Steven Caporaso & Simon Buser

Professor Lynn Raymond

University Writing 1104

27 February 2017

Semester Long Project Proposal

Our project is about the evolution of popular cars in America over the past one

hundred years. We will approach the basics of the topic first, defining terms that will be

commonly used during the presentation in order to give the audience a better understanding of

the topic. From the basics, we will branch out to one of the most popular cars of the decade, and

the most iconic or groundbreaking car of that decade. We will be researching these topics, and

finding the basic design specifications to show how the qualities of cars have changed over time.

Engine size, fuel economy, weight, safety, and comfortability are all factors and classifications

that could be researched easily and in depth. The modes of explanation being used will be

spatial, visual, and gestural, which will be used and incorporated with and during the

presentation.

The project will be designed in a linear fashion, starting in 1917 with

the basic background and colloquialisms needed in order to better understand the presentation.

The presentation will then go through each decade leading up to the current one, identifying the

most popular and the most iconic cars of that decade. We will also identify major current events

going on during the production time of those cars, and how that may have affected the overall

design and specifications, and identifying the strength of the correlation between the two. We

will be using a Web 2.0 tool, either Prezi, Google Slides, PowerPoint, or another depending on

how the presentation develops along with the growing vision we have for it. Research will be
done with credible internet sources, such as .gov and .edu websites along with online

databases. The resources provided by the University Library will also be utilized to identify more

in-depth subject matter and gather specific information that may not be available through

the internet.

Our proposed plan is both appropriate and effective, as we will find specific and

quality information this way. This topic is also relevant to everyday life. Automobiles are taken

for granted nowadays, and being able to look back on the development and changes that have

been made over the past one hundred years will build an appreciation for the technology

and mechanics we use every day. One of the main requests that we received from our peers is

to present the information in a more basic and easy to understand way for everyone, and that

is something we have taken very seriously and plan to achieve. We could also investigate

where cars are going in the future, emissions and the environmental side of automobiles, and

how current events affect the advancement of technology.

Both students are choosing time periods to research, along with an overarching effect

that the specific time period had on the car. The presentation and research are being done evenly

and will make updates and plans during Monday and Wednesday class to see progress and

where adjustments need to be made. By Week 11 of the syllabus, we plan to have the basic

research done for the project and start filling in our presentation. Weeks 11-13, we plan to perfect

our research and begin the conceptualization and writing of the paper, and by Week 14,

take advantage of the library time in order to specify and finish our research. By Week 15, wed

like to be completed with our project and add or take away details based off our peers

evaluations.
 The take away message of our presentation is to identify and appreciate how

automobiles and technology are capable of changing so quickly based on ingenuity and our

needs at the time