Research Dossier

Introduction:

I am conducting research about the proposed infrastructure plans and their effects on the
engineering industry. I will examine and research President Trumps infrastructure plan, the
Democrats infrastructure plan, and the Republicans opposition to infrastructure planning. My
research will solely examine this issue from an engineering standpoint. It will not argue for
which course of action is the best for the country or which infrastructure plan should be
undertaken, but only which one is best for the engineers and those in the engineering industry.
Due to his focus on Americas railways, I believe that Trumps plan will have the largest largest
positive impact on engineers.

Research Proposal:

01/31/2017

To: Dr. Professor

From: Mr. Charles Smith

Subject: Research Proposal Infrastructure Upgrade and Its Effects on the Engineering Industry

Topic Description:
This research project will have four aspects. Due to the large proposed investment in
infrastructure by President Donald Trump, there will likewise be large increase in the demand for
engineers. In the course of my research, I will examine the proposed infrastructure plan made by
Donald Trump, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. I will then compare and
contrast the findings of my research and put them in perspective with how they will impact the
engineering industry. I will then determine which plan would most positively affect the
engineering industry over both the short and long term.

Documentation Style: IEEE

Tentative List of References:

B. Singman. (2017, January 25). Democrats pitch $1T infrastructure plan - will Trump get on
board? (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/25/democrats-pitch-1t-infrastructure-plan-will-trump-
get-on-board.html

E. OKeefe and S. Mufson. (2017, January 24). Senate Democrats unveil a Trump-size
infrastructure plan (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-set-to-unveil-a-trump-style-infrastructure-pl
an/2017/01/23/332be2dc-e1b3-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html?utm_term=.666f087fcc3b
H. Warfield. (2017, January 31). 3 Charts That Show the Surprising Scope Of Trumps
Infrastructure Plan (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/datadesign/2017/01/31/3-charts-that-show-the-surprising-scope-of-t
rumps-infrastructure-plan/#60bf42fc1c52

Infrastructure (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:

https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/an-americas-infrastructure-first-plan/

P. R. La Monica. (2016, November 9). Trump win is boost for infrastructure spending (1st
Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/09/investing/infrastructure-stocks-donald-trump/index.html

Purpose:
If an infrastructure bill gets passed, it will undoubtedly affect my career as well as the
careers of fellow engineers. This bill will influence what types of engineering jobs become
available as well as where engineers will be working and what type of projects they will be
working on.

Intended Audience:
My intended audience will be my fellow classmates, however, because I am an engineer,
my audience will be oriented towards the engineering majors in my class. Despite this, even
those not in the engineering field, will likely have an interest in this topic, because this project
will involve their much other tax dollars and will likely affect their daily lives.

Preliminary Thesis/Argument:
Donald Trumps plan for infrastructure changes will be the most beneficial towards
engineers because of the money he will be putting into the railway system.

Types of Research Areas:

-News Articles
-Interviews
-Primary Sources (E.g. Donald Trumps Infrastructure proposal from his website)
-Analysts Interpretations

Research Map:

Name: Charles Smith

Research Questions:
-What are the three major infrastructure plans proposed by the president, the Democrats,
and the Republicans?
-How will this plan affect engineers and the engineering job market?

Keywords: Infrastructure, Industry, Engineering, Jobs, Railway

Types of Research:
The bulk of my research will be internet research because this is a recent issue, and
therefore most of the information concerning this topic can be found online. However, there
may be an instance where I might need to look for information in a book, so I might thereby need
to some scholarly research as well.

Research Schedule:

02/11: Begin research

02/15: Complete Research

02/23: Geology Test

02/29: Ash Wednesday

03/01: Complete 1st Draft

03/01: Peer Review

03/02: Geology Test Re-Take

03/09: Calculus Test

03/09: Geology Quiz

03/13: Spring Break Begins

03/18: Spring Break Ends

03/21: Oral Presentations Presentation

03/22: Complete Peer Review

03/23: Geology Quiz Re-Take

03/28: Geology Test

04/03: Physics Test

04/04: Geology Test Re-Take

04/11: Geology Quiz

04/13: Calculus Test

04/13:Geology Quiz Re-Take

04/14: Engineering Project Due Date

04/20: Geology Test

04/21: Complete Final Draft

04/24: Present TED Talk

Annotated Bibliography:

B. Singman. (2017, January 25). Democrats pitch $1T infrastructure plan - will Trump get on
board? (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/25/democrats-pitch-1t-infrastructure-plan-will-trump-
get-on-board.html
(Dems want most hundreds of billions to go to repairing roads, rail and bus systems, and
improving electrical grid, Fox News - Credible, Bias - None)

H. Warfield. (2017, January 31). 3 Charts That Show the Surprising Scope Of Trumps
Infrastructure Plan (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/datadesign/2017/01/31/3-charts-that-show-the-surprising-scope-of-t
rumps-infrastructure-plan/#60bf42fc1c52
(Trump wants to spend 140 billion dollars on mostly railways, Forbes - Credible, Bias -
Pro-Trump)

M. B. Williams. (2017, January 17). Would Trumps Infrastructure Plan Fix Americas Cities?
(1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/trump-infrastructure-cities/512432/
(Infrastructure improvements would improve industry, but marginalize people, The Atlantic -
Credible, Bias - None)

C. Schouten. (2016, November 29). A potential pothole in Trumps infrastructure plan (1st
Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trumps-infrastructure-plan-has-a-potential-pothole/
(It might be difficult for Trumps plan to find funding, CBS News - Credible, Bias - Anti-Trump)

J. Wagner. (2017, January 25). An early look at the sweep of a Trump infrastructure plan (1st
Edition) [Online]. Available:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/an-early-look-at-the-sweep-of-a-trump-infrastructure-p
lan/2017/01/25/f6a76a98-e338-11e6-a453-19ec4b3d09ba_story.html?utm_term=.9ddda93a4bbf
(Trump will spend a lot of money on various different parts of infrastructure, Washington Post -
Credible, Bias - None)
E. OKeefe and S. Mufson. (2017, January 24). Senate Democrats unveil a Trump-size
infrastructure plan (1st Edition) [Online]. Available:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-set-to-unveil-a-trump-style-infrastructure-pl
an/2017/01/23/332be2dc-e1b3-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html?utm_term=.666f087fcc3b
(Dems plan will create a lot of jobs, Washington Post - Credible, Bias - Pro-Dems)

K. A. Wolfe and L. Gardner. (2016, November 11). Conservatives vs. Trumps infrastructure
plan (1st Edition). [Online]. Available:
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/conservatives-vs-trumps-infrastructure-plan-231221
(GOP doesnt like Trumps plan, too much spending, Politico - Credible, Bias - None)

T. Snyder and J. Scholtes. (2017, January 6). GOP leaders slow-walk Trumps infrastructure
plan (2nd Edition). [Online]. Available:
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-infrastructure-plan-gop-233253
(GOP willing to work with Trump, Politico - Credible, Bias - Anti-Republican)

L. Affuso, J. Masson, and D. Newbery. Comparing Investments in New Transport

Infrastructure: Roads versus Railways?, Fiscal Studies, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 275-315, September,
2003. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24438467
(Roads bring more economic return than railways, Written By Cambridge Professors - Credible,
Bias - None)

Background Books: The Saga of American Infrastructure, Infrastructure

The Wilson Quarterly, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 48-49, 1993. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40258435
(A history of infrastructure in America, Cites many reliable sources - Credible, Bias - None)

E. Blas. The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways: The
Road to Success?, The History Teacher, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 127-142, November, 2010.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/25799401
(A history of Eisenhowers Infrastructure project, History Textbook - Credible, Bias - None)

J. M. Hagen and V. W. Ruttan. Development Policy under Eisenhower and Kennedy, The
Journal of Developing Areas, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 1-30, October, 1988.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4191718
(A History of Eisenhowers and Kennedys Infrastructure projects, Tennessee State University -
Credible, Bias - None)

R. Fechner. The Civilian Conservation Corps Program, The Annals of the American Academy
of Political and Social Science, vol. 194, pp. 129-140, November, 1937.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1022150
(A History of the Civilian Conservation Corp, from an Academy - Credible, Bias - None)