Sherry LAE 4335

LAE 4335 - Research Project Assignment

Proposal: 1/27 Updates: 02/10, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14 Present: 4/21
Goals:

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To learn about the process of writing/teaching the research paper

To incorporate your own scholarship and ethnographic research into your lesson planning

Assignment:

By developing a research question, searching for sources, and examining models of teacher
and student research, you will draft and revise your own research paper, as well as describe
and reflect on the process of writing this genre

Procedure:

1. What is one problem to do with the teaching of writing about which you
care deeply and would like to learn more? What question related to that
problem might you pose and respond to this semester? On your own, you
will respond to these questions; in class, we will compare and discuss
your responses.
2. What are ways you can gather sourcesboth of other research on this topic and of evidence
from your secondary school placement? What examples can you find of
research papers by students and teachers whose features might serve as
models? On your own, you will find and contribute several models; each
of us will review and analyze all the examples in order to describe the
possible characteristics of this genre. Together, we will develop a rubric
for your work, as well as discussing its applicability for secondary
students.

3. How might you incorporate your research into other genres? Having gathered some sources
of previous research and some evidence from your classroom to address the question you
posed at the beginning of the semester you will incorporate your insights into at least six
genres: a proposal, a lesson plan/sequence, a handout, and three others of your choosing.
4. What can you learn from reviewing and responding to others research processes and
drafts? Throughout the semester, you will work with others who have similar
research questions. Both on your own and during class time, you will also
engage in peer review with your colleagues. I, too, will respond to your work as
you revise your research paper.
5. What have you learned about how to write a research paper? In order to
prepare you to explain to your own students not just WHAT this genre includes,
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but HOW they might approach it, you will describe and reflect on your own
writing process during this assignment.

Evaluation:
Using the rubric we develop together in class, your work will be evaluated by your peers, by
you, and by me. Given the prevalence in American secondary schools of the 6+1 Traits 3
rubric, we may consider adapting the following criteria to this genre and to our situation:
Ideas

Organization

Voice

Word Choice

Sentence Fluency

Conventions

Presentation

myhome.iolfree.ie/~lightbulb/Research.html
huffblodgett.blogspot.com/.../my-karate-kid.html
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Find out more about these traits (for one set of stakeholders) at http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/definitions.php?odelay=0&d=1
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