ENGLISH 302-N04
Advanced Composition

CRN 70859
Distance Learning   

Fall 20119

 

CRN 71149
Dept. Of English

Prof. Joyce Johnston
jjohnsto@gmu.edu
703.993.1176

Office Hours: Thursdays 9:00-10:30 AM
F2F Room 206, Robinson Hall B
Virtual: Skype: joyce.johnston48





This online section of English 302 uses Blackboard as course software.  Access Blackboard at http://mymasonportal.gmu.edu.  After logging in using your MasonLive user ID and password, click on the Courses tab at the upper right of the screen.  Then click on the course name to access the Blackboard course folder.

A week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. Assignments are due by 11:59 PM EST on the dates listed.

Both the Couse Description and the Course Schedule can also be accessed on Professor Johnston's website, available at https://mason.gmu.edu/~jjohnsto



 

COURSE SCHEDULE

CLICKABLE MENU


           

 


Week 1

Aug. 26-Sept. 1
Creating an Academic  Community



 

Weeks 2-3

Sept. 2-15
Characterizing an Academic Community




 

Weeks 4-5

Sept. 16-29
Reinforcing Academic Integrity




Week 6

Sept. 30-Oct. 6
Conferring on Research Proposals


 

Weeks 7-8

Oct. 7-20
Analyzing Academic Discourse




Weeks
9-11

Oct. 21-Nov. 10

Annotating Research Sources




Weeks 12-15

Nov. 11-Dec. 8
Conducting a Literature

Review



 




CREATING AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY



WEEK 1:    AUG. 26-SEPT. 1

AUG.26: FIRST DAY OF FALL SEMESTER CLASSES

CONTENT FOCUS: CIVILITY
 
WRITING FOCUS: BLOGGING

This module explores the challenges of communicating civilly and professionally with other business students and the instructor. The goal is to achieve authentic expression while discussing sometimes difficult topics. The class will establish its own norms of acceptable online behavior for the rest of the semester.


READINGS ACTIVITIES DUE DATES FOR ASSSIGNMENTS


Getting Started:


In the Course Menu on the left, click on the second item from the top, Orientation to Our Blackboard Home Page. If the screencast does not start immediately, click the link at the bottom to begin.



BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, be sure to watch the screencast so you will know how to find the materials and functions you need for our course in Blackboard.  Then click around to make sure you are comfortable accessing materials and resources on your own.


Watch on Monday, Aug. 27, or as soon as you register for the course.


The big picture by a famous philosopher:


"Why Civility is Necessary for Society's Survival," by P. M. Forni



Establish your class presence by creating or updating your profile in on Blackboard. (Remember that the profile you create will appear in all of your Blackboard course folders.) Go to our course menu on the left side of the screen. Under the Academic Resources for Students heading, click Blackboard Help for Students, then "Creating a Blackboard Profile."




The  special challenges of communicating online:


Online Civility and Its (Muppethugging) Discontents” by Sheril Kirshenbaum



Before beginning our Class Civility Blog, check the Scoring Rubric to understand the criteria you will be graded on.  It is available under Instructions for Assignments in the course menu. Click on the folder for Creating an Academic Community





Participate in our Class Civility Blog, found under Communication in the course menu. Read the directions at the top to access the questions.  Post your responses as COMMENTS in response to the instructor's posts to the TWO REQUIRED QUESTIONS (#1 AND #2)





Posting your blog entries:

If you have not used Blackboard’s blog function previously, go to our Blackboard Course menu on the left side of the screen. Under the Academic Resources for Students heading, click Blackboard Help for Profiles and Functions, then "Videos for Common Blackboard Functions."  At the very end of the file, watch the video on "Creating a Blog Entry" (3:24)


POST RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS #1 AND #2  by Thursday, Aug. 29, by 11:59 PM


The instructor’s point of view:


Don’t Email me This Way,” by Ms. Mentor



Continuing with our blog, choose and respond to TWO of the five remaining questions (#3-#7) Select the two that allow you to contribute to the exchange of ideas in the most insightful and thoughtful fashion.

POST 2 BLOG ENTRIES by Friday, Aug. 30, by 11:59 PM


Dealing with communication problems:


“Conflict in Cyberspace: How to Resolve Conflict Online,” by John Suler



Complete the Essentials of Class Interaction SURVEY to establish our class code of behavior  It is available under Instructions for Assignments in the course menu. Click on the folder Creating an Academic Community After everyone has expressed his/her opinion, you will receive an email the next week containing the class consensus on best practices online.



