A proposal about climate change could be a rather large project. At the start of the project, using the questions above could help generate ideas to help focus your topic on something more manageable. The following questions are examples of what can be generated when thinking about climate change with those questions:

• What is the cause of climate change?
• What is the effect of climate change?
• What makes climate change a problem?
• What are some possible solutions to climate change?
• What solutions to climate change have been tried in the past?
• Why have the solutions tried in the past been unsuccessful in solving climate change?
• Who can put the solutions into action?

In writing answers to these questions, the author would realize that not only do they have quite a bit to learn about climate change, but they also have a good starting point for gathering this information.

Bias in Sources

Some writing is intentionally biased and intended to persuade, such as editorials and opinion essays, also called op-eds (because of their placement opposite the editorial page in print newspapers). Writing meant to persuade is generally not used as source material in a proposal. Instead, seek out informative, neutral sources that consider more than one aspect of a problem. Be aware, however, that even sources that seem impartial may contain some bias. Bias becomes a problem when a source that seems objective and trustworthy contains language and images intended to sway your opinion or when a source downplays or ignores one or more aspects of a topic.

The evidence you use to support the discussion of a problem or the worth of a solution should not be heavily biased. As you consider sources for your proposal, the following tips can help you spot bias and read critically:

• Determine the purpose of the source. Is the writing intended to inform you or to persuade you?
• Distinguish between fact and opinion. Mark facts and opinions when gathering information from the source.
• Pay attention to the language and what the writer emphasizes. Does the language include inflammatory words or descriptions intended to sway readers? What do the title, introduction, and any headings tell you about the author’s approach to the subject?
• Research the author. Is the writer an impartial expert? Or is the writer known for being biased?
• Read multiple sources on the topic. Learn whether the source is omitting or glossing over important information and credible views.
• Look critically at the images and any media that support the writing. How do they reinforce positive or negative treatment of the subject?

Bias in Yourself

Most individuals bring what psychologists call cognitive bias to the interactions in their lives, whether with information or with other people. Cognitive bias refers to how humans’ thinking patterns affect how they take in and process new information. As you research information for a proposal, also be aware of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out and accept information that supports (or confirms) a belief you already have and to ignore or dismiss information that challenges that belief.

For example, perhaps you believe strongly that the graduation rate at the college you attend is too low and that more students would graduate if the college provided more financial aid in the form of grants. With that belief, you would likely be more receptive to facts and statistics showing that students who receive financial aid in the form of grants, not loans, are more likely to graduate. However, if you believe that more students would graduate if they took advantage of the academic support services the college offers, then you would likely be more receptive to facts and statistics showing that students who work hard and use academic support services graduate in higher numbers.

As you read about problems and solutions, the best way to guard against bias is to be aware that bias exists, to question what you read, and to challenge your own beliefs.