More Analysis

Tonight we talked through the analysis sections from several of your research projects. You are posting stronger & stronger notes, and the discussions helped to clarify research questions and pose strategies for presenting the body of your data in light of that research question.

Good class!

For Tuesday:

Continue working on the body of your essay. As you write - just as we did in class => return to your research question and clarify the points you want to illustrate with your data.

Blog 18: Post as much as you have written for your research essay. At a minimum you should have a drafty version of your introduction (including the literature review) + a first draft of your analysis of the data.

In class you will workshop your essays so far.

Use the sample essays as patterns.

Analysis

In class tonight we looked at the introductions for the sample essays. We noted that these two particular essays integrated the review of the literature with the statement & significance of the research problem.

We also looked talked about how the introduction should set up the exploration/explanation of a particular problem for a particular audience. To set you up for the coaching sessions on your introductions - I asked you to do some writing to think about the audience & purpose for your essay. We looked briefly at some writing center journals (some links are at the bottom of this blog)and you thought about who you wanted to read your essay & what you wanted to tell them. You then worked with partners on your introductions - and I floated around to answer questions/suggest references and to listen to what you have done so far.

Great class!

For Thursday:
I will be in the writing center to work one-on-one on the research projects.

Blog 16: post the notes you will analyze for blog 17



For Tuesday:

Blog 17: Analyze the notes from Blog 16 using the following approach.

• Provide a heading to state what the analysis shows with respect to your overall focus.
• Summarize the aspect(s) of the observation/notes that illustrate the points you analyze
• Develop detailed descriptions of what took place in the session (actors, actions, contexts + outcomes) = the evidence you will analyze
• Interpret that evidence (say what it means)
• Analyze the relationships within the evidence by identifying + explaining important cause and effect(and other) relationships
• Discuss the relationships between your analysis and your overall point

In class Tuesday, bring any questions you have about how to write analytic discussions that provide the "evidence" to support an argument (your "case" for your answer to your research question).

I will be reading blogs over the weekend - and sending feedback on blogs 14 & 15.

Presentations on research plans

Tammy, Monica, Anna, Erin, and Angela gave brief presentations on their research plans. I will be available in the WC from 4:30 until 5:45 for anyone who wants to sharpen research questions, make sure their resources work, or talk about data.

Blog 14: (for Thursday) Browse around classmates' blogs and post a section of your data that you think might be useful. Include an overview of what you see as "what your data show."

Blog 15: (for Tuesday) Write a drafty version of the introduction to your essay. This introduction should include: your research question; the problem/issues in WC work that your question will answer/provide new ideas about; the importance/relevance of your research to WC work. If you are feeling ambitions you might make a list of the kind of data you will need to study this problem/answer your research question.

Read: continue reading research relevant to your project

In class Tuesday we will continue working on the research project. You will conduct coaching sessions with one another to review your research plans + introductions, and we will talk as a class about the organization of research essays + where you might publish your work.

Research Plan for November 9

In class tonight you went through your focus for your projects and about half the class presented their annotated bibliographies (and contributed some good references for the rest of us). It sounds like all of you are moving forward => finding your focus. And that is the way it usually goes. Keep taking notes and looking for patterns like we did the other week.

At the very end of class we looked at the assignment sheet for the research plan. The first three numerals are writing exercises to help you discover your research question and develop ideas about how to answer that question. Numeral 4 lists the points to cover in your research plan. For sample research plans - look at:

http://sheerahg.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-18-research-plan-revised.html

I will be available in the WC on Thursday to talk over your projecst or to help brainstorm ideas for references. Otherwise - keep on gathering notes + attending sessions, and see you on Tuesday, November 9. I will be reading through your blogs (starting today for those of you who have posted annotated bibliographies) and hope to give you some feedback by the weekend.

Blog 12.2: (for Thursday): Annotated bibliography (for those of you who have not yet posted of if you want to make revisions, additions, etc)

Blog 13: Research Plan