POST  RESPONSE TO SURVEY  by Sunday, Sept. 1, by 11:59 PM


Actively promoting digital civility:

Microsoft's Council for Digital Good Calls on US Policymakers to Promote Digital Civility by Jacqueline Beauchere

Text of the Council's Open Letter


Learn your classmates' preferences for a civil atmosphere in our class by reviewing the results of the Essentials of Class Interaction Survey in a class email on Sunday, Sept. 2. Compare to the behaviors stressed by the Council.







Show that you understand the formal structure of our classroom community by completing the Quiz on Course Policies.  It is available under Instructions for Assignments in the course menu. Click on the folder Characterizing an Academic Community.


UPLOAD QUIZ ON COURSE POLICIES by returning to the instructions file for the quiz.  If unsure how to submit, watch Submit an Assignment (Student)   (0:56) Submit  by Sunday, Sept. 1, by 11:59 PM



Return to Menu



CHARACTERIZING AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY


WEEK 2:    SEPT. 2-8


SEPT. 3: LAST DAY TO ADD CLASSES


CONTENT FOCUS: ACADEMIC DISCOURSE COMMUNITIES


WRITING FOCUS: OBJECTIVE REPORTING, BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS, APPLYING THEORY TO EVIDENCE


This module offers practice in working collaboratively to construct a wiki that explores the writing culture of a particular academic discipline. Students also assemble and validate diverse reseach materials within that discipline.


READINGS

ACTIVITIES

DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS


The six central characteristics of a discourse community:

What is a Discourse Community?



Before beginning the assignment, be sure you understand this central theoretical model for analyzing group interactions



Grasping your task:

In Blackboard, click on Instructions for Assignments in the Course Menu. Then click on the folder for Characterizing an Academic Community.  Read the Instructions file for Characterizing an Academic Community.



Thoroughly review the assignment before proceeding.  Also, be sure to read the scoring rubric so you know how you will be graded.


Understanding writing in your career or major:


“What is a Discourse Community?”

o     Scroll down the page to “Related WiseGEEK Articles”

o   Read “What is the Relationship Between Language and Discourse?”

o   Read “What are the Different Types of Academic Discourse?”

o   Read “What is Scientific Discourse?” if you are a science major


Discourse communities in academia
Entering your discourse community
Discourse communities in action:

For a serious example of discourse analysis, using the politics of East Asia:  Introduction to Discourse Analysis

For a fun example of discourse analysis using tattoos: Tattoo Discourse Analysis: Shipwrecked Tattoos

For a social media analysis of a discourse community: Facebook as a Discourse Community




 


More on Discourse communities:

Engh 1102 Discourse Community Introduction (3:38)




Begin to understand and explore the academic discipline (usually the same as your major) which creates specific discourse styles andvocabulary as part of its culture. Use the worksheet below to record your findings






Think about the value of finding a mentor in your department to ease your entrance into your academic deiscourse community



Mentoring as a form of social support as well as academic sponsorship:


How to Get the Most Out of College



.



Understanding writing in your career or major:


“What is a Discourse Community?”

o     Scroll down the page to “Related WiseGEEK Articles”

o   Read “What is the Relationship Between Language and Discourse?”

o   Read “What are the Different Types of Academic Discourse?”

o   Read “What is Scientific Discourse?” if you are a science major



Discourse communities in academia
Entering your discourse community
Discourse communities in action:

For a serious example of discourse analysis, using the politics of East Asia:  Introduction to Discourse Analysis

For a fun example of discourse analysis using tattoos: Tattoo Discourse Analysis: Shipwrecked Tattoos

For a social media analysis of a discourse community: Facebook as a Discourse Community





Essental features of discourse communities:

Engh 1102 Discourse Community Introduction (3:38)

Swales' Six Characteristics of Discourse Communities


Watch the video before starting the worksheet.  Download and complete the worksheet on "What is Your Academic Discipline?" available in Blackboard under  Instructions for Assignments, in the folder for Characterizing an Academic Community. Type answers directly into the worksheet underneath the appropriate question.








