Winter 2005 | Eastern Michigan University | Steven D. Krause
Course Materials: Course Description (PDF) Problem Statement Assignment (PDF) On-going Blog Writing Assignment (PDF) Review of a Key Journal Assignment (PDF) Annotated Bibliography Assignment (PDF) Thesis or Project Proposal Assignment (PDF) Course Links: Student Blogs: Tamiko
Crowe-Walker Matthew
Fielder Other Useful Links: "The Dissertation Calculator" (kind of an interesting resource for figuring out a work schedule) The Landmark Project Citation Machine EMU Department of English Language and Literature
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This course has two related goals. First, the course is an introduction to some of the theoretical and practical approaches to research taken by scholars in composition and rhetoric. Second, the course is designed to help prepare students to write a project proposal which will in turn help them as they begin work on their MA thesis or writing project.
Class Calendar/Schedule of Events (through the end, as of February 21)
This is the schedule of the class for the rest of the semester.
January 11: First day of class!
Go over syllabus and course requirements. Introductory discussion of the MA writing project process and the "problems" of research. Introduce the problem statement essay assignment.
January 18: Blogs and the library
Meet in Room 111 of the Bruce T. Halle Library (call them up about this-- I need to double-check this info). Introduce blogger and the on-going research diary assignment. Discuss preface, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 of MacNealy's Strategies for Empirical Research in Writing. Introduce the key research journal review assignment and the annotated bibliography assignment.
January 25: MA Written Communication Graduate Student celebration
Meet in the library (again!) for the MA Graduate Student celebration. The event begins at 6 pm, so ideally, you'll be able to arrive a bit earlier than our usual start of class. Room TBA. Discuss Chapters 1 and 2 of Blakeslee/Fleisher manuscript,"Me, a Writing Researcher?" and "What's Your Question?" (available via e-reserves).
February 1: Peer review of problem statement assignment
Come to class with several copies of a draft of your essay to share with colleagues. Discuss Chapter 3 of Blakeslee/Fleisher manuscript, "How Do I Find Answers?" pages 1-15. Introduce the "first draft" of the project or thesis proposal assignment.
February 8: Overview of Emperical Methods/Quantitative Research
Discuss Chapters 3 and 4 in MacNealy and Richard Braddock's "The Frequency and Placement of Topic Sentences in Expository Prose," available via eReserves.
February 15: Experimental Research (and Meta-Analysis, too...)
Problem statement due. Discuss Chapters 5 and 6 in MacNealy and Wallace and Hayes' "Redefining Revision for Freshmen," available via eReserves; and Krause's "'How Will This Improve Student Writing?' Reflections on an Exploratory Study of Online and Off-Line Texts," via Computer Mediate Communication.
February 22: Discourse or Textual Analysis
Discuss Chapter 7 in MacNealy and Robert Connors and Andrea Lunsford, "Frequency of Formal Errors in Current College Writing, or Ma and Pa Kettle Do Research," available via eReserves.
March 1: No Class-- Winter Break
Go do something fun, but do your homework too...
March 8: Planning a Qualititative Research Project, Part 1
Key research journal review assignment due. Discuss Chapters 3 and 4 of Blakeslee/Fleisher manuscript and readings TBA.
March 15: Surveys
Tentative special guest: Michael Brabec to talk about Human Subject Review. Discuss Chapter 8 in MacNealy and Chapter 5 (page 19 to the end) of Blakeslee/Fleisher manuscript and readings TBA.
March 22: Focus Groups and Case Studies
Annotated Bibliographies Due! Discuss Chapters 9 and 10 in MacNealy and readings TBA
March 29: Ethnography, Teacher-Based Research, and Qualititative Research, Part Two
Discuss Chapters 11 and 12 in MacNealy and Chapter 5 (1 to 19) of the Blakeslee/Fleisher manuscript. Reading TBA.
April 5: Peer Review of Project Proposals, Part One; A bit about the final
Bring five copies of the rough draft of your project proposal with you to class. Everyone will have a chance to briefly discuss their projects, though we'll read and comment on the projects on our own before next week's class. We'll also briefly discuss the format and goals of the take home final.
April 12: Peer Review of Project Proposals, Part Two
Come to class with your comments on your colleague's project proposal drafts. We'll discuss each one in workshop format. If necessary, we'll continue to discuss the final.
April 19: Last day of class!
Project proposals are due! Individual presentations and discussion about project proposals. Take home final assigned and due next week.
April 26: The Take Home Final Due!
You will turn in your take home final to me, either in person (at a yet to be determined location) or electronically. I will also pass back my comments on project proposals.