ENGLISH 202: Research Writing

January 26th

Agenda

Finding a “researchable topic”Talking about the CRTalking about the articlesVisitors/Observers of ENGL 202Assignment # 1 handout

What makes a question researchable?

It should be clear and narrow (not too big, not too small)

It interests the researcherIt 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 challengingIt should have some contribution.It should relate to the class theme.You should find resources for your topic

easily.

Narrowing your subject

TIMEPLACEPERSONSTORY

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 sourcesInternetLibraryEncyclopedias

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 indexAny 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 researcherNarrative Writing due on Wed. (Jan 28th)

ENGL 202: Research Writing

February, 2nd 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. 8th, 6:30-8:30 @ Indiana Theatre.

Curse of the Golden Flower (Hong Kong/China) Film showings at 6:00pm & 8:30pm Feb. 22nd.

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

topicsLooking at various research samplesLibrary 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 exploringWhat 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 writingChoose a topic that..You can write/speak about passionatelyYou 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 SamplesSkim 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,4th 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. 11th

Agenda

Typical Research ProcessClass Activity: Working on your research

questionsLooking at two scholarly articles you

brought with you.Group sample articlesIs google making us stupid article?

Typical Research Process

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.Try to come up with a series of questions that start with:

who, what, where, how, when.

e.g., How do young kinds learn reading and writing?

What is the controversy around the idea of thin-slicing?

Why are organic products more expensive than non-organic products?

See Good Reasons 248 about strategies for research.

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. You can also create an idea map/research inventory, just like we did last week.

1. What are you interested in researching in this class?

2. Why are you interested in this? What is the importance of this topic (e.g. to you, to your community etc.)

3. How you are going to explore the topic (e.g., interview some people, observations)? Specify what data you will gather.

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

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

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

HOW DO YOU READ THESE TEXTS??

WHAT ARE THE CLAIMS AND ARGUMENTS MADE BY THESE TEXTS?

WHO ARE THESE TEXTS WRITTEN FOR?

Reading Academic Texts:Active reading with annotated textsThe 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.

Assignments

Post your free writing on the class blogRead CR 122-133—Plagiarism, citing,

summarizing. Talking abot Literature Reviews

Introductions are due next Wed.