UPLOAD WHAT IS YOUR ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE? WORKSHEET assignment by returning to the instructions file for the  worksheet. Submit by Sunday, Sept. 8, by 11:59 PM


 If unsure how to submit, watch Submit an Assignment (Student)   (0:56)



WEEK 3: SEPT. 9-15


Ethnography as a qualitative form of social research:

What is Ethnography?  by Brian A. Hoey


Choose a class or lab in your discipline which you can observe and analyze as a functioning social group.  Choose a class that you feel is well suited to the procedure described in the article



Observe the group as you attend it. Remember that the most important aspect of the group for our purposes is the vocabulary, reading and writing that it produces as a discourse community



Ethnographies by other college writers:

Ethnography Samples


Write your draft, following the instructions file. If you wish, compare it to one or more sample student papers. 


Using academic style while constructing your argument:

Formal Writing Voice


IMPORTANT: REMEMBER THAT THIS IS ACADEMIC WRITING. You will be using it in this class for the rest of the semester, as well as in research and analysis papers in all your other classes.




Complete, revise and proofread the essay on "Characterizing an Academic Community."


UPLOAD "CHARACTERIZING AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY"by returning to the Instructions file for it, by Sunday, Sept. 16, by 11:59 PM.

 If unsure how to submit, watch Submit an Assignment (Student)   (0:56)



Return to Menu




REINFORCING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

 

WEEK 4: SEPT 16-22


CONTENT FOCUS: PLAGIARISM, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFTI


WRITING FOCI: PARAPHRASE, INDIRECT QUOTATIONS, ATTRIBUTION

This module helps you identify and appreciate the characteristics of a top-quality research publication. It specifically addresses typical organization and style used when writing up primary research. In support of the GMU Honor Code, thismodule provides direct instruction in strategies for documenting surces, particularly in avoiding plagiarism and giving authors well-deserved credit for their work.  The university's position is that plagiarisim is the intellectual equivalent of robbery and cannot be tolerated in an academic setting. 

READINGS

ACTIVITIES

DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS


World Book and Copyright Day:

World Book and Copyright Day

A Video for World Book and Copyright Day


The importance of books and copyright worldwide is now recognized by UNESCO, protector of world heritage sites                             



Pubic Domain Day provides free books:

Public Domain Day 2019: What Books Can

You Now Read for Free


Once a year--on Jan. 1--materials published in the US 95 years ago lose their copyright protection and become available fto the general public



Reviewing your background knowledge:


“Nine Things You Should Already Know About Plagiarism”

How to Recognize Plagiarism


Develop an understanding of importance of intellectual property in higher education. Also note the "Three Things You Don't Need to Worry About."


GMU's policies on plagiarism:

The GMU Honor Code

The GMU English Department’s Policy on Plagiarism



Learn the university policies that govern cheating, plagiarism and copyright  for faculty, administrators and students.



Checking your own academic behavior:

Overview: How to Recognize Plagiarism




Be sure you have not been plagiarizing without realizing it


Respecting copyright for visual images
as well as text:

8 Best Websites for Copyright-free Images

Finding Public Domain and Creative Commons Media



Remember the Google Images contains both copyrighted and copyright-free images


WEEK 5: SEPT. 23-29

fRIDAY, SEPT. 27: LAST DAY TO DROP CLASSES



IMPORTANT:
this week, you will receive an email inviting you  to
Sign up for a conference day/time, to be held NEXT WEEK:: Oct. 1-6.  Conferences may be video chat, telephone or face to face. You will be discussing and determining your research paper/lit review topic. Students who have not responded by Friday, Sept. 27, will be assigned remaining dates/times over the weekend.




The down side of US copyright laws:

The Tyranny of Copyright


Attempts to protect owners' rights have often stifled creativity and innovation


In Blackboard, go to  Instructions for
Assignments
then the folder for
 Intellectual Integrity,
then
the file
named "Instructions for Intellectual Integrity"



Complete the section on Additional Training. I
n the same file, go over Practice with Copyright and Fair Use as a class. Also, review cases of academic plagiarism from news stories.




In Blackboard, go to  Instructions for Assignments, then the folder for Intellectual Integrity, then the file named  "IRIS Plagiarism Test--Instructions."  Carefully follow the directions in the file of Instructions,  since the procedure is different from the usual submission.


