Problem statement

After gathering enough information to reflect your current knowledge and understanding of the problem or issue, it is important to identify specific details in your concept map or chart that make you curious.

Consider the following questions:

• Why is this problem or issue relevant and significant today?

• What are the potential consequences if the problem or issue is not addressed or resolved?

• Who are the individuals or groups most affected by this problem or issue? Why must we care?

• How does this problem or issue interfere with our democracy? How has it slowed or reversed progress toward a more perfect union?

• What factors, conditions, and decisions have contributed to the existence or exacerbation of this problem over time?

• How widespread is this problem or issue? Is it confined to a specific locality, or does it have national or global implications?

• Is there anything that ordinary citizens (you/we) can do to address, resolve, or reduce the severity of the problem or issue?

Examining these aspects will provide a deeper understanding of the problem or issue at hand. Once you have completed this step, you will have gathered sufficient information to develop a problem statement as the driving force behind further research on your chosen problem or issue.