RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Jessica Gallman
Dr. Wendy Warren Austin
English 102 Section 024
February 2, 2009

My Research Proposal

My research paper will be about whether or not criminals should be allowed custody rights of their children and examine the rights people have as both a child and a parent.

My Topic and Why I’m Interested in It
I am choosing this topic because I can relate to it on a personal level and would like to find out more about it. I would take the angle that parents that are either in prison or who have committed a crime should not be allowed to be able to see their children, even with supervision. I think criminals have lost the honor and chance to be a part of a child’s life once a crime has been committed. The types of research that I would include would most be journal articles, and perhaps include examples of criminals who have visitation rights of their children and things that have happened. I am interested in this topic because my sister is currently fighting for custody for my nephew, and the father of my nephew has not been a part of his life. He has had a bad past, and although things might have changed, I don’t want to take that risk. I do not think that the father of my nephew should ever get the opportunity to be a part of my nephew’s life because of his actions in the past. This is a good topic for me to research because I am passionate about it and would like to learn more.

Guiding Research Question
Should a parent with a criminal background be allowed to have custody of their child?
Should parents in jail be able to see their children?
Are parents with criminal backgrounds a bad influence on their children?

Keywords and Keyword Combination I Am Using to Search
Custody
Shared Custody
Joint Custody
Visitation
Visitation rights
Criminal
Domestic relations
Custody of children

Preliminary Bibliography
1. Father Figures.Preview By: Martin, Roland S.. Essence, Jun2008, Vol. 39 Issue 2, p112-112, 1p, 1 bw; (AN 32095830)
2. FREE EXERCISE CLAIMS IN CUSTODY BATTLES: IS HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY REQUIRED POST-SMITH?Preview By: Cooper, Ariana S.. Columbia Law Review, Apr2008, Vol. 108 Issue 3, p716-747, 32p; (AN 31601870)
3. Allegations of Domestic Violence in Child Custody Proceedings.Preview By: Miller, Jordan. Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues, 2007, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p229-232, 4p; (AN 26090374)
4. Envy drives some conclusions about never-married singles USA Today, 02/17/2005; (AN J0E043974062505)
5. Parent vs. parent.Preview By: Christensen, Jen. Advocate, 12/21/2004 Issue 929, p27-29, 3p, 1 color; (AN 15535555)
6. Easing Fears of Domestic Abuse Victims.Preview By: GAIL BRACCIDIFERRO. New York Times, 2/ 1/2004, p6, 1p; (AN 29135132)
7. The formula from hell.Preview By: McLean, Candis. Report / Newsmagazine (Alberta Edition), 5/13/2002, Vol. 29 Issue 10, p52, 2p, 1 diagram, 2 color; (AN 6617929)
8. Custody Battle Burnout.Preview By: Turkat, Ira Daniel. American Journal of Family Therapy, Jul-Sep2000, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p201-215, 15p, 1 chart; (AN 3830965)
9. Slow-Paced Justice.Preview New York Times, 4/30/2000, p18, 0p; (AN 29392467)
10. The Nation; In Custody Battles, Children Get Unequal Time.Preview By: SOMINI SENGUPTA. New York Times, 4/23/2000, p3, 0p; (AN 29390731)
11. Who Gets the Kid?Preview By: Cohen, Adam. Time, 01/17/2000, Vol. 155 Issue 2, p68, 2p, 1 chart, 4 color; (AN 2660460)
12. As parents battle, more abduct kids.Preview (cover story) By: Coatney, Caryn. Christian Science Monitor, 6/23/98, Vol. 90 Issue 145, p1, 0p; (AN 747530)
13. Custody Battles And the Children.Preview New York Times, 5/ 4/1997, p28, 0p; (AN 29657319)
14. Victim of a custody battle.Preview By: Brodkin, Adele M.; Coleman, Melba. Instructor (10495851), Oct95, Vol. 105 Issue 3, p28, 2p, 1 color, 3 bw; (AN 9510244156)
15. In the child's best interest.Preview By: Sabir, Nadirah Z.. Black Enterprise, Jul95, Vol. 25 Issue 12, p28, 1p, 1 chart, 5 graphs; (AN 9507064298)
16. What are fathers for?Preview New Statesman & Society, 10/2/92, Vol. 5 Issue 222, p22, 2p, 1 bw; (AN 9301102226)
17. Custody Evaluations: An Alternative?Preview By: Nichols, Robert C.; Troester, James D.. Family Coordinator, Jul79, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p399, 9p; (AN 4698712)
18. In Custody.Preview By: Jane Smiley. New York Times Book Review, 8/18/1996, p13, 0p; (AN 31158122)
19. CUSTODY CLASH.Preview People, 11/14/2005, Vol. 64 Issue 20, p68-68, 1p, 3 color; (AN 18737718)
20. Mother courage.Preview Advocate, 9/17/96 Issue 716, p16-16, 1/5p, 1 color; (AN 9610011549)