Submit the email of  IRIS PLAGIARISM TEST results by returning to the test file. Submit by Sunday, Sept. 29, by 11:59 PM

 If unsure how to submit, watch Submit an Assignment (Student)   (0:56)



Return to Menu




CONFERRING ON RESEARCH PROPOSALS

 

WEEK 6:    SEPT. 30-OCT. 6


MONDAY, SEPT. 30: SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD (A/K/A WEB WITHDRAWAL)  BEGINS



CONTENT FOCUS: PREPARING FOR ANALYSIS OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH AND A LITERATURE REVIEW


WRITING FOCI: SUMMARY, IMRAD FORMAT


This module ensures that all students have a viable, researchable toipic which covers important developments--research and commercial--in their respective disciplines.  It requires a conference with the professor, either face to face, by telephone, or by bideo chat such as Skype or What'sApp.


READINGS

ACTIVITIES

DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS



STOP RIGHT HERE while you thoroughly reread the requirements for the Academic Analysis and the Literature Review.



This week, your sole assignment is to be prepared for the research conference by choosing a viable topic for your research for the remainder of the semester.  Make sure it is a new and important development in your discipline which is visible in scholarly research as well as in the commercial or nonprofit world.  Above all, be sure it is interesting and valuable to you.

Attend your research conference at the time you signed up for,
bringing a written version of the
 information at right. Since conferences
 are only 15 minutes long, it is
important to be on time, organized and ready to talk. DO NOT BE LATE,  as it cuts into others' conference time.



Return to Menu




ANALYZING ACADEMIC DISCOURSE


WEEK 7:    OCT. 7-13


CONTENT FOCUS: CRITERIA FOR EXCELLENCE IN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH


WRITING FOCI: IMRAD  FORMAT, USE OF APA FORMAT CRITICAL ANALYSIS,


This module reviews appropriate documentation format while expanding the use of academic databases to include database(s) appropriate to the student’s research task. Composing the review integrates persuasive writing techniques, concision and transitional expressions as well as requiring that students synthesize the state of knowledge on a larger issue. It scaffolds the next assignment, the research project. 


READINGS

ACTIVITIES

DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS


Assignment requirements:

Instructions for Analyzing Academic Discourse and its accompanying scoring rubric, are found in the folder of the same name, under Instructions for Assignments


Get an overview of the requirements and goals for the Analysis essay.  The skills from this assignment will be used in the Annotated Bibliography and the Literature Review.  They also apply to research papers you may write in projects for other classes.


Understanding academic tone in your career or major:

How to Write an Excellent Formal Essay

How to Write in an Academic Style


Focus on the differences between academic writing (a highly specialized genre) and other professional writing tasks and styles


The lexis of academic discourse communities:

Using Appropriate Words in an Academic Essay

Verbs in Academic Writing


Use these examples to influence your own style and approachNote the focus on verbs as a major way to identify academic lexis.



Choosing lexis to meet the genre:

Academic words



A Pinterest page filled with one-page lists of vocabulary, each tailored to a specific writing assignment or genre


Practice in turning non-academic writing to academic style:

Writing in a Formal Style: Practice

Exercise: Making Descriptions Specific


Practice exercises provide feedback that allow you to gauge how well you are transitioning from informal to formal writing style. Pay special attention to the use of quoted material and how to punctuate it.

Submit the QUOTATIONS QUIZ  to Blackboard by Sunday, Oct. 13, at 11:59 PM. Look for the Instructions file in the folder for Analyzing Academic Discourse

If unsure how to submit, watch "How to Submit an Assignment in Blackboard Learn"


WEEK 8: OCT. 14-20

MONDAY, OCT. 14: GMU CLOSED FOR COLUMBUS DAY

TUESDAY, OCT. 15: MONDAY CLASSES MEET ON TUESDAY; TUESDAY CLASSES CANCELLED



Learn the classic definition of publishable science writing:

Chapter 3 (What is a Scientific Paper?) in How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 5th edition, by Robert Day



Be sure to read this chapter carefully, as Dr. Day is credited with standardizing the writing conventions for scholarly research as we now know it. It will be the basis for this paper, the Analysis of Academic Writing.



Recognize poorly written or conducted studies:

10 Tips for Writing a Truly Terrible Journal Article

Many Scentific Studies Can't be Replicated. That's a Problem.



Check your proposed article to make sure it avoids the (humorous, but real) errors listed.


Criteria for evaluating empirical articles:

Guiding Questions When Reading Empirical Research
(In Blackboard, go to 
Instructions for Assignments
, then the folder Synthesizing Research Materials, then the Guiding Questions file)


Select a current research study on a topic relevant to your discourse community and published in a respected scholarly journal.



