Ryan Ellis

Professor Jan Lee

Research Techniques and Technology
9 September 2014
Research Topic Proposal
Perhaps in the back of our minds we already understand, without all the science Ive discussed,
that something terribly wrong is happening. Our sustenance now comes from misery. We know that if
someone offers to show us a film on how our meat is produced, it will be a horror film. We perhaps
know more than we care to admit, keeping it down in the dark places of our memory disavowed.
When we eat factory-farmed meat we live, literally, on tortured flesh. Increasingly, that tortured flesh is
becoming our own. Jonathan Safran Foer.
Most of us go day to day thinking nothing about the food that we are consuming other than the
fact that it tastes good, and providing some kind of nourishment to our bodies. If we stop and think
about what we are eating, we are realizing that we are eating animals who were tortured and killed
because their caretakers thought they are nothing more than dirt. Living, breathing creatures who were
born out into the world of torture, and have done nothing but relentlessly obey the rules of the farm
that they are being raised in.
After learning a little bit more about life for animals in factory farms, what are some ways to
change factory farms to improve living conditions for farm animals?
My outline will go as follows:
i: I will discuss the use of factory farms.

ii: I will discuss the living conditions of animals in factory farms.

iii: I will then discuss ways in which we can advocate better living conditions for animals in factory farms.
For an outline:
September 10th, 2014: Proposal is due.
September 12, 2014: Begin learning about evaluation of sources.
September 15th October 23rd: Work on evaluation of sources.
October 24th, 2014: Turn in evaluation of sources.
October 25th- November 2nd : Begin work, and complete annotated bibliography.
November 3rd, 2014: Turn in annotated bibliography.
November 10th, 2014: Get bibliographic essay peer reviewed.
November 11th November 20th: Make any necessary corrections, and finish up final draft.
November 21st, 2014: Turn in bibliographic essay.