In class tonight you workshopped the sections from your essay that you have written so far: the literature review, your methods section, and the analysis of data.
You worked with a partner, one section at a time, after we reviewed what each section needs to do.
Literature review: sets up the question you will explore=> point out what has been established as "fact" & identify what your research contributes to this area of investigation. Name the authors + articles - leave out the "data" => focus on the findings. Your essay may relate to the literature review by "correcting" a mistaken assumption, by combining two previously un-connected areas of study (like Ryan + Daria); by focusing on a detail that is in the literature but which has not been explored for its own sake (Laura); by looking at the research from a new perspective, and so on. Point out HOW your work connects to the literature.
Methods: Use the methods section to describe how you collected and analyzed your data; this section does not include findings, though it does explain your logic, and present your context. It should provide enough information so a reader could do what you did, and so s/he understands why you did your study the way you did it. Novice tutors and their ESL tutees has an exemplary methods section.
Data Analysi Think of this section as a place where explain the connections between your conclusions and the evidence. Use the "sandwich method " (as in presenting quotations from literature): say what your data shows (briefly) present the data - explain the connections in the data - then re-state what the data shows in more detail and with respect to the overall focus.
For Wednesday:
Blog 20: More data analysis => write through to the end of this section if you can.
In class on Wednesday we will work through the data analysis and set you up to write the introduction, your discussion of findings and the conclusion.
Next week you will give presentations on your projects (to receive feedback so you can work on the final draft).
Good class tonight and see you on Wednesday.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
November 23, 2009
In class tonight you gave presentations (and got some feedback) on your research plans. At this point, you should be well positioned to begin writing on your project. As we discussed last week, it is now time for you to begin writing - though not from the beginning.
Blog 19: Post drafts for the literature review, the methods section + the presentation (analysis) of your data.
Do the best you can with these - the point is to get the writing started and allow yourself to receive some feedback before you turn in your final essay. Use the discussion from Nov. 16 & the sample essays (+ the assignment on roles & novice tutors) as models for what is expected in each section. If you still need more data at this point - make a note of what kind of data you need - and perhaps one of your classmates will have notes from a session that you can have access to.
Good luck on your writing and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Blog 19: Post drafts for the literature review, the methods section + the presentation (analysis) of your data.
Do the best you can with these - the point is to get the writing started and allow yourself to receive some feedback before you turn in your final essay. Use the discussion from Nov. 16 & the sample essays (+ the assignment on roles & novice tutors) as models for what is expected in each section. If you still need more data at this point - make a note of what kind of data you need - and perhaps one of your classmates will have notes from a session that you can have access to.
Good luck on your writing and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
November 18
Conduct sessions + add to your notes. Musheerah & Kenneischa - I will not be in the Center on Saturday, and I am assuming that by this point in the term that will be OK.
Have a great weekend and see you on Monday.
Have a great weekend and see you on Monday.
Monday, November 16, 2009
November 16
We began class by reviewing the overall structure of a research paper, with attention to the kind of information that goes in each section.
We came up with the following general description:
Introduction:
research focus – what you will study + statement of your findings
review of the literature:
state what has been observed regarding yoru topic
define important terms
justify choice of method
point out what you will do differently
methods:
context- where, from whom? Under what circumstances?
how you collected your data
how classified your data – what you looked for
measurement – what markers did you use to identify the features you are studying
anything relevant to your study that is characteristic of the session
size of your sample
justification of your representative sessions
identification of important categories for anlaysis
Data analysis:
General intro to section
General background about particular session
Move back and forth between providing specific evidence from your notes – and supporting discussion that sets up and explains your point
Organize list examples in terms of your categories for analysis
Primarily describing what you saw => make connections among related features
Small observations => about particular sessions observed
Discussion:
Make larger theory
Connect to other research
Generalize what you observed in sessions to tutoring in general
Point out limitations
Conclusions:
Overall summary of findings
Point out implications of limitations for discipline in general
What further research remains to be done
We than took a brief look at the document on what to include inyour final portfolio (posted on this site) and discussed your research plans.
