Research Pitches & Proposals

Topic selection

Choose a topic that fits the scope of your assignment. Too broad and you will never be able to adequately deal with the real issues. Too narrow and you will end up repeating yourself endlessly. Look for these in your Wikipedia article:

• articles with 20-80 references.
• articles 3-10 pages long (excluding references).

Pitches

A pitch a very short (2-3 sentences) way of convincing someone that you should be allowed to pursue a project. Your pitch should talk about:

• what aspects interests you about this topic
• why this topic is important (or why more research needs to be done on it).

Example: Space elevators provide a way to reach space for a fraction of the current cost. Space elevators will further the cause of space exploration, and provide a way for everyday citizens to reach the stars.

Proposals

A proposal informs the reader of a specific topic, illustrates the writer’s expertise, and illuminates the issues surrounding the topic. Include the following parts in your proposal:

• Background: Introduce the topic by hitting the major points.
• Expertise: Go in-depth, demonstrating a thorough knowledge. Detail specific aspects, and why they’re important.
• Issues: What are the different sides (more than two!)? What does each side want, and why? What are the stakes? What happens if a side doesn’t see success for their view?
• Works Cited: Cite your sources as instructed.

The Realities of a Space Elevator (Example Proposal, yes, you must create a title)

            The concept of a space elevator was first proposed in 1895 by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky as a structure like the Eiffel Tower. The idea underwent a radical change in 1959 when Yuri N. Artsutanov proposed a counterweighted cable design. This changes the concept from a compression structure—like most buildings—to a tethered structure—-like a taut rope. Rockets currently cost from $4,300/kg to $40,000/kg per launch, whereas the predicted cost of a space elevator would be $220/kg (“Space Elevator”).

            The main construction problem of the elevator has always been the material. Up until the recent inventions of carbon nanotubes and the stronger diamond nanothreads, no material has been able to bear the weight of the cable itself. The cable will need to “reach a geostationary altitude of 35,786 km (22,236 mi)” (“Space Elevator”)—roughly a trip around the world—without snapping. Longer cables have also been proposed to aid in deep space exploration.

Not only must the cable bear its own weight, it must bear the weight of the elevator car (called a climber) as well. These climbers will be quite large and heavy as they have to transport equipment as well as people, be able to make the climb in a reasonable amount of time, and have the power to make the climb. Unlike a normal elevator ride, a climber traveling “at the speed of a very fast car or train of 300 km/h (190 mph) it will take about 5 days to climb to geosynchronous orbit” (“Space Elevator”). Climbers will also need an efficient power source to make the journey

            Space elevators must also have mechanisms in place to deal with potentially catastrophic events such as: weather, satellites, corrosion, radiation, and vibration, just to name a few (“Space Elevator Safety”). Mechanisms such as these add complexity to an already complicated project, and a failure at any point will likely destroy the entire elevator, resulting in the loss of the financial and time investment, the services of the elevator as a way of reaching orbit, and human lives.

Many challenges surround this technology, all of which prove a barrier to it ever being developed. With concerns of the cost of development, safety, legal implications, and military considerations, space elevators have a lot to overcome. Politicians don’t consider it a practical consideration especially with legal and international concerns. Scientists think it is the only practical consideration given the prohibitive costs of rockets. The general public considers the elevator a waste of money given the huge initial cost. The public’s growing disinterest in all things space related also means that expensive rockets will also be cut, so the long-term cost savings doesn’t matter to them. But there is a reality to consider. Consumer electronics have a growing dependency on satellite connectivity, so a low-cost option is necessary for the future. The public and politicians will need to find common ground with the scientists’ desire for space exploration at a reasonable cost. The space elevator may be humanity’s next great construction project, like the pyramids or the Colosseum.

Works Cited (this will be on a separate page for your proposal)

“Space Elevator” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

“Space Elevator Safety” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator_safety