The Prospecuts: A Model

Below is an example of the Work Plan. Notice how this student addressed all parts of the instructions in detail. Specifics are everthing in good writing and this student uses them to help her get a handle on what she needs to teach herself before she starts writing. All this and she has a sense of humor!

To: Scott Leonard

From: Natalie Drest

RE: Work Plan 2

9 Feb. 2005

____________________________________________________________________________

This topic is turning out to be pretty cool. I might even begin to like research—but don’t get your hopes up too high!

I am planning to write my paper on public policy concerning fetal tissue research. So far, I have found 2 books, 7 periodical, 10 newspaper articles. I’m only just beginning to weed through the 137 websites I also found.

I read a couple of newspaper articles as you suggested and have some good general information to work with. I did my abstract on Ronald Kotulak’s article which helped me understand what the key issues are. So, I’m ready to get started. Based on his article and a few titles I’ve seen in my research stuff, the key issues seem to be how ethical it is to use the tissues of human infants to conduct experiments and to create cures for the elderly, what the laws have been and now are regarding this research, what benefits scientists get from the research, what alternatives there are, and what the future seems to hold.

First, I’m going to explain what fetal tissue research is—it looks like Jacboson’s book on the ethics of fetal tissue research provides the clearest overview. This introductory section will include a discussion of the experiments that fetal tissues samples have made possible. I don’t know where doctors get the fetal tissue they work with and that might be the most important thing to know. YA THINK?!!? I also think the work that has been done with fetal tissues on Parkinson’s patients will fit here somewhere. I will explain how fetal tissue research has been helpful in the past and what its future might be if doctors are allowed to resume this work in California.

Next, I’m going to explain the debate over the ethics of fetal tissue research. I’ve mostly only found stuff on the “against” side, but the “for” position is represented somewhat in Voorhies article in the Health. So, I know I’ll be looking for quotes in her article. Anyway, since these arguments are at the center of current public policy debates over fetal tissue research, I’ll explain everybody’s position and the various issues they raise. The Federal Government has a policy against using fetal tissue right now, so I’ll discuss what it says (I’ve got a Web site that looks like its going to be the exact words of the policy statement!) and what people have said about that law.

Thirdly, a few of the titles I’ve seen in my research talk about alternatives to fetal tissue research that are less controversial. So, I’ll explain what they are and see if there’s any good reason to continue such a sensitive form of research when there are alternatives. My conclusion will be an attempt to look into my crystal ball and predict whether this area of research is going to become mainstream medical practice or not.

Lastly, I’ll discuss the evolution of current fetal tissue research policy. I’ve found some stuff in Maag that talks about past laws and restrictions and how they’ve changed over the years. I’ve got a government document that more or less tells what the current law is, so I think I can pull a quote from that source to explain current legalities.

Well, that’s pretty much it. I worked harder on this work plan than the last one and I think I’ve got a better handle on how to write up my research.