Continue to work on your data collection & analysis.
Come to class Wednesday to conduct your sessions. I will give you an update as to whether I will be there or not.
For Monday, November 23, post your completed research plan (Blog 18). Come to class prepared to give a brief presentation on your completed research plan. This discussion should include a discussion of how data collection is going, and any requests from assistance.
We came up with the following general description:
Introduction:
research focus – what you will study + statement of your findings
review of the literature:
state what has been observed regarding yoru topic
define important terms
justify choice of method
point out what you will do differently
methods:
context- where, from whom? Under what circumstances?
how you collected your data
how classified your data – what you looked for
measurement – what markers did you use to identify the features you are studying
anything relevant to your study that is characteristic of the session
size of your sample
justification of your representative sessions
identification of important categories for anlaysis
Data analysis:
General intro to section
General background about particular session
Move back and forth between providing specific evidence from your notes – and supporting discussion that sets up and explains your point
Organize list examples in terms of your categories for analysis
Primarily describing what you saw => make connections among related features
Small observations => about particular sessions observed
Discussion:
Make larger theory
Connect to other research
Generalize what you observed in sessions to tutoring in general
Point out limitations
Conclusions:
Overall summary of findings
Point out implications of limitations for discipline in general
What further research remains to be done
We than took a brief look at the document on what to include inyour final portfolio (posted on this site) and discussed your research plans.
Continue to work on your data collection & analysis.
Come to class Wednesday to conduct your sessions. I will give you an update as to whether I will be there or not.
For Monday, November 23, post your completed research plan (Blog 18). Come to class prepared to give a brief presentation on your completed research plan. This discussion should include a discussion of how data collection is going, and any requests from assistance.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
November 11
In class tonight several of you had sessions or took notes, and the rest of us talked about your different research projects. We focused on identifying the purpose of the study, thinking about the research question, and discussing what your observations showed with respect to the purpose + questions.
For Monday:
Blog 17: Post your draft research plan. Your research plan should include:
Statement of purpose (what you hope to show/discover)
Detailed statement of your research question
List of the information you need to gather
A preliminary list of sources
Plan for gathering your information
The more you write in to these 5 points the better prepared you will be to write your essay. The statement of purpose & the research question(s) will provide you with language for your introduction. The list of sources + discussion of information you need to study answer your question is the basis for your review of the literature. Your plan for gathering information (how you will collect and analyze your data) is the language for your methods section.
Looking ahead, you will begin drafting and turning in sections of your essay (along with any necessary revisions to your research plan) on your blog for November 23.
If you need more observations to gather data - let me know. Wednesday, November 18 is the last night we will spend in the writing center as a class. You are only required to conduct sessions during your assigned times through the end of November. If you need to continue coaching during the first week of December to finish gathering your data - let Ryan know so he can keep you on the schedule; otherwise, you will be "retired" after November 30.
In class on Monday, in addition to going over the research plans, we will go over what to put in your portfolio & how to create it.
Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.
For Monday:
Blog 17: Post your draft research plan. Your research plan should include:
Statement of purpose (what you hope to show/discover)
Detailed statement of your research question
List of the information you need to gather
A preliminary list of sources
Plan for gathering your information
The more you write in to these 5 points the better prepared you will be to write your essay. The statement of purpose & the research question(s) will provide you with language for your introduction. The list of sources + discussion of information you need to study answer your question is the basis for your review of the literature. Your plan for gathering information (how you will collect and analyze your data) is the language for your methods section.
Looking ahead, you will begin drafting and turning in sections of your essay (along with any necessary revisions to your research plan) on your blog for November 23.
If you need more observations to gather data - let me know. Wednesday, November 18 is the last night we will spend in the writing center as a class. You are only required to conduct sessions during your assigned times through the end of November. If you need to continue coaching during the first week of December to finish gathering your data - let Ryan know so he can keep you on the schedule; otherwise, you will be "retired" after November 30.
