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| Salvador Dali's take on deadline anxiety |
And-What-Will-Happen-in-this-Final-Class Cliffhanger: Surveys, polls, and evaluations galore. An edifying visit with the Sentence Doctor, the Paragraph Transitions Doctor, and the Citation Doctor. Informal and ungraded state of the project speeches. Tidings of comfort and joy.
How-Do-I-Make-the-Acquaintance-of-These-Doctors Clarification: Send me your patients for diagnosis anytime before the final class. (You can email individual sentences/paragraphs or point me to a particular section of your documents.)
Hey-Wait-A-Minute-What-Is-the-Synopsis-Section Clarification: The synopsis section is a brief closing section of 3-6 sentences. I try not to use the word "conclusion" because you can hardly conclude things about a project that you haven't started yet. So what you are doing is re-capping what has been said in the proposal itself. This is your opportunity to get the last word in to convince the committee that this is going to be a great 490 project.
The Last Booth Reading (this semester): Chapters 14-16
The Last Research Log: The 9th and final research log is designated by the syllabus as a reflection on: "what you learned in this course, the progress you feel you’ve made in framing your topic as a concise research problem, the effort you’ve put into the class and the assignments, and/or the areas that need further work once you begin your actual project." Check out this website for a Jeannie-recommended explanation of what is meant by "reflection." Post in the comments here.
If You Missed Today's Class Exercise: On the final pages of your printed 390 course syllabus, or alternatively here you will find the rubric that the BIS program uses to assess/approve the proposals for continuation to 490. We took a classmate's proposal and evaluated it according to those 7 categories, rating more than satisfactory / satisfactory / less than satisfactory / unsatisfactory for each. Additionally... For 1, highlight elements of your partner's proposal that pertain to the interdisciplinary statement in blue. Or show where they might go if they are absent. For 2, highlight the problem statement, etc. in red. For 3, rephrase your partner's thesis into a brief they say / I say statement. (Your partner is "I.") For 4, rephrase your partner's methods and objectives into a brief statement ("Suzy will do XYZ..."). For 5, highlight two effective uses of supporting information in yellow and two ineffective/lacking uses of supporting information in yellow. Indicate somehow which is which; perhaps use plus/minus or smile/frown. For 6, highlight two effective paragraph transitions in green and two ineffective/lacking paragraph transitions in green. Indicate which is which. For 7, highlight the two best written sentences in pink and the two sentences most in need of rewriting in pink. Indicate which is which. You do not need to complete the "overall score" part. Let me know if you need me to pair you with a partner.
An Interesting Opportunity: The GMU Review publishes student research, and even makes prize money available.
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ReplyDeleteLog #9
ReplyDeleteI have learned and narrowed my understanding of research, my time management skills. I feel I have been able to successfully frame my project ideas through the process of this research process course. I understand in a better way what my original idea came from and where I wish to go with it. However, I feel that even in these writings and thought processes, there is a level of "I can't get all my words out of the understanding I feel".
Research log #9
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in my last log entry, I have been quite reflexive regarding my research project. My reflection has been focused on organizing the research in order to formulate good argumentation. I was stuck on some of the philosophical and definitional issues that researchers and academics in my field debate. A little over halfway through the class I found some research that goes beyond the basic debates and helps explain aspects of decision making within groups engaged in political violence. This was a critical discovery for me because it gave me some academic support for a direction that I was already heading. The only problem that I really had this semester was trying to keep projects and assignments from other classes from interfering with this project and vice versa.
Research Log 9
ReplyDeleteThis course has been very helpful in really understanding what a true research paper is. At the beginning of the semester I was a bit overwhelmed with the requirements and what was expected. Being that I didn't have a hard topic, I felt I was behind almost immediately. However, the structure of the class made everything manageable. I think I know have a good framework in which to begin my research paper in 490 and feel confident I can get it done.
Research Log #9: Kristin Ruiz
ReplyDeleteWhat I have learned? I learned that drinking the koolaid and following the syllabus helps you meet your goals! I learned that researching in the library can be very productive if you know how and how you are looking for. I enjoyed starting with