2.25.09 - No class Wednesday

Lorenzo is ill. No class.

Open Evluation of Student Papers

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Professor Lorenzo's open note of student's papers:

1. Definition Paper
2. Issue Paper

Most common errors:
1. Not following APA format
a. Abstract - missing
b. Headings/sub-headings - missing
c. In page citations - missing
d. Reference page - format and content errors

Please review:

Sample APA Paper at,http://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090212013008_560.pdf

2. Word Choice error
3. Not making deadline
4. Paraphrasing error
5. Conclusion not clear
6. Not following the assignment directives posted.

One on One Student/Professor Meeting

One on One Meeting
Student Professor
Time: 9:00 - 3:00
Date: 2/24/09

Purpose: Journal Review, Paper Review, Attendance Review

Convocation: 11:00 - All freshmen must attend - bring program flyer to class Wednesday.

Annette Lorenzo
Wesley Hall
Room 337
Ext. 6271

Week 7 Online Mini Lecture: How to Read an Academic Texts Critically

How to Read Academic Texts Critically(Adapted from Canberra University at http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/criticalthinkingX.htm)

• Mini Lecture topic is a supplement of chapter 2 in the text.
• Read this mini lecture to assist in your first scanning of chapter 7, American Cultural Myths & 8 Business and Labor.
• Chapter 7 & 8 review will begin during week 7 and continue in week 8.
• Professor Lorenzo will review your chapter journal entry per week.
• Write down the main themes, concepts, perceptions and theory being introduced,
• Refer to classroom lecture - What the Title Chapter tells You. (journal notes 2/19/08 Thursday).

Academic material is not meant to be read. It is meant to be ransacked and pillaged for essential content. This means that you should never just sit down to read academic works as if they were novels or magazine articles. Academic study is not suited to such an approach, and the chances are you could spend hours reading and then not have a clue what you have been reading about (does that sound familiar?).

Rule #1

Never read without specific questions you want the text to answer. If you want your reading to stay in your memory, you must approach your text with a list of questions about the particular information you are after, and search the text for the answers to those questions. Don't just read with the hope that an answer will appear.

Rule #2

Never start reading at page 1 of the text. If there is a summary, a conclusion, a set of sub-headings, or an abstract, read that first, because it will give you a map of what the text contains. You can then deal with the text structurally, looking for particular points, not just reading ‘‘blind'' and so easily getting lost. Always keep in mind what you need, what is relevant to the question you are asking the text.

Rule #3

Think critically as you read. In reading academic texts you need to develop a personal (but nevertheless academic and rational) response to the article/ theory/ chapter through

(1) developing an understanding of the content and

(2) evaluating and critiquing the article. Therefore, before reading a text closely, read the introduction or abstract and skim read the text to give you a preliminary idea of what it is about.Then read it closely and critically. Some questions to help you read critically are:

a. What are the main points of this text?

b. Can you put them in your own words?

c. What sorts of examples are used? Are they useful? Can you think of others?

d. What factors (ideas, people, things) have been included? Can you think of anything that has been missed out?

e. Is a particular bias or framework apparent? Can you tell what 'school of thought' the author belongs to?

f. Can you work out the steps of the argument being presented? Do all the steps follow logically?

g. Could a different conclusion be drawn from the argument being presented?h. Are the main ideas in the text supported by reliable evidence (well researched, non-emotive, logical)?

i. Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why?

j. What connections do you see between this and other texts?

k. Where does it differ from other texts on the same subject?l. What are the wider implications——for you, for the discipline?

Rule #4

Treat critical reading as a skill which can be developed through practices, such as:

a. Taking notes of the text's main ideas and adding your own responsive comments.

b. Talking to others about what you have read.

c. Relating a given text to others in the syllabus by identifying similar or contrasting themes.

d. Explaining what the text means to a non-specialist and noting what you would have to add to make it intelligible? (This will help you to see the underlying, unstated assumptions.)

e. Asking yourself: "Is it possible to disagree with any of this?"

f. Asking yourself: 'How can I convince my peers/teachers that I understand what this is about?'
Posted by Professor at 4:01 PM

Week Six - Research Vocabulary Drill

Week Six

Vocabulary Drill

Directive:

A. In your journal enter the title, 'Week Six Vocabulary Drill - Self Directed'. Under that title number and write the name of the word being defined. Add your definition to the word/term.