THREE TOPICS FOR A RESEARCH PAPER

FIRST CHOICE--CHILD CUSTODY

My first choice for a research paper would be the issue of child custody. I would like to write about it because my sister is currently trying to gain full custody of my nephew. The father of my nephew hasn't been in his life at all, and now wants visitation rights. He has a criminal record. I would like to understand why he should be allowed to see my nephew. The law says anyone has the right to see their child, but what if something bad happens? I do not want my nephew to be subjected to that kind of lifestyle. I really do not know much about the process of getting custody and visitation rights of a child etc. I just know that I feek strongly that a person with a bad background should not be allowed to see their child, and perhaps subject him/her to a bad situation.
Should a parent with a criminal background be allowed to have custody of their child?



SECOND CHOICE-- CELEBRITY INFLUENCE ON TEENS

My second choice for a research paper would be the influence that celebrities have on teens. I find this to be an interesting topic, which is why I would want to write about it. I believe that celebrities are made so popular that teens and child want to be just like them. I know that all eyes are on celebrites at all times, and that their actions influence teens and encourage them to act the same way. Teens try to act, talk, dress, and look like celebrities quite often.
Do celebrities have a positive or negative influence on teens?



THIRD CHOICE-- SWIMMING

My third choice for a research paper would be the swimming controversy. Swimming is my favorite sport to both participate in and watch. I didn't miss a single event that Michael Phelps swam in the Olympics, and am a huge fan of his. After he won though, his wins were being challenged. People were wondering if he deserved all of those medals, and the title of having the most golds. He won more gold medals than a previous swimmer, but some people think he shouldn't have gotten the medals because he allegely had an advantage over the previous swimmer. The swim suit he wore is said to be better than the suit the previous swimmer had worn when he competed. The new suit allegedly helps the person wearing it to swim faster. This is my third choice to write about because although Michael Phelps' wins were challenged, I do not think anything came of it, and I am not sure how much information I would be able to find on the topic.
Did Michael Phelps deserve all of his wins in the Olympics?

List 2

Things I don't know much about but would like to know more

• Teen celebrity influence on people
• Why some people believe that the Holocaust is not real
• Whether or not daycare is harmful to children
• The reasoning behind the high drinking age in the United States
• Security in the United States
• The War on Terrorism

Things that bug me

• Drama
• People who repeat themselves
• People who don't think before they speak
• Having too many things to do at once
• Bullies
• Whiny children/people
• My roommate
• Not having a car

List 1

Personal Interests

• Swimming
• Tennis
• Archery
• Reading
• Family (nephew)
• Being with friends
• Shopping
• Being on the beach

School-Related Interests

• Sports (Swimming, Tennis)
• Cliques
• Senior pranks
• Groups/Clubs
• Yearbook Committee
• Homecoming

Research Experience

As a senior in high school, I was enrolled in a Research and Bibliograpgy course. I was taught different techniques of researching, and in the end had written a twenty-two page paper. I received an A+ on my paper and was exempt from my exam. Then, upon entering college, I was in Dr. Sideris' class. The research paper I had to write for him ended up being about eighteen pages long. The past experiences I have had with research have not been too horrible. I don't have a problem doing it, and am not afraid, although I do find it to be tedious work. I find that the more research papers I write, the easier it seems to do. I don't mind it as much, and if I am working on an interesting enough topic, sometimes find it to be fun.