Gen 270 Research and Reflection:

Writing for Presentations and Research Projects

Spring 2003

COURSE OBJECTIVES

·         To achieve the learning goals outlined at the beginning of the course.

·         To acquire writing proficiency through practice and discussion.  

·         To gain an appreciation for the philosophy and application of research techniques.

·         To understand what constitutes solid academic research writing.

·         To create presentations for public speaking engagements.

    SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS

It is my responsibility to arrange a learning experience for you, but I cannot teach you how to write.  So many elements come together during the composition process that it is impossible for me to connect all the dots for you.  Instead, I would ask that you follow the following suggestions:

·         Attempt to find definitive examples of essays and nonfiction works that move you and try to figure out why they do.

·         If you have difficulties with particular grammar issues, please work to fill the gaps in your knowledge through consulting books or credible writing tutors.

·         Please come to class prepared to examine writing and to make a contribution.  Class participation is vital in order for our weekly meetings to produce positive results in your writing process.

·         Please have your assignments ready on the date that they are due.  I cannot evaluate your essay fairly if it is handed in a week late – nor can your peers.

·         Your written assignments should be word-processed and double-spaced.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Erik Kaarla is available at (802) 658–6272 or ErikKKaarla@Hotmail.com

Research and Reflection: Writing for Presentations and Research Projects is designed to cultivate several learning styles: Part of the course will be handled in traditional lecture/textbook format.  Other parts of the course will be interactive in nature.

 

CLASS MEETINGS

Tuesdays 6:00 – 8:45PM

 

TEXTBOOKS and CLASS MATERIALS

General Text: The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams

               

Class Handouts: There will be plenty of extra readings and materials that should be brought to class consistently.  Some of these will come from Business Research Methods by William G. Zikmund and Elliam G. Zikmund

 

Poster boards: Students will be responsible for the purchasing and creation of a poster board presentation.

 

COURSE GRADE

 

Part I: Preparation & Participation are evaluated as Good Faith Effort / Not Good Faith Effort.  Solid class attendance is required with one unexcused absence allowed.

Part II: Graded Work:

Assignment #1 Community Issue Speech (spoken research proposal)       

Assignment #2 On-Line Research Topic Presentation (Web site creation)

Assignment #3 The Poster Board Presentation (synopsis of research paper developments)

Assignment #4 The Research Paper and Final Presentation

These assignments will be graded individually and given a high pass, a low pass, or a no credit grade according to the evaluation guidelines.  Please note that the assignments will be graded as they actually are carried out in front of the class.  Respect your classmates as a respectful audience that wants to see actual professional level work.

At the end of the semester you will receive a high pass, a low pass, or a no credit grade.  Only a high pass grade will be considered a pass for Research and Reflection.  If you do not receive a high pass for your course grade – you will have to TAKE RESEARCH AND REFLECTION AGAIN.

Portfolio Students must hand in their portfolios to the Research and Reflection instructor at the end of the semester.

Policy on late work: Assignments may be turned in up to 24 hours late only if absence from class is unavoidable and (except in an emergency) prior arrangements are made.

 

Criteria for Evaluating Assignments

 

CONTENT My assumption is that the quality of your written work and research indicates: a) the amount of time, effort and thought you have put into the assignment and b) the grade you hope to receive. I read and listen to determine whether the presentation or research paper:

• Answers the questions, or carries out the tasks, given in the assignment.
• Shows clear evidence that required informational sources have been carefully read and understood.
• Adds depth and breadth to the assigned core by drawing on additional, related library or electronically-accessible resources, interviews, or description of relevant personal experience.
• Relies on current research with proper notation of sources.
• Possesses a professional appearance.

STYLE & MECHANICS (My assumption is that you want to better your writing and to improve your thinking processes).  Please have your presentations reflect this.  I will look for:

• Grammatically correct construction of sentences and paragraphs (i.e., the paper reads easily; communicates clearly).
• Correct spelling and thoughtful attention to detail including neatness on the page: There are few/no typos, misspelled words, or incorrect names. There is attention to inclusive language, gender agreement, agreement of tense.
• Quotations and citations are handled properly, including citation of Web resources.  We will review MLA and APA format early on in the semester.
• Format & layout of paper: Paper has a title; long quotations are indented and single-spaced; there are section headings and references; a bibliography is included with the research paper.

CONFERENCING

There will be one mandatory conference for students at the semester’s end.  The topics discussed at this conference will involve the progression of classroom work and completed assignments for the course.

           

COURSE PROJECTS

The Short Speech / Research Statement of Purpose:

Assignment #1: “An Important Positive or Negative Development in Your Community”

Due Date: Tuesday, February 18th

Bringing large numbers of people together and uniting them through your words and gestures is a skill that can create empires.  An articulate speaker is usually not born but made. With correct preparation and well-chosen words we can negotiate speaking in public.  A Burlington College Oral Communication Assessment form will be used in judging this assignment.

For this assignment you are required to present the immediacy and importance of your research topic in relation to how the issue may be affecting your residence, neighborhood, city, state, or country.  Show us how your research paper will help the situation.  Investigate the origins of the situation and be prepared to speak on this topic.  This will be the beginning point of your semester’s work.

Your speech on this topic should be 5 to 7 minutes long.  Share the origins of the situation, what your research will be uncovering, and suggest some solutions.  In this speech you won’t be using any visuals.  Your rhetorical effectiveness will be measured through your words alone.