Comprehend research articles:

Strategies for Reading Academic Articles

How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide for Non-Scientists



Use these strategies to make sure you thoroughly understand the study you intend to write about so you can analyze it accurately and thoughtfully.


Looking for excellence in research and writing:

Analyzing Resarch Articles: A Guide for Readers and Writers


Check that the study includes these criteria to be sure that it meets the highest standards


Get ready to write: Quick review of critical thinking:

Critical Thinking Definition, Skills, and Examples


Analysis requires the ability to see strengths, weakness and interrelationships between content.  It also requires being systematic and meticulous in assembling research materials.



Early check on your familiarity with APA format before it is needed in your paper next week:

APA Style Quiz




Formatting paper in AP style according to the Quick Citation Guide.Instruction, followed by Post Test, will give you an estimate of whether you need to study APA style before preparing your Analysis paper at the end of next week.



WEEK 9: OCT. 21-27

OCT. 28: END SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD


Use quoted material strategically:

How to Use Quotations in Writing Essays--APA or MLA(2:53)

How to Frame Quotations


Quotations (a thorough guide)

When to Summarize, Paraphrase and Quote


One of the key identifiers of academic writing.  It signals that the writer understands the material s/je read, can idenitfy key points and express them concisely, and can proficiently use the most difficult punctuation set in English


Create In-text citations for quotations and borrowed material:

In-Text Citations: The Basics


Along with the References page, this will prevent plagiarism


Using quoted material strategically:

How to Use Quotations In Writing Essays-APA or MLA   (2:53)


Using Quotations and Quotation Marks in College Writing



Using your knowledge, choose the quotations from the article which will best support your claims about the quality of the research and writing.  Format the quotations correctly for use in your paper.


Write for the university discourse community:

Using Academic Language


Be sure you are writing for the university discourse community


Let the GMU Writing Center help fnalize your paper:

Revising

23 Ways to Improve Your Draft

How to Edit Your Own Essays: Strategies for ESL Students


Make final edits (small) and/or revisions (large) as needed to prepare an excellent intellectual analysis phrased in academic style.




UPLOAD THE SCHOLARLY ARTICLE TO BLACKBOARD by Sunday, Oct. 27, at 11:59M.




SUBMIT THE FILE CONTAINING ANALYZING ACADEMIC DISCOURSE to Blackboard by Sunday, Oct. 27, at 11:59 PM. Look for the Instructions file in the folder for Analyzing Academic Discourse

If unsure how to submit, watch "How to Submit an Assignment in BlackboardLearn"



Return to Menu



ANNOTATING RESEARCH SOURCES



WEEK 10: OCT. 28-NOV. 3

CONTENT FOCUS: GREY LITERATURE, 

WRITING FOCI:  APA FORMAT  FOR REFERENCES, CORRECT TEXT FORMATTING FOR AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY, CONCISE NESS, SUMMARY

READINGS                                                                     
ACTIVITIES                                                                                   
DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS

A thorough overview of annotated bibliographies:

Annotated Bibliographies

Annotated Bibliography Breakdown


Understanding the purpose of an annotated bibliography and its usefulness to future extended research


Assignment requirements:

Instructions for Annotated Bibliography and Proposal and its accompanying scoring rubric, are found in the folder Annotating Research Sources, under Instructions for Assignments


BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FILE, ESPECIALLY NOTING STEP 1 AND THE PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AT THE END. YOU WILL BE DOING THE SAME TOPIC FOR BOTH THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND THE LITERATURE REVIEW, SO CHOOSE CAREFULLY.  Your skills in analyzing research will be used to choose excellent articles in support of your topic for the Annotated Bibliography and following that, the Literature Review. You will be adding grey literature as well.