In class on Monday, in addition to going over the research plans, we will go over what to put in your portfolio & how to create it.
Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.
Monday, November 9, 2009
November 9
In class tonight we discussed the essay on how novice tutors negotiated their roles with their ESL writers. We used a discussion of this piece to explore the general pattern for writing a research essay[abstract, introduction, methods, presentation of data, data discussion, conclusions]; to explore some of the issues that arise in ESL sessions; to develop a deeper understanding of methods for collecting data for your projects; and to walk through a method for analysis commonly used in case studies such as the projects you are doing.
I passed out copies of the evaluation form from your book for you to use as part of your feedback & record keeping for your sessions. If you were not in class and need copies, let me know.
Blog 16: Sum up your understanding of what this evenings discussion revealed about data collection. Begin a list of detailed observations regarding with descriptions of interactions, conditions, causes, connections, etc relevant to your work.
You will build your list describing looking at descriptions from your notes, and organizing them in terms of features they have in common.
For example:
Below is a partial description of point where a tutor gets stuck:
Dr. Chandler asks Daria about the assignment sheet; pushes sheet across the table towards Daria and writes on it, underlining, as she (Dr. Chandler, continues to talk)
Daria "We had to use three techniques from New Criticism; I did allusion (and she names another technique but can't remember the other"
Chandler: did you use your discussion to make a coherent point - did you use it to develop an interpretation?
Daria indicates that that wasn't in the assignment
Dr. Chandler is stuck (body language description - compresses her lips, sighs, stops talking) is reading assignment sheet.
Dr. Chandler: it isn't on the assignment sheet.
You would use these notes to name/characterize features of (this kind of)getting stuck. You might analyze this description in terms of the conditions, causes, connections & outcomes: What set up getting stuck? Why did I get stuck? What did I have to decide/do to get unstuck? What was the resolution?
Once you have analyzed a number of sections from your notes - you might find that you have started to find the same features (in both similar & different relationships). Keep going with your naming + classifying until you have identified features that determine the relationships.
We will be working on this for a while. Continue taking notes and begin to dig in on the analysis + categorization.
Heads up on long term due dates: Your draft research plan is due Monday November 16; the final research plan is due Monday, November 23.
Drafts for the first sections of your research essay ( a rough of the introduction, the review of the literature & your methods section will be due Monday, November 30.
I passed out copies of the evaluation form from your book for you to use as part of your feedback & record keeping for your sessions. If you were not in class and need copies, let me know.
Blog 16: Sum up your understanding of what this evenings discussion revealed about data collection. Begin a list of detailed observations regarding with descriptions of interactions, conditions, causes, connections, etc relevant to your work.
You will build your list describing looking at descriptions from your notes, and organizing them in terms of features they have in common.
For example:
Below is a partial description of point where a tutor gets stuck:
Dr. Chandler asks Daria about the assignment sheet; pushes sheet across the table towards Daria and writes on it, underlining, as she (Dr. Chandler, continues to talk)
Daria "We had to use three techniques from New Criticism; I did allusion (and she names another technique but can't remember the other"
Chandler: did you use your discussion to make a coherent point - did you use it to develop an interpretation?
Daria indicates that that wasn't in the assignment
Dr. Chandler is stuck (body language description - compresses her lips, sighs, stops talking) is reading assignment sheet.
Dr. Chandler: it isn't on the assignment sheet.
You would use these notes to name/characterize features of (this kind of)getting stuck. You might analyze this description in terms of the conditions, causes, connections & outcomes: What set up getting stuck? Why did I get stuck? What did I have to decide/do to get unstuck? What was the resolution?
Once you have analyzed a number of sections from your notes - you might find that you have started to find the same features (in both similar & different relationships). Keep going with your naming + classifying until you have identified features that determine the relationships.