B. Research method: Computer - ENG1102 text - text from another class.

C. Identify source directly after the definition.


Words/terms

1. Hypothesis
2. Inclusion Criteria
3. Research
4. Surveys
5. Dependent Variables
6. Independent Variables
7. Case Study
8. Data
9. Quantitative Research
10. Qualitative Research

Chapter 5 - Group Project: Directive

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Chapter 5 - Group Reading/Research Project Directive (Learning Team/Study groups)
Due: 2/19/09 - Smartroom

Assignment Purpose: A detailed review of essay topic that meets the research and critical thinking skills of ENG1102.

Primary Skill Activity: Collaborative learning, research, verbal presentation, tracking research, critical thinking, interpersonal, team building, peer evaluation.

Outcome: 5/7 minute group presentation.

Documentation Submissions: Team review of essay, Research tracking (maybe through a time log), Power Point (if used), speaking notes (if used), handouts (if offered).

Project Steps:
1. Groups are formed
2. Groups pick one essay to review
3. Individual group members read chapter.
4. Individual group members review questions and statements that follow the essay - writing down notes in your journal.
5. Group members review the essay and their response to the questions and statements that follow the essay.
6. A writer for the group is chosen and they recorded group thoughts/findings.
7. Group members agree on what type of research should be completed to fully understand the impact of the essay. Example: Research the author, the essay topic, the type of essay it is (humor/political), the major theme of the essay, and what ever additional research that might be derived from the questions and statements that follow the essay.
8. Individual group members are assigned tasks.
9. Professor Reviews group process and production through out the time frame of the assignment.
10. Group sets a date and time to meet outside of the classroom to develop documentation, presentation and complete understanding of essay information and what the group is teaching their follow classmates.
11. Group present their research packet to the professor at the beginning of the 2/19/09 classroom time period. Professor decides the order of the group presentations.
12. Classroom doors are closed 15 minutes are the hour - no student allowed in afterward.
13. Presentations are preformed.

Note: The professor will meet with each group three times throughout the process (classroom activity).

Week Five & Six Assignments (classroom and homework

Week Five

1. Group Learning Project: Chapter 5 - Group picks one essay to review.

2. Weekly Readings: Chapters 5 & 6 - Read - Chapter five is a group reading and chapter 6 is a individual reading

3. Picture Essay - Pg 335 - Review the picture of the two female twins and answer the questions on the following sheets. This is a journal entry - 'Title" - Picture of Two Girls.

4. Black History Month/Valentine Days research Assignment - Twenty minute 'research dive' - topic relates to both black history month and Valentine Days. 2/10/09

5. Learning Team Study Table (Wednesday 11, 2009)- Each group will meet on their own during their regularly scheduled class time and/or go to their assigned classroom and work on Chapter 5 group project. Professor Lorenzo will be available through text message - she will be at Ohio State for the day.

6. Individual Issue Paper - Professor needs to know the topic of your APA typed paper, Thursday 2/10/09.


Week Six

1. Learning Team Project - Verbal Presentation performed Thursday 2/19/09. Presentations are five minutes. Assignment directive was given during classroom period: 2/09/09. Smartroom research activity - 2/10 - 12/09. Location - Smartroom.

