Research Project and Presentation
W233



Read the following before you begin this assignment:
Chapter 12
Chapter 10
Chapter 2 (again)
Hint Sheet H

Find Your Audience and Focus
I-Searches I, II, and III were designed to help you discover 1) what you already know about education through your own experience, 2) how your experience is like or unlike the experiences of others, and 3) what others (primary and secondary sources) have to say about a particular education issue that you have "stirred up."

How will this final research project be different from my I-searches?

Up to this point, you have been writing to discover information for yourself. Now you need to decide what to do with the information you have gathered. In other words, what have you learned that is important or new information that your classmates and others who are in the field of education might be interested in finding out?  For most of you, your audience will be me and your W233 classmates.  You know this group of people are interested and want to hear what you have to say. Others of you may want to extend your audience outside the classroom to inform or persuade teachers, administrators, legislators, etc.  If so, you must identify specifically who needs/wants this information and where/how you would publish your paper (letter, newspaper, education journal, School of Education newsletter, etc.).

Fill in the following to help you focus on your topic:

I am looking at (topic)_______________________________________________

because I want to find out how/why/what_________________________________________

in order to understand how/why_______________________________________________

(audience)__________________________________________ need(s) to be aware of this issue/information because_________________________________

The Assignment
Write a 8-10 page paper that
    a) introduces your reader to a problem, issue, question within the field of education

    b) tells your specified reader what you intend to address in the paper

[See Chapter 2, pp. 20-22 to to determine which type of argument (or combination of types) you will be using to convince/inform your reader.]

    c) provides both primary and secondary support for your thesis in a well organized body.

[Read "Five Ways That a Research Paper Can Go Wrong" pp. 23-26 and beware!]

    d) illustrates your argument/information by offering practical solutions or a specific teaching strategy

The Presentation
Choose the main points from your research that you want to present to me and your classmates. Decide how you want to present your work. Be creative. Feel free to use a combination of the following. I encourage all of you to collaborate on this presentation.  Find someone whose topic is related to yours and combine your program. If you have two or three folks in your group, you will have 30 minutes to present.  If you stand alone, you will have 15 minutes.

The Portfolio
You will submit a portfolio of your work this semester for final evaluation.  It will consist of a cover letter, final polished drafts of each writing assignment, all drafts of each assignment, and a self-evaluation sheet on which you decide what you feel your grade should be for the course. Directions for the cover letter and the evaluation sheet are forthcoming.

Tentative Due Dates

                        Early draft and outline
                        Peer Review (3 copies)
                        Conferences with me (polished draft and presentation plan)
                        In-class Presentations
                        Portfolio due and exit conferences