 

Information Dissemination:

Assignment #2: “Research Project Web Site”

Due Date: Tuesday, March 11th

Presenting your research work effectively involves using the best possible support materials.  For this assignment you will create images, charts, and statistical compilations for proving your views on your research topic.  How can you reach out and capture the hearts and minds of people on the Web with the greatest efficiency and efficacy?  For this assignment you will need to make a template-based Web site that informs the viewer about your topic. Your objective will be to sway people to your way of thinking about your research project.  You should have a good understanding of where your research work is going before designing your Web site.  We will work on technology concerns during class time.  Think in terms of creating a unified piece of work.  Upon completion of the semester, you will download your entire research paper to your Web site.

 

The Poster Board Presentation:

Assignment #3: “Research in Progress and Preliminary Findings”

Due Date: Tuesday, April 22nd

By now you should have completed much of the investigative research and readings with concern towards your final research paper.  At this juncture you will design a poster board presentation that we will display on campus.  The idea for this poster board is to both support and expand upon your near-final research.  Your poster boards should be colorfully designed and thought provoking.  Take this as an opportunity to make people intrigued by your semester’s project! 

Standard features of this presentation should include a complete explanation of your sources and any pending outcomes.  All the sources for your information should be presented in MLA style or APA style if your topic so deems it necessary.

 

The Research Paper:

Assignment #4: “Presenting Final Research”

Due Date: Tuesday, May 6th

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The research paper will count towards half of your final grade.  It should represent your best work.  Within this 20-page document should be new and timely research represented both visually and in cogent written text.  Please be aware that you should begin your research early in the semester; log your facts into your computer.  When it is time for you to begin drafting your research paper, all your information should already be captured on disk or in your hard drive.  Please note that the research paper represents the culmination of the semester.  It should reflect a deep understanding of your topic.  Please also bring your final research paper to class on disk, so that it can be downloaded to your Web site.

 

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Your final research paper will also be presented in front of the class.  Essentially, you should be able to read some excerpts and to distribute a handout that encapsulates your findings with concern to the work that you have done throughout the semester.

 

 

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

January

 

Tuesday the 21st:

 

Class introductions, policies, understanding assignments and methodologies.

Why do we research?  What is research?  Understanding the product of research.  Quality vs. Quantity.  The compass that steers the research.  Communicating your research in the proper format and venue.

PURCHASE TEXTBOOK

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Tuesday the 28th

 

Read pages 1 – 28 in The Craft of Research.  Thinking in print and connecting with your readers.  Recognizing the audience that you are writing and researching for.  Analysis of New York Times and U.S.A. Today.  Understanding bias.

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February

 

Tuesday the 4th

 

Read pages 41 – 59 in The Craft of Research.  Pure and Applied research. 

Workshop on personal research projects.  Planning research and writing from the end point back.

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Tuesday the 11th

 

Read pages 60 - 72 in The Craft of Research.  Using sources correctly.  Theories, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, revisiting the scientific method.

Narrowing down your research topic.

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Tuesday the 18^th

 

Investigating the language of research.  You must have a one-page proposal ready for this class.  Your proposal should concentrate on the scope and direction of your research.  Establishing the correct research design. Assignment # 1: Research Statement of Purpose / Short Speech is due.  Be ready to speak to an audience.  Understanding an inference of causality.

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Tuesday the 25^th

 

Read pages 73-93 in The Craft of Research.  Claims, warrants, qualifications and evidence.  Organization of the research paper.  Writing the abstract.  A model of the research paper.  Web site workshop to take place. Be aware of the framing statement.

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March

 

Tuesday the 4th

 

Read pages 94 - 110 in The Craft of Research.  Accuracy in claims and evidence.  Ethics in public opinion research.  MLA and APA style in your research work.  Title page and page 1 Introduction page due. 

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Tuesday the 11th

Read pages 111 – 145 in The Craft of Research.  Applying proper warrants.  Basing research on accurate hypotheses.  Ethical questions in research design.  Assignment #2 is due: “Research Project Web Site.”

 

Zikmund handout distributed

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Tuesday the 18th

Read pages 135 – 157 in Zikmund and try to identify potential research problems that you may be encountering as you investigate your topic further.  Have a small list of bibliographical citations ready for class -- discussion of your sources to ensue.   

 

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Tuesday the 25th

 

Read pages 146 – 165 in The Craft of Research.  Have an understanding as to how many primary, secondary, and tertiary sources you will be using in order to complete your research paper.  Create a list that details the number of primary sources that you are using for the greater section of your report.  First 3 pages of your final report due.

 

 

 

April

 

 

 

Tuesday the 1st

 

Read pages 166 – 174 in The Craft of Research.  Be prepared to present to the class some of your most significant findings with regard to your research work.  Revised first 3 pages due. 

 

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Tuesday the 8th

 

Using visuals effectively.  Controlling the rhetorical impact of a visual.  Graphing difficult to interpret data accurately.  Applying organization that makes sense.  

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Tuesday the 15th

 

Read pages 175 – 195 in The Craft of Research.  The six tests of reliable evidence.  Contradictions in research and data.  Using evidence effectively.  Showcasing evidence in your research paper. 

 

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Tuesday the 22nd

 

Using different scales of measurement.  Argument as a guidepost for research and investigation.  Using logos, ethos, and pathos effectively.  Assignment #3: “Poster Board of Preliminary Findings of my Research” is due.

 

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Tuesday the 29^th

 

Working through the drafts of your research paper.  Sticking to a proper sequence of revision.  Quoting and paraphrasing.  Compiling tables.

 

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May

 

Tuesday the 6th

 

Assignment #4 due: Final Research Paper with Presentation due.  Research papers will be downloaded onto Web sites.  Bring your final paper to class on disk and in paper form.

 

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Tuesday the 13th

 

Final class meetings and semester review.  Portfolio students must hand in their portfolios with their final papers in order to receive a High Pass for Research and Reflection.