2. Reading Assignment - Chapters 7 & 8

3. Holiday - CSU Closed 2/16/09

4. Issue Paper - Due at the beginning of the 2/19/09 classroom.

5. Voc. Exercise - In class activity

What is an Issue Paper - Online Mini Lecture

Monday, February 9, 2009

What is an Issue Paper
Issue Paper - Online LectureWeek Five: Issue Paper
Refer to course syllabusStudents will be writing an issue or position paper, in which you first summarize what you have learned about an important issue or problem in your field or Learning Community course (while carefully citing your sources), then take a position on the issue and argue for some preliminary action or policy. Your report should include an executive summary and a reference list.Please note that to complete this assignment successfully, you should have begun your research during week four (as suggested). Start by browsing trade magazines and journals in your major/Learning Community-- sources in which professionals working in the field publish, or to which they turn for information. You will need to decide on an issue of interest, and begin reading to find out about it: What is the core problem? Who are the interested parties? Why is it relevant to the field? Have any solutions been tried? Why is the problem or issue still unresolved? (You will write a memo and progress report, and give an oral presentation on this same topic, so choose one carefully -- and select one that will hold your interest throughout the semester).What is an issue paper?Issue papers play a role in the formulation of public policy concerning controversial business/social issue subjects. The purpose of an issue paper is to persuade individuals and/or a group (usually one involved in setting policy), or, in the public sector, an appropriate legislative body, to follow a specific course of action -- either devising new policies, or enacting or refraining from enacting legislation that would affect the way a company or nation does business nationally, and/or worldwide.Directions:Write a 5-6 page issue paper on a controversial subject of interest and significance to the major/Learning Community focus. This should be the same topic you chose for your oral presentation.Tips for Proceeding:Find a topic. Survey the literature -- read business magazines, professional trade journals, major periodicals, perhaps one or two research journals. Then brainstorm a list of controversial subjects, keeping notes on your major sources (to be submitted to the professor). Choose a topic that interests you and on which you are able to find relevant information.Focus your topic. Is this a municipal issue? A state issue? A national issue? A local issue? A CSU Issue? Find out the name of the person who is in charge managing this issue, and figure out what he/she needs to know about the issue.Research the topic, getting as deeply into it as you can. Use printed material (see first tip) as well as audio-visual media, arrange and conduct interviews with authorities on the subject, listen to as many different opinions as you can find.Summarize the main points of the different opinions. Discover not only where they disagree, but also where they agree. Why is this an issue at all?Evaluate these opinions. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?Analyze your own position on this issue. Why do you hold the opinion that you do? Under what circumstances would you hold a different opinion? What constituencies would benefit from the policy that you advocate? What constituencies would suffer? Who "pays"? How do you justify this cost fairly?

WRITING PROCESS

1. Draft your paper, beginning with an executive summary or abstract, followed by a description of the controversy, outlining the major positions, identifying who has the power or authority to implement policy or initiate action, and concluding with a specific description of your position, the reasons underlying it, and the specific action you'd like to see taken by the appropriate party or parties identified. (Note that sometimes executive summaries are written last, even though they appear in the beginning of the report.)

2. Revise your paper at least once, paying particular attention to places where you seem to make unexplained assumptions. How knowledgeable about the subject does your reader have to be to understand the issue? What haven't you said? Why? What have you over-explained? Why? Ask two or three other people for their responses. It's helpful to find someone who holds a different opinion from yours.

3.Type an executive summary, paying attention to tone and voice.

4. Type a list of references, using the correct form.

5. Type a title page and possibly a glossary also, if you think the latter would make your paper more accessible to the reader.6. Edit everything.Why (and How ) do you "Document" Sources?In the course of researching a topic and writing a paper it is inevitable (and desirable) that you use material that you have not developed yourself: other reports, articles, etc.. Your sources will likely include books, periodicals, brochures, other reports, and so forth.When you write your paper, you are expected to identify these various sources of information -- individually within the text of your report (citations) and in a bibliography at the end (reference list).By documenting your sources carefully, you demonstrate that you know how to do careful research, you give credit to those upon whose efforts you are building, and most importantly, you give your readers as complete a body of information as is possible.Your readers should be able to distinguish your original research efforts from the database of literature (secondary sources) on the topic that is reported in your paper, and they should also be able to verify the accuracy and completeness of your research report by following up, if necessary, on your citations and tracking down your references. Your list of references is a key to your approach to a problem in research; it indicates the scope of your efforts, and allows readers to continue to build on your efforts by continuing their own investigation into the subject.The style of documentation most often used is either Chicago, or APA. (APA designates the American Psychological Association). In this course you will be asked to use the APA style, which uses a parenthetic author-date method of presenting citations, in which the author's last name and year of publication appear in parentheses following the citation. Each citation is keyed to a listing in the bibliography at the end of the report or article. (Note that "bibliography" is a generic term for a listing of sources; the APA documentation system calls this listing the "References" section.When you use information from other sources you may either summarize, paraphrase, or quote directly. Your choice should be based on your objectives, but generally, quoting directly is done sparingly. You should paraphrase when you can convey the ideas of the material more concisely and effectively in your own words than in the original form. Quoting is done when the material is worded in a distinctive, unique manner that is interesting and difficult to reproduce, and when the quoted material adds credibility to your research efforts.To accurately cite and list sources of information in your paper you should consult an APA style guide (refer to text or APA link on this blog).You should always acknowledge a quote by providing a citation and following formatting conventions for quoting; you acknowledge paraphrased and summarized material when it is not general knowledge.Acknowledge sources by citing them in the text using a documentation style guide or reference system (such as APA mentioned above).

http://www.umass.edu/buscomm/issue.html



Professor Annette Lorenzo