The importance of grey literature in research:

Grey Literature: What is It?: The Value of Grey Literature


Explains how scholarly studies can be extended into the real world



Summary of sources of grey literature:

Gray Literature


A list of forms of grey literature plus tabs to lists of preprints, e-prints, technical reports
and a long list of gateways to searches for grey literature in general


Using grey literature in your annotated bibliography:

Gray literature 101: More about Gray Lit

Research Process: Grey Literature


The pro's and cons of using grey literature in your academic work


Justifying your choice of research sources:

Six Key Considerations for Innovative Proposals


Once your sources are assembled, add insights from the articles to your orignal idea of
the value of your topic


Outlined instructions with examples for two different discourse communities:

Proposal Writing


Slildeshare presentation in three parts: What is a proposal, A Formal Proposal and An Informal Proposal



WEEK 11:  NOV. 4-10


The look and appearance of an annotated entry:

Sample Annotated Bibliography


Annotated bibliographies have their own distinctive appearance


A review of the accepted formatting :

Creating Annotated Bibliographies based on APA style


A printable PDF with sample annotations and bibliography entries


A review of APA reference style:

Reference List: Basic Rules

Reference List: Articles in Periodicals



Mastery of APA style in references is expected in this highly formatted style of paper, and again in the final assignment, the Literature Review.  These links are taken from the most authoritative online writing lab, The OWL at Purdue





SUBMIT THE FILE CONTAINING THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY  to Blackboard by Sunday, Nov. 10, at 11:59 PM. Look for the Instructions file in the folder for Annotating Research Sources.

If unsure how to submit, watch "How to Submit an Assignment in BlackboardLearn"


 

Return to Menu



 


CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW



WEEK 12: NOV. 11-17


CONTENT FOCUS: ASSESSING THE QUALITY AND SCOPE OF RESEARCH ON A SPECIFIC TOIC; IDENTIFYING GAPS AND FUTURE NEEDS IFOR RESEARCH


WRITING FOCUS: CRITICAL ANALYSIS, PERSUASIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES, TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS, FIELD-APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION, COMPARISON AND CONTRAST,


This module synthesizes all the major elements of your learning this semester:

  • Synthesis research and writing, combining primary and scholarly sources with gray literature and public forums
  • Standards and expectations for research in your field of study
  • Mastery of the appropriate documentation format for your discipline
  • Use of appropriate vocabulary, sentence structure and organizational patterns for college-level writing
  • Maintaining a level of discourse, including tone and diction, appropriate to a scholar in your field

At the same time, it offers an opportunity to expand the functionality of a scholar into the 21st century by projecting ways that your field can be extended and enhanced


READINGS

ACTIVITIES

DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS


Summary of the structure of a literature review:

Learn How to Write a Review of Literature

Writing a Literature Review, by the GMU Writing Center


Review the Instructions for the Literature Review.  Also review the Scoring Rubric for each so you know how your work will be evaluated. Match these to the two articles to the left to view examples and advice in achieving the assignment's goals.



Excellent explanation of the philosphy and assumptions behind lit reviews:

Literature Reviews: An Overview for Graduate Students


Relationship between reviews of literature and research papers
What is a lit review?



Harvard slideshare on lit reviews, with outline, a notes version and a searchable feature:

Synthesize E-Lecture



Our lit review: instructions and scoring rubric
Making sure topic meets research paper requirements



Issues with establishing chains of influence:

When Shared Data is Not Reproducible: Science is Broken-- but It Can Be Fixed


Importance of research studies: reproducibility, chain of influence


WEEK 13: NOV. 18-24




IMPORTANT: If you have plans for the Thanksgiving holiday, you will need to accomplish as much as possible this week on preplanning your Literature Review.  By the end of the week, locate all five research articles plus all five grey literature articles and find the synthesis point of view that will join them together.



The need for critical reasoning and argumentation skills:

Colleges Fail to Improve Thinking Skills  (7:32)


Understand how the Literature Review works to build critical employment skills largely missing in many college graduates


Combining Critical Thinking, Writing and Action:

6 Steps for Effective Critical Thinking



Combining paper-writing skills with implementation of the paper's conclusions



Criteria for evaluating empirical articles:


Guiding Questions When Reading Empirical Research
(In Blackboard, go to 
 Instructions for Assignments, then the folder Conducting a Literature Review, then the Guiding Questions file)


Identify ALL TEN ARTICLES for lit review  so you can begin  analyzing them in a timely fashion.  Be sure that ALL TEN were published within the last 5 years except for exisitng codes and legislation

Vet scholarly articles: primary research from scholarly journals; no meta analyses or reviews

Vet remaining five articles: respected commercial, professional or trade publisher; industry standards; state or federal legislation or codes



List of sample lit reviews from other universities:


Writing the Literature Review

Scroll down to the heading for Sample Literature Reviews



Using articles, make lists of what is known and what is not.  List problems with research or research gaps.
 Make list of information still needed to successfully complete paper and possible sources


Choosing an organizational strategy:

Strategies for Writing the Literature Review (In Blackboard, go to  Instructions for Assignments, then the folder Conducting a Literature Review, then the Instructions file.  Step 3 contains an extensive list of strategies.)


