Blog 8-
Answers from 1st Self-Assessment
When assigned a research paper in a course, I do not see it as a burden or an unwelcome task. I selected neutral. I know and understand that this is a necessary task in order for me to be able to complete my research on my dissertation for the Education Leadership Doctoral Program. The more you write and research, the better you will become. I look forward to growth as I am just beginning my journey.
2. I am somewhat confident in my ability to use supporting material effectively to strengthen my ideas in a paper. Chapter 1 provided a lot of information that I found useful as to why it is essential to use supporting material effectively. I never fully thought about the points that were made, specifically that it helps with your persuasive argument and it shows your engagement with the source.
3. I am confident that I can paraphrase an idea for use in a research paper. I know that this is essential to avoid plagiarism.
4. How much formal training have you had regarding plagiarism and how to avoid it? I have had no formal training regarding plagiarism and how to avoid it. I have read several articles on the topic, but have not received what I would consider to be formal training.
5. When writing a research paper, I find it somewhat easy to incorporate sources that conflict with my central idea or argument. As chapter one stated, it helps to show that you have considered all sides of the argument and thoroughly conducted your research, instead of a one-sided, and perhaps misleading argument.
6. I am confident that I know the rules for citing sources well enough to avoid unintentional plagiarism. I keep my APA book handy and use it often when in doubt.
Answers today:
1. When assigned a research paper this term, I took a proactive approach. I did not see it as a burden, but the work this semester, being my first, was quite a bit. I understand that it was all necessary in order for me to learn and do my best in the course.
2. I am still confident in my ability to use supporting material effectively to strengthen my ideas in a paper. Having the Galvan book to guide me along the way was helpful and allowed me to reflect on what I was writing.
3. I can paraphrase an idea for use in a research paper.
4. I have read and viewed several resources on plagiarism, so I am confident that I am aware of what is and how to avoid it.
5. I have been able to incorporate sources that conflict with my central idea. It makes for a more interesting read and research approach.
6. I am still working on APA format. I still have some issues with spacing and other minor items related to APA.
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Blog 7-Chapter 14
I was able to use the checklist to guide the flow of my review. The questions included in chapter 14 allowed me to reflect on it and make changes accordingly.
As I went through the checklist, I can say that I felt confident in some areas and less confident in others. As much as I wanted to be able to check off every item, there were some that I could not, which prompted me to go back and look at my writing. I did make some changes.
As much as I appreciated the checklist, I did feel a bit overwhelmed because I used it at the end of my literature review. It probably would have been a better idea to look at it at the beginning to address some of the concerns prior to looking at the checklist.
I was able to use the checklist to guide the flow of my review. The questions included in chapter 14 allowed me to reflect on it and make changes accordingly.
As I went through the checklist, I can say that I felt confident in some areas and less confident in others. As much as I wanted to be able to check off every item, there were some that I could not, which prompted me to go back and look at my writing. I did make some changes.
As much as I appreciated the checklist, I did feel a bit overwhelmed because I used it at the end of my literature review. It probably would have been a better idea to look at it at the beginning to address some of the concerns prior to looking at the checklist.
Blog 6 -Chapter 12 Activity
1. My friends agreed that they both understood the importance of the topic. They both said that it was evident that I took my time to read the research on the topic and conduct in-depth reviews of all studies read.
One stated that my topic was not an argument and that just stating "Why parents select private schools versus public schools" does not present an argument. One stated that the argument itself is "Why parents select private schools versus public schools" and that it was fine since the flow of my lit review examined the reasons why parents select private schools versus public schools.
I am going to follow the advice of the 2nd friend because she is an educator and saw the implications and importance of the argument on schooling today.
2. What is the general argument being made?
Is the importance of the topic understood? How?
Is there sufficient background information?
Does the format of the lit review flow seamlessly or is it choppy in parts? If choppy, where? Do you have suggestions to assist with the flow?
Were the research studies mentioned important to the topic? If not, why not?
The general argument being made is that parents select private schools over public schools for different reasons, but mainly because of factors that they consider to be important to them.
The importance of the topic is understood because of the research that provides insight into reasons parents select private school education over public school education.
There is sufficient background information, detailing the purpose of education and how it has evolved.
The format of the lit review flows seamlessly. Headings and subheadings assist with the flow.
The research studies mentioned were important to the topic because they helped in the outlining of the argument.
One stated that my topic was not an argument and that just stating "Why parents select private schools versus public schools" does not present an argument. One stated that the argument itself is "Why parents select private schools versus public schools" and that it was fine since the flow of my lit review examined the reasons why parents select private schools versus public schools.
I am going to follow the advice of the 2nd friend because she is an educator and saw the implications and importance of the argument on schooling today.
2. What is the general argument being made?
Is the importance of the topic understood? How?
Is there sufficient background information?
Does the format of the lit review flow seamlessly or is it choppy in parts? If choppy, where? Do you have suggestions to assist with the flow?
Were the research studies mentioned important to the topic? If not, why not?
The general argument being made is that parents select private schools over public schools for different reasons, but mainly because of factors that they consider to be important to them.
The importance of the topic is understood because of the research that provides insight into reasons parents select private school education over public school education.
There is sufficient background information, detailing the purpose of education and how it has evolved.
The format of the lit review flows seamlessly. Headings and subheadings assist with the flow.
The research studies mentioned were important to the topic because they helped in the outlining of the argument.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Chapter 11, Activity 2
Chapter 11
Now consider the first draft of your own literature review. • Compare your first draft with the topic outline you prepared. Do they match? If not, where does your draft differ from the outline? Does this variation affect the path of the argument of your review? • Find two or three places in your review where your discussion jumps to the next major category of your topic outline. How will the reader know that you have changed to a new category (i.e., did you use subheadings or transitions to signal the switch)?
The first draft in comparison to the outline matches, however, there are subtopics that were not included in the outline that were revealed in the research that were added to the literature review. For example, in the section under the heading "who chooses private schools", the research discussed demographics of individuals who chose private schools such as race, culture, socio-economic, religious, etc. Under the heading, "reasons parents select private schools", the research discussed several reasons that can also be divided in to subheadings such as academic performance, safety, social status, reputation of the school, curriculum, culture. This variation will not affect the path of the argument of my review.
In my review, the discussion jumps from school types to perception of public schools. The reader will know that I have changed to a new category because, I included a subheading that delineates the new topic. Additionally, in my review, the discussion jumps from who chooses private schools to reasons parents select private schools. Again, a subheading identifying the topic change signals the switch.
Stacy Lambert-Johnson
Now consider the first draft of your own literature review. • Compare your first draft with the topic outline you prepared. Do they match? If not, where does your draft differ from the outline? Does this variation affect the path of the argument of your review? • Find two or three places in your review where your discussion jumps to the next major category of your topic outline. How will the reader know that you have changed to a new category (i.e., did you use subheadings or transitions to signal the switch)?
The first draft in comparison to the outline matches, however, there are subtopics that were not included in the outline that were revealed in the research that were added to the literature review. For example, in the section under the heading "who chooses private schools", the research discussed demographics of individuals who chose private schools such as race, culture, socio-economic, religious, etc. Under the heading, "reasons parents select private schools", the research discussed several reasons that can also be divided in to subheadings such as academic performance, safety, social status, reputation of the school, curriculum, culture. This variation will not affect the path of the argument of my review.
In my review, the discussion jumps from school types to perception of public schools. The reader will know that I have changed to a new category because, I included a subheading that delineates the new topic. Additionally, in my review, the discussion jumps from who chooses private schools to reasons parents select private schools. Again, a subheading identifying the topic change signals the switch.
Stacy Lambert-Johnson
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