Welcome to the class webpage for Research-Based Writing, another in our fine line of courses here at the Academic Writing Center at GRIPS. This is an elective yet highly-recommended course for students at GRIPS. This class meets every Wednesday with student consultations from 4 to 6 pm and regular class from 6:20 to 7:50.
Below you will find material for classes throughout the term.
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the techniques and competencies required for a vital pillar of graduate-level writing: writing from sources. These techniques and competencies include aggregating, organizing, summarizing, and synthesizing research arguments in various academic fields. Students will acquire these competencies by analyzing and emulating the work of professional writers. By the end of the course, students will have learned how to weave together a "research story" that explains the need for, and introduces, their own contribution to the field. in the course of eight weeks, students will attend eight lectures and have several individual consultations with their instructor to receive feedback on their writing. This course will be taught in section; small adjustments may be made to the syllabus to meet the specific needs of 1-year, 2-year, and PhD students.
Weekly Classes
First, we will have a rousing call to arms to encourage students to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their endeavors in this class ...
Week 1 (February 4, 2015) — Critical Reading for Graduate Study: Model Analysis
In this class we will analyze how professional writers extract key points from research srticles and students will be led through the process of aggregrating data from various sources.
Here we have the first of the two source files, which includes the three qualitative sources. As you will know from class, we will choose one of the files for today and the other for our next class. The second file is three quantitative sources.
Homework:
- ✓ Finish writing the summary paragraph of today's three sources. This will be both handed in and shared with your classmates next week.
Week 2 (February 18, 2015) — Planning a Literature Review: Model Analysis
Good evening, everyone. Our purpose today is to look more closely at sections that are commonly found in literature reviews and also to examine how arguments are developed. However, we will begin by working with some material from last week ...
OK, having finished up that in fine fashion, let us proceed to material for this week. You will be using this file on planning a literature review, which you may work on in small groups and either on paper or on your computer.
Homework:
- ✓ Complete either the quantitative activity or the qualitative activity.
- ✓ The same files as PDFs: quantitative activity or the qualitative activity.
- ✓ Work on incorporating the skills from class into your proposal or paper.
Week 3 (February 25, 2015) — Exploring Relationships: Model Analysis
This evening, Gentle Students, our objective is to explore relationships between variables/topics in an area of research and how to describe these relationships.
We will be working with either a qualitative example or a quantitative example.
Homework:
- ✓ Schedule a consultation with me (if you have not done so yet).
- ✓ Revise and resubmit your current manuscript.
Session 4 (March 4, 2015) — Developing a Research Context: Model Analysis
Greetings again, Faithful Students. Tonight our objective is to examine how professional writers place their studies in a particular research context and to learn the rhetorical and linguistic devices used to do that.
In class tonight we will be doing this activity that features Millenial Development Goals in a particular context.
Homework:
- ✓ Continue finding literature for your paper.
- ✓ Work on a context section for your paper.
Session 5 (Thursday, March 5, 2015) — Developing a Theorectical Framework: Model Analysis
Greetings, everyone. I hope those 20 hours since our last class went well! Tonight we'll be working some with the very important concept of the theoretical framework that underpins your masterpiece. We'll begin with a sojourn through pages 112-114 in your trusty AWC textbook.
Courtesy of our very own Gavin (applause here), we will then embark upon a theoretical framework activity designed to make you highly proficient in this framework business.
Homework:
- ✓ Continue working on your paper as you enhance the theoretical framework.
Session 6 (March 11, 2015) — Summarizing Research: Model Analysis
Class material here. This section will include hyperlinks to the various files you intend the students to have. For example, you might include reading assignment #1 here in addition to additional material such as reference material to expand their minds.
Homework:
- ✓ Continue writing your homework.
- ✓ Study hard.
- ✓ Perhaps also a homework assignment to be handed in later.
Session 8 (Thursday, March 12, 2015) — Synthesizing the Literature: Model Analysis
Class material here. This section will include hyperlinks to the various files you intend the students to have. For example, you might include reading assignment #1 here in addition to additional material such as reference material to expand their minds.
Homework:
- ✓ Continue writing your homework.
- ✓ Study hard.
- ✓ Perhaps also a homework assignment to be handed in later.
Week 8 (To be announced) — Concluding the Literature Review: Model Analysis
Class material here. This section will include hyperlinks to the various files you intend the students to have. For example, you might include reading assignment #1 here in addition to additional material such as reference material to expand their minds.
Homework:
- ✓ Continue writing your homework.
- ✓ Study hard.
- ✓ Perhaps also a homework assignment to be handed in later.