Decide on an the optimal organizational strategy for incorporating both epirical research and grey literature


Resources for using and generating transitions:

Transitions and Connectors Training (In Blackboard, go to  Instructions for Assignments, then the folder Conducting a Literature Review, then the Transitions and Connectors file)


Choose appropriate transitional expressions to reinforce the organizational strategy selected.


WEEK 14: NOV. 23-DEC. 1

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27-SUNDAY, DEC. 1:  UNIVERSITY CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK


Advice on showing the relationships between ideas from the OWL at Purdue:

Writing Transitions and Transitional Devices


Using transitions and connectors to show interrelationships between texts. The second link provides a list of words to use to cue readers to interpret ideas the way you want them to.


A succinct procedure for synthesis writing:

Help!  I've Been Asked to Synthesize!


Summarizes do's and don'ts in synthesis writing


Coursera describes the rationale for synthesis writing for its Advanced Writing course:

Synthesis Essay Video Lecture



A clear explanation of the finer points of writing a perceptive and original synthesis essay


A video tutorial of the process of writing a literature review:

Writing the Literature Review (Part One)


Writing the Literature Review (Part Two)


Casual tone but useful content for those preferring the audio-visual approach in David Taylor's two-part

"Step-by-Step Tutorial for Graduate Students"




IMPORTANT: Travel safely on this, the biggest travel holiday in the year.  Come back refreshed and ready to give and receive feedback on themost important assignment in the semester.



WEEK 15: DEC. 2-8

SATURDAY, DEC. 6:  LAST DAY OF CLASSES


Instructions for Conducting a Peer Review  of a  Lit Review:

in Blackboard, go to  Instructions for Assignments, then the folder for Conducting a Literature Review, then the file Instructions for Conducting a Peer Review of Literature Review


Read and reflect on the instructions file so you can be ready to participate in and benefit from peer review.  Make a list of issues you would like reviewers to address—use scoring rubric and peer review rubric for guidance



By Tuesday, Dec. 3, write a complete draft of your literature review (not including the References page) so it is ready for the benefit of your classmates' critiques




UPLOAD YOUR DRAFT to the Peer Review of Lit Review (under My Groups heading at bottom of course menu in the class Blackboard folder). In the message, tell your reviewers about the issues you would most like feedback on. Attach the draft; do NOT paste it into the body of the message.
On your group’s home page, be sure to read the instructions for the peer review process


Upload lit review DRAFT to the Peer Review of Lit Review discussion board by Tuesday, Dec. 3, by 11:59 pm


REVIEW YOUR GROUP MEMBERS' DRAFTS, following the Instructions in the file for Peer Review of Literature Review and post to your group.  Remember to complete both the Formative and the Summative rubrics for each draft, then paste them into the end of the person's draft file.


Complete PEER REVIEW by Friday, Dec. 6


WEEK 16:  DEC. 9-1

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, DEC. 9-10:  READING DAYS

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11: SEMESTER EXAMS BEGIN



Revise and COMPLETE YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW AND SUBMIT to Blackboard.  Remember to upload articles reviewed in your paper- that were NOT included in your Annotated Bibliography--not just links to them


Submit LITERATURE REVIEW AND THE NECESSARY ARTICLES by returning to the Instructions file for the Lit Review. Submit  by Wednesday, Dec. 11, by 11:59 PM




If unsure how to submit, watch "How to Submit an Assignment in BlackboardLearn"


Keep firmly in mind that the Literature Review cannot be submitted late and that if you do not submit this paper, complete with title page, internal citations and references, by Wednesday, Dec. 11, by 11:59 PM, you WILL NOT PASS the class.


One last--but important--task


In Blackboard, go to My Grades.  Check to make sure that all grades (except the Literature Review) appear and are recorded accurately.  Notify the instructor IMMEDIATELY of any errors. If all grades are correctly recorded, no action is needed.

 
IMPORTANT: This is an opportunity to correct errors only, not to rewrite, resubmit or ask for extra credit.  As per the Course Description, none of these options is available in our class


Email  any recording errors to the professor by Thursday, Dec. 12, by midnight



Return to Menu


 


Go to the Course Description


Go to Joyce Johnston's Home Page