We will be working on this for a while. Continue taking notes and begin to dig in on the analysis + categorization.
Heads up on long term due dates: Your draft research plan is due Monday November 16; the final research plan is due Monday, November 23.
Drafts for the first sections of your research essay ( a rough of the introduction, the review of the literature & your methods section will be due Monday, November 30.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
November 4
Those of you who were not observing or conducting sessions talked through your reflections on sessions in light of your proposed ideas for your research projects. If you heard one of your classmates reporting on issues relevant to your project - feel free to request access to the notes on the session. You are encouraged to share data with one another(so long as your essay credits your classmate as the source of the observation).
In class on Monday we decided that more readings on coaching ESL students would be useful, so for this coming Monday, read the Judith Powers essay in your text. I have also gathered the following references that may be useful. Read through these (I realize this is a lot of reading - so spend more or less time on them as they relate to your research project and/or tutoring).
Tutoring and Revision: Second Language Writers in the Writing Center
The Writing Center and Second Language Writers
Novice Tutors and their ESL Tutees
Blog 15: Write into the discussion we had tonight about your project, your sessions, your notes on your sessions and your reflections.
I will be reading your blogs over the weekend. Keep thinking about what kind of references you will need to develop your research plan. In class we will spend some time talking over coaching ESL students, and then you will work on your research plans.
Great class tonight!
In class on Monday we decided that more readings on coaching ESL students would be useful, so for this coming Monday, read the Judith Powers essay in your text. I have also gathered the following references that may be useful. Read through these (I realize this is a lot of reading - so spend more or less time on them as they relate to your research project and/or tutoring).
Tutoring and Revision: Second Language Writers in the Writing Center
The Writing Center and Second Language Writers
Novice Tutors and their ESL Tutees
Blog 15: Write into the discussion we had tonight about your project, your sessions, your notes on your sessions and your reflections.
I will be reading your blogs over the weekend. Keep thinking about what kind of references you will need to develop your research plan. In class we will spend some time talking over coaching ESL students, and then you will work on your research plans.
Great class tonight!
Monday, November 2, 2009
November 2
Most classes from now to the end of the term will be focused on supporting you in your work in the writing center (reading + discussing issues that come up in your sessions) and working on your research projects.
Tonight we began by listing some of the issues from your sessions to make sure we will cover those issues in the readings assigned for the rest of the course. How to work with ESL learners - and how to deal with requests for "correcting grammar" in constructive ways were two issues that came up.
you then read through your classmates' posts about their research projects, and took a look at the sheet to help you develop your research plan (posted on this blog as "Developing a research plan"). The initial writing and reading are to deepen your knowledge and help you define your focus. The writing you will turn in is under point 4. We talked through what kind of information you would post for each section of your research plan. I will post a sample reasearch plan for next class.
You then did some writing to think about your purpose + research question, and we talked some more.
Read: the worksheet on developing a research plan + any materials relevant to your project
Blog 14: Post your purpose + your research question. Do some brainstormy writing about what you will observe at sessions to gather data for your project.
See you in the writing center. Bring your signed permission forms and turn them in to me.
Tonight we began by listing some of the issues from your sessions to make sure we will cover those issues in the readings assigned for the rest of the course. How to work with ESL learners - and how to deal with requests for "correcting grammar" in constructive ways were two issues that came up.
you then read through your classmates' posts about their research projects, and took a look at the sheet to help you develop your research plan (posted on this blog as "Developing a research plan"). The initial writing and reading are to deepen your knowledge and help you define your focus. The writing you will turn in is under point 4. We talked through what kind of information you would post for each section of your research plan. I will post a sample reasearch plan for next class.
You then did some writing to think about your purpose + research question, and we talked some more.
Read: the worksheet on developing a research plan + any materials relevant to your project
Blog 14: Post your purpose + your research question. Do some brainstormy writing about what you will observe at sessions to gather data for your project.
See you in the writing center. Bring your signed permission forms and turn them in to me.
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