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.