1. Olivia Lullie, Sarena Gerard, and Bethany Roper
10th Honors World Lit/Comp
Mrs. Lester
30 March 2012
Research Design Proposal
Research Paper Topic
For our multimedia project we will be exploring war amputations. We will research how an
amputation occurs, the psychological effects from having an amputation, and the advancing
technologies that make an amputation possible today.
What We Know about the Topic at This Point, and Why We Are Interested in this Topic
We have all learned similar insights on amputations. Sarena is researching how an amputation can
occur, and the actual process of the surgery. She found that most amputations evolve from stepping on
hidden bombs and booby traps. She has also been learning about different infections that can happen
after a war amputation. Olivia, who is researching psychological effects of amputations, has learned
about amputees from war who have been affected psychologically. She has also talked to her cousin, a
recent Afghanistan war amputee, who was able to provide her with information on how he is currently
overcoming his amputation. Bethany is researching the technological advances used in amputation
surgery. She has discovered that there has been a recent increase in prosthetics, including new
machines such as the C-limb. She has also found that prosthetic limbs are being developed that will tell
the brain when to move the limb. We are interested in this topic because Olivia has personal experience
with this issue, and we would like to know more about it.

2. What We Want To Learn
We would like to learn of the psychological recovery of a war amputee, and how their families play a
role in their recovery. We would like to learn of more advancing technologies that will increase
knowledge and provide surgical help during an amputation. We also want to know what the different
causes of amputations are. What disadvantages does an amputation put on the human body? What
infections can come from a recent amputation?
Our Initial List of Questions We Have About Our Topic
1. What are the different parts of a prosthetic limb?
2. What medical advances have been made for prosthetic limbs since the 21st century?
3. How do amputations affect the families of the amputees?
4. What are the steps of recovery that some amputees require?
5. How do the amputee’s family and friends affect their recovery?
6. What is PLP? What psychological effect does it have on an amputee?
7. What are the causes of amputations?
8. What infections can occur after a war amputation?
9. What is the amputation process?
10. What effects has this war had on the advances of prosthetic limbs?
11. Why do some amputees believe that there is no hope for them after an amputation?
12. What are the differences between the advances in the 21st century versus before WWII.

3. Our Three Primary Research Questions
Topic: How does an amputation affect soldiers and veterans?
1. What are the psychological effects on an amputee?
2. What effects has this war had on the advances of prosthetic limbs?
3. How and why does an amputation occur?
Our Research Plan
We plan to use Gale Virtual Library, SIRS, Galileo, Student Research Center, and Google News. In
addition to those resources, we will be using Netvibes to organize and manage our information for our
project. We each plan to divide up the three research questions according to whichever interests us the
most. Each of us plans to set a date for when we will have our portion of the project done. As we cite
our sources, we will be using EasyBib. Each of us will have access to what we post in Google Docs,
including helpful sites, and notes.
Content Creation Tools
Our content creation tool is going to be VoiceThread.
Final Learning Product
We will be combining a digital text with some multigenre text aspects. We think VoiceThread will be a
great medium for us because it is a creative way to get the point across. We want people to not only be
persuaded to care about our topic, but to be inspired by our words and take action in assisting war

4. amputees. We would also like for viewers to understand how severe an amputation can be and the
effects that it has on the human body and a person's life. A shaping sheet will be more beneficial
because it is more organized than a mindmap, and it completely sums up the outline of the paper.
Preliminary Bibliography
Benetato, Bonnie B. "Posttraumatic Growth Among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom Amputees." Journal of Nursing Scholarship 43.4 (2011): 412-20. Academic Search
Complete.Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=6748
0591&site=ehost-live>.
Brewster, Tom. "Hugh Herr: The Man Who Thinks Tech Can End Disability | TechWeekEurope UK."
TechWeekEurope UK. Net Media Europe, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/interview/hugh-herr-the-man-who-thinks-tech-can-end-disability-
69271>.
Cleland, Max, and Ben Raines. "Heart of a Patriot: How I Found the Courage to Survive Vietnam, Walter
Reed and Karl Rove." NPR.Web. 30 Mar. 2012. <http://www.npr.org/books/titles/138137670/heart-of-
a-patriot-how-i-found-the-courage-to-survive-vietnam-walter-reed-and-ka?tab=excerpt#excerpt>.
Ferrer, Danielle. "Amputee Inspires Soldier, Causes Attitude Shift after Accident." Amputee Inspires
Soldier, Causes Attitude Shift after Accident. 8 Dec. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.army.mil/article/49116/Amputee_inspires_Soldier__causes_attitude_shift_after_accident
/>.
Gallagher, Pamela, and Malcolm Maclachlan. "Psychological Adjustment and Coping in Adults With
Prosthetic Limbs." Behavioral Medicine 25.3 (1999): 117. Academic Search Complete.Web. 26 Mar.

