The Issue
Survey
New Media Writing
“For myself, I want to be alive and thus I want more
words, more controversies, more artificial settings,
more instruments, so as to become sensitive to even
more differences. My kingdom for a more embodied
body!”
—Bruno Latour, “How to Talk About the Body?”
Assignment Introduction
This 1,000-word document briefly surveys the
issue you plan on researching. The survey should
define the contours of your issue (i.e., locations,
actors, histories, sensitivities etc.). This isn't yet a
research proposal or plan, but it should lead you to
the research questions and methods you
subsequently develop.
Survey Components
Here are the key components that your Issue
Survey should articulate:
1. Issue: Describe the overarching issue that
your project (potentially) addresses as well as
that issue’s stakes. For instance, one might
research the issue of lead poisoning in local
schools; investigate issues of water
management; trace the distribution of green
spaces in our urban environment.
Spring 2021
2. Sensitivities: Denote, in the spirit of Latour (in possibilities for the located issue? For
the adjacent epigram) with what words, example, the age of building, its operating
instruments, artificial settings and conceptions budget, and assumptions about its inhabitants
are you sensitizing yourself? For example, one might either constrain or afford environmental
might use the Environmental Project Agency’s justice.
(ADA) list of violations, video cameras and 5. Actors: Detail who and what plays a role in the
time elapse photography, the live sounds of located issue. Actors here include humans and
nonhuman animals, and archival records to nonhumans. Are there identifiable actors that
investigate the health of local ecosystem. own or operate in that location with respect to
3. Location: Define a specific location to help the issue? What material things likewise play a
you concretize your issue. One might role? The health of a particular green space
investigate nonhuman animals not simply on might be a function of the presence of
campus but in either classrooms or campus particular species, soil type and/or quality
housing. One might explore flora and fauna in alongside human actors and organizations.
the isolated green spaces on West Pine. One
might research the insects and the lives they Rough Survey Breakdown
lead in dorm rooms. Component Emphasis
4. History/Context: Dive into the history and
contextual surrounds of your located issue. Issue 200 words
How old is the location you’ve defined? Who
Location 200 words
constructed it and for what ends? What
surrounds the location and so bleeds into it? History/Context 200 words
This surround can be conceptual and/or
material. What material conditions/constraints Actors 200 words
in-form the location, and what sorts of attitudes Sensitivities 200 words
(e.g. racism, ageism) shape perceptions of and
Rivers | ENGL 4010