like and I am looking forward to learning a lot more.

-How is your question/topic timely? Why is it important to address this topic? Why should people care about it?

I think this is a very important topic because the health-care in third world countries is dangerous, unsanitary, and poorly funded. Even though the economy is not the best right now in our country, I still believe we play a role in helping less fortunate countries in need. In the past, we have always tried helping other nations and I think we should continue to do that to ensure that other people of the world are getting the health care they need. It could save so many lives and prevent many diseases.

-What do you expect to find in your research? What preliminary research have you done that makes you expect this?

I expect to find a lot more details about what the healthcare is like in these third-world countries. So far in my research I have found a lot of facts and statistics that really help get the point across that there is a need for help in these less fortunate countries.

-Are you coming across scholars w/ different answers to your question, or different views of your topic? (If you're NOT and people seem to all agree, then your research question and topic probably aren't worth pursuing, right?) Explain what these answers/views are that you are finding. (Remember that our textbook warns us of the dangers of binary thinking on pg. 6.)What do you think about the different viewpoints? Where do you stand on the issue, and do you think your mind could change the further you get into this semester-long inquiry?

There are definitely many opinions about the role America should play in helping third world countries. Because the economy is horrible right now, a lot of people believe America should stay out of these issues and take a more isolated role. On the other hand, there are many people who think it is America's duty to help these other countries. I believe America should play a role in helping these less fortunate countries. I think these countries are in desperate need of help and support and that America has many more resources and ways of helping. I can definitely see both sides of the argument but I feel like I am pretty set on my opinion because I have been to third world countries and seen first-hand the needs they have.

-Any questions or concerns you'd like to address?

So far, I feel like I am on the right start! I am really getting a lot out of the library website and am looking forward to learning a lot more about my topic. I am a little concerned that I don't have a very good research question yet and I might need help formulating a better question later on.