English 202 Jan 26

ENGLISH 202: Research Writing January 26 th

Agenda Finding a “researchable topic” Talking about the CR Talking about the articles Visitors/Observers of ENGL 202 Assignment # 1 handout

What makes a question researchable? It should be clear and narrow (not too big, not too small) It interests the researcher It raises questions, and the answer might not be simple. It focuses on a topic about which something has been said before.

Cont. It should be intellectually challenging It should have some contribution. It should relate to the class theme. You should find resources for your topic easily.

Narrowing your subject TIME PLACE PERSON STORY Pg. 52

The main purpose of any kinds of research is to… EXPLORE Your research should have a thesis and a research question. Your question will be answered through your research. ARGUE You need to be convincing. Your purpose is to explain a central claim and explain it through evidence ANALYZE- IMPORTANT! Collect data and examine it closely

Developing a working knowledge Online sources Internet Library Encyclopedias

WIKIPEDIA Hawaiian word for “fast”

Class ideas about Wikipedia Advantages for research Disadvantages for research Broad span of information Not always reliable Different view points Resources are not cited properly Hyperlinked Biased

Academic Search engines Page 46 in CR Google scholar Fields of knowledge Academic index Librarian’s index Any volunteers who would like to share your results?

Circling the lighthouse The challenge is not to find a unique topic but to find an angle on a familiar topic that helps readers to see what they haven't noticed before.

CLASS ACTIVITY CREATING A POSTER OF RESEARCH INVENTORY

Defining Racism. Can we talk? By Beverly Daniel Tatum --‘ dismantling racism is the best interest to everyone’ What is this article about? What contributes to our development of prejudice? What is cultural racism? Do you have any experiences where you were judged based on your race, gender or nationality? What is internalized oppression? What does Tatum mean buy saying “if we live in a smoggy place, how can we avoid breathing the air”? How do WE challenge stereotypes, unexamined prejudices?

Assignments Read curious researcher Narrative Writing due on Wed. (Jan 28 th )

ENGL 202: Research Writing February, 2 nd 2009

Announcements Congratulations to Steelers fans! Undergraduate conference (extra credit will be awarded) See the handout. Academic Freedom after 9/11: A Symposium Cary Nelson, AAUP President; Ward Churchill, Internationally known Native American scholar and former Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. 6 pm, Eberly Auditorium Enjoy the movie events that IUP offers: International film festivals. The upcoming movie is After the Wedding , Feb. 8 th , 6:30-8:30 @ Indiana Theatre. Curse of the Golden Flower (Hong Kong/China) Film showings at 6:00pm & 8:30pm Feb. 22 nd .

Agenda Presentations on group research inventories (Zack’s, Julie’s and Tiara’s group) Sharing your narrative work in groups. Choosing/narrowing down your research topics Looking at various research samples Library Session: Guest Librarian, Blaine E. Knupp

Peer-Review/narrative sharing Take a few minutes to share your work! Feel free to provide some constructive feedback on the possible research topics of your classmate.

Group Research Inventories Explain your group’s the research topic. Tell your classmates about the research questions that you are exploring What is the reason you are writing about it? Why is this an important research topic? Share the “Research Process”

Take the ownership of your research and writing Choose a topic that.. You can write/speak about passionately You can tell the audience the importance of it (why does it matter to YOU and to your larger COMMUNITY ) You can conduct fieldwork , get involved with organizations, interview people etc. You can take the authority and incorporate your own voice in it. You can share your original ideas . You can examine and understand the disciplinary conversation

Finding the focusing question Ex. 1.5 (p. 50) Step 1: Write the one question that you think would be the most interesting focus for your paper?—This will be your “Research question” Step 2: Generate new set of questions under the first question. What are additional questions that most interest you and might help you discover the answers to your research? (See the example on page 50) You can use the Time, Place, Person and Story

Finding the relationship What is the relationship between your topic and something else? (e. g., What is the relationship between gender and media, what is the relationship between education and diversity? What is the relationship between anorexia and advertising)

Reading Strategically Differences between literary text and academic text. --academic writing is usually explicit. --academic writing uses specialized language and conventions. --the rhetorical conventions are accessible. --Non-linear reading-- It’s often not necessary to read an academic article from the beginning to the end

Breaking the Code: Analyzing Research Writing Samples Skim through the research article with your group-mates. Do come active reading. (Read with a pen/highlighter in your hand). In your groups, address to the following questions; What are the main sections of this research paper? What is the research question? What is this article about? (Introduction, abstract What do you think the goal is in each section? Who are the participants of this study? What steps are followed to answer the research question(s) and study the participants? What is the methodology used in this research paper? (Methodology) What are the findings? (Discussion /Findings/Results)

Free-writing on writing Take a few minutes to write about your previous research writing experiences

