Research Plan

This week I discovered that for my topic, there are many relevant articles in Medical Journals. Therefore, I added "Health and Medicine" to my "Academic Disciplines" list and "journals" to my "Nature of Topic" list. I also discovered several new search words. The term "LDCs" turned out to be especially helpful. All in all, I think my research plan is on track.

Title

Clean Water for Impoverished Nations

Broad Topic

Water

Topic Question

Are there solutions for providing clean water to people groups where only tainted water is available?

Topic Focus

Socio-Economic, Environmental, Technological: Access to clean drinking water is critical for human survival and is an essential ingredient for improving the lives of those living in poverty in developing countries.
Scope

While there is plenty of fresh water on this earth to meet all human needs, it is not always distributed adequately in the right places at the right time, and sometimes its fitness for consumption is tainted by environmental factors and/or pollution.¹ My intention is to research possible solutions for providing clean water to people groups where only tainted water is available.
¹ “Environmental Works”, Jerry A. Nathanson, Encyclopedia Britannica 2008, Volume 26 Page 381
Outline

Clean Water For Impoverished Nations
I. Overview
A. Describe the problem
B. Background information
II. Solutions
A. The Play Pump System
B. Turn On The Tap – Water For Life
C. Water Partners International
D. Agros International
III. Distribution
A. Barriers
B. Fund-raising
C. Challenge to make a difference
Academic Disciplines

Sociology, Economics, Environmental Science, Technology, Health & Medicine
Key Terms

Water Sources
– Global Distribution
Water Supply
– International Cooperation
– Engineering
– Equipment Industry
Water Crisis
Water Conservation
Water Pollution
Water Purification
Water Filtration
Water Quality
Water Resources Development
Water Harvesting
Water and Health Issues
Sanitation in Developing Countries

Additional Keywords

sanit?, potable, fresh, filtered, health?, drink?, nations, poor, third world, LDCs (Least Developed Countries)
Nature of Topic

I expect to find most of my information in books, encyclopedias, journals, and on the World Wide Web
Library of Congress Classification (LC) Areas

A -- General works

AE -- Encyclopedias
H -- Social Sciences

HD -- Industries, Land use, Labor (1635-1702 Water Resources Development)
HN -- Social history/conditions, Social problems, Social reform
HT -- Communities, Classes, Races
R -- Medicine

RA -- Public aspects of medicine
Q -- Science Specialty Encyclopedias
T -- Technology Specialty Encyclopedias

TC -- Hydraulic engineering, Ocean engineering (401-506 Water supply engineering)
TD -- Environmental technology, Sanitary engineering (201-500 Water Supply, 419-428 Water pollution, 429.5-480-7 Water Conservation, 481-493 Water distribution systems)