Overview: The Research Outline
For Week 14, we will begin to create the Research Outline which is based heavily on the Prospectus you have already created.
For Week 14, we will begin to create the Research Outline which is based heavily on the Prospectus you have already created. Last week, we introduced the notion of sub-claim arguments that support the MAIN ARGUMENT or thesis statement. The Research Outline you create this week and next week, will then be used to create the final part of the Research Project – the multimodal Research Presentation (due at the end of Week 16).
We will not be writing a FULL ESSAY for the Research Project; however, specific parts of the Research Outline will need to be written in essay format (as you will see in the Research Outline Guidelines and Sample downnload Research Outline Guidelines and Samplelinked under Readings and Resources). Instead, think of the Research Outline as a sort of script you will use for the Research Presentation and not a full research ‘essay.’ The Research Outline should be based on the research (sources) you already located as well as some of the writing (Introduction) you did for the Prospectus, so instead of writing a FULL ESSAY for this assignment, you are creating an outline to follow for your final Research Presentation. So, to restate: parts of the Research Outline must be fully written (Introduction and Background), while the Sub-Claim section will be a bulleted list of sources with quotes you will use in the Research Presentation later. You will also need to write a brief Conclusion that proposes a solution to a specific audience for the Final Draft due next week (more on this next week).
WE ONLY HAVE THREE MORE FULL WEEKS OF CLASS: WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
The remainder of the semester will be focused on completing the Research Project – which includes the Prospectus (that you have already completed), the Research Outline, and finally the multimodal Research Presentation. The Research Outline (20%) and Final Research Presentation (15%) are worth a combined 35% of your overall grade. Next week, we will complete the final draft of your Research Outline and examine the ‘multimodal’ Research Presentation – we will discuss the various ways you can create a compelling multimodal argument using visuals, text, and sound in a PowerPoint or Prezi or even an iMovie if you so choose. We will also examine what it takes to create a strong visual argument, as we look at a few examples of weak and strong presentations. Finally, for Finals Week (Monday May 9th through Thursday May 12th), you will be tasked with writing a Final Reflection. I will give you the choice to either write a 500 word essay OR to compose a video reflection (3 to 5 minutes) in which you discuss the design process for the Multimodal Presentation.
TO DO WEEK 14:
CREATING THE RESEARCH OUTLINE:
For Week 14, you will need to complete the first draft of you your Research Outline. This will include the ‘Refined Introduction (from your Prospectus), a new Background Section, and you will also choose at least TWO of the sources your found from the Prospectus to list and discuss in your Sub-Claim Section of the Research Outline. Next week, you will finish with a FINAL DRAFT OF the Research Outline with your Conclusion added worth 20% of your grade.
Be sure to refer to the the Research Outline Assignment Guidelines and Sample Download Research Outline Assignment Guidelines and Sample<link, which will guide you in writing all of the sections listed above. Also, preview to how to the How to Brainstorm Sub-Claims Download How to Brainstorm Sub-Claims<link, because this will show how to craft, and ultimately support, your research argument. While there is quite a bit of information to cover this week, it is all designed to help you develop, build, organize, and ultimately support your Research Presentation (the Research Presentation will be due at the end of Week 16). The first draft of the Research Outline will be due at the end of this week, but we will continue to build on your outline until next week with the Conclusion for the Final Draft. So, the only thing you will need to submit this week is the first draft of your Research Outline – so make sure to refer to the Research Outline Guidelines and Sample (see all links under Readings and Resources below).
BELOW IS JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH OUTLINE (MAKE SURE TO REFER TO THE DETAILED GUIDELINES FOR EACH SECTION IN THE GUIDELINES AND SAMPLE RESEARCH OUTLINE DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES AND SAMPLE RESEARCH OUTLINE<LINKED HERE AND UNDER READINGS AND RESOURCES).
The Refined Introduction – Take the Introduction from your Prospectus and revise it by citing a source and by creating a strong Thesis Statement. You will simply change your research question to a research thesis statement. So, find a source at the end of you Introduction, you will state your Main Argument (This research will argue….). You are arguing a side or taking a position in your argument, you are NOT just reporting information in the Research Project.
Background/Controversy Section – TWO SOURCES HERE – Use sources you have already found for the Prospectus and try to use those to create this section. You may need to locate some additional Research for this section (and I am okay with using website sources as long as you cite those – NO WIKIPEDIA – Try to locate .org, .edu. .gov., or other sites that are credible). I don’t want you to simply summarize sources here, but to use your research to help give the audience background about your argument.
Sub-Claim Section with a Bulleted List. This section is not fully written but has headings for each of your Sub-Claim Discussion Sections. Each Sub-Claim heading should include a bulleted list of sources (THAT YOU SHOULD ALREADY HAVE LOCATED FROM YOUR PROSPECTUS) with a brief paraphrase or quote that you will use in each section –You will also make notes about why these are good sources – i.e. – this source supports my sub-claim of _.
A Conclusion idea that Proposes a Solution – We will complete this in Week 15.
WEEK 14 COURSEWORK: DUE BY SUNDAY, APRIL 24 BEFORE 11:59PM:
READINGS AND RESOURCES:
Read: Week 14: Overview Above
Read: Research Outline Download Research OutlineGuidelines and Sample Research Outline Download Guidelines and Sample Research Outline<link
Read: Building Sub-Claims for the Research Outline (guidelines and examples)
Download Building Sub-Claims for the Research Outline (guidelines and examples)<link – This should help you as you begin to create your sub-claims for the Research Outline
Coursework Due:
Submit: Research Outline first draft<link to drop box here
NOTE: This first draft includes the ‘Refined’ Introduction, the Background Section, and Sub-Claims Section (the Conclusion will be due next week for the Final Draft of your Research Outline
Answer preview for Week 14, we will begin to create the Research Outline which is based heavily on the Prospectus you have already created.
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