Assignments Find two scholarly articles for your research topics (bring them with you for next class) See your class blog for the article titled “Is Google making us stupid?”--http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google Read—CR, Developing a Research Strategy: Pg.55-75

ENGL 202: Research Writing February,4 th 2009

Announcements Undergraduate conference (extra credit will be awarded) See the handout. Tragedies of Failed African States: The Case of Zimbabwe? A presentation by Dr. Calvin Masilela. IUP Professor of Geography and Regional Planning Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 7:00 p.m. in Stouffer Auditorium. Change in due dates: Introductions due Feb. 11 th

Agenda Typical Research Process Class Activity: Working on your research questions—Free-writing time! Reading critically and strategically Looking at two scholarly articles you brought with you. Working on Group sample articles “ Is google making us stupid” article? Assignments for next week.

Developing your research questions One of the most effective ways to get started on your research is to think of your topic in terms of a question. Try to avoid yes/no questions.(e.g. Is affirmative action necessary?) Try to come up with a series of questions that start with: who, what, where, how, when. How are prisoners from a non-Western ethic background treated in the U.S.? Why are organic products more expensive than non-organic products? What is the relationship between anorexia and advertising?

1.Find a subject that interests you. 2. Make sure that you can do a thorough job of research. 3. Develop a strategy for your research early on. 4. Attack your questions from multiple levels google, wikipedia, and library)—You are likely to succeed to explore your topic if you search it with various tools

Free-writing Write as quickly as you can about a research topic that you would like to explore in this class. It can be about your major, politics, community service. What are you interested in researching in this class?(remember to tie your topic to the main theme of this class—an issue related to social diversity, multiculturalism, social justice). Generate at least one research question.(see pg 54 for an example) Why are you interested in this? What is the importance of this topic (e.g. to you, to your community etc.) How you are going to explore the topic (e.g., interview some people, observations)? Specify what data you will gather

Selective reading for your research projects: The importance of audience What is the difference between a journal article and a magazine article? Suicide among college students. Compare the following articles: http://psycnet.apa.org/?fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/0735-7028.32.1.97 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194020,00.html See this! http://www.ahrp.org/cms/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=171

Times…. Anne Giedinghagen wanted desperately to stay in school. Having struggled with depression and anorexia since the sixth grade, the rail-thin Cornell junior was meeting regularly with a therapist at the university's counseling center in Ithaca, N.Y. But late last fall, when she told her therapist about her increasingly strong urge to kill herself, Giedinghagen received an ultimatum from the school she loved so much: she had to get better or she would have to leave. So she did what any crafty 20-year-old would do…..

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Vol 32(1), Feb 2001, 97-100. Are suicidal thoughts and depression increasing or decreasing among college students? What life circumstances are the most critical to explore with depressed or suicidal college students? This article focuses on the rate of self-assessed depression and suicide among college students and examines contributing factors and help-seeking behavior. Results of the study indicated that 53% of the sample stated that they experienced depression since beginning college, with 9% reporting that they had considered committing suicide since beginning college. Suggestions for college mental health practitioners related to programming, prevention, and psychoeducation are described .

Evaluating sources, finding trustworthy articles See CR page 76 See CR pages 78-79

Reading Academic Texts: Active reading with annotated texts The following is a list of some techniques that you can use to annotate text: Underline important terms. Circle definitions and meanings. Write key words and definitions in the margin. Signal where important information can be found with key words or symbols in the margin. Write short summaries in the margin at the end of sub-units. Write the questions in the margin next to the section where the answer is found. Indicate steps in a process by using numbers in the margin.

Critical and Strategic Reading Critical reading is NOT a skill. It is a learnt practice. Mastering the critical reading skills require some time. Be patient with yourself and take writing/reading intensive courses like this one! Remember that different texts require different reading. Each text has different audience and social purpose. Annotating text while reading helps. http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/annotate-ex.htm

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS See two texts (visual and written) and answer these questions: HOW DO YOU READ THESE TEXTS?? WHAT ARE THE CLAIMS AND ARGUMENTS MADE BY THESE TEXTS? WHO ARE THESE TEXTS WRITTEN FOR?

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google

Breaking the Code: Analyzing Research Writing Samples Skim through the research article with your group-mates. Do come active reading. (Read with a pen/highlighter in your hand). In your groups, address to the following questions; What are the main sections of this research paper? What is the research question? What is this article about? (Introduction, abstract) What do you think the goal is in each section? Who are the participants of this study? What steps are followed to answer the research question(s) and study the participants? What is the methodology used in this research paper? (Methodology) What are the findings? (Discussion /Findings/Results)

Assignments Post your free-writing about your research topic and questions on the class blog. The prompt will be posted on Thursday Read CR 122-133—Plagiarism, citing, summarizing. Talking about Literature Reviews Introductions are due next Wed. (Feb. 11 th )

English 202 Jan 26

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English 202 Jan 26