5. 2012. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=2651
556&site=ehost-live>.
Hanley, Marisol A., Mark P. Jensen, Dawn M. Ehde, Amy J. Hoffman, David R. Patterson, and Lawrence R.
Robinson. "Psychosocial Predictors of Long-term Adjustment to Lower-limb Amputation and Phantom
Limb Pain." Disability & Rehabilitation 26.14/15 (2004): 882-93. A9h. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
<http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=1371
3795&site=ehost-live>.
Helwick, Caroline. "Pain Management in War Zones Mostly Not Battle-Related."Pain Medicine News.
Mar. 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.painmedicinenews.com/ViewArticle.aspx?d=Clinical%2BPain%2BMedicine&d_id=82&i=Ma
rch+2012&i_id=822&a_id=20381>.
Henig, Robin Marantz. "At War with Their Bodies, They Seek to Sever Limbs." New York Times (New
York, NY). 22 Mar 2005: D6+. SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 27 Mar 2012.
Keyes, Charley. "Army Report: Battlefield Explosions Causing More Multiple Amputations, Other Serious
Wounds - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/20/us/us-battlefield-injuries/index.html?iref=allsearch>.
Moore, Janet. "War Injuries Inspire Better Prosthetics." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). Aug. 14 2006:
A1+. SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 27 Mar 2012.

6. Schwartz, Jeremy. "UT Researchers Bringing Custom Prosthetics to War Amputees."Real Austin.Real
News. Statesman.com. 3 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2012. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ut-
researchers-bringing-custom-prosthetics-to-war-amputees-2077934.html>.
Shea, Neil. "The Heroes--The Healing."National Geographic Vol. 210 No. 6. Dec. 2006: 68-105. SIRS
Issues Researcher.Web. 27 Mar 2012.
Siegel, Robert. "Profile: Technological Advances and Progress in the Treating of Soldiers Who Have
Returned from Iraq as Amputees." All Things Considered (NPR). Student Research Center.Web. 27 Mar.
2012. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=6XN2
00503162005&site=src-live>.
"Temple Team Dedicated to Preventing Foot Amputations." 2012. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context.
Web. 26 Mar. 2012.
<http://ic.galegroup.com:80/ic/ovic/NewsDetailsPage/NewsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=News&
disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CA283439671&userGro
upName=cant48040&jsid=4d6a9388d58f29ace36c2c7d751afefc>.
Thomas, Cathy Booth. "The Scars of War." Time 167.7 (2006): 42. Student Research Center.Web. 26
Mar. 2012. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mih&AN=1961
7500&site=src-live>.
Thompson, Mark. "Wars' Amputees: 4 of 5 Say "Life Is Full"" TIME.com. 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 30 Mar.
2012. <http://battleland.blogs.time.com/2012/03/12/wars-amputees-4-of-5-say-life-is-full/>.

7. Welch, William M. "Iraq Injuries Differ from past Wars: More Amputations, Brain Traumas." 2005: 06A.
Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.
<http://ic.galegroup.com:80/ic/ovic/NewsDetailsPage/NewsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=News&
disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CA129427743&userGro
upName=cant48040&jsid=724a16d444c702668b9a7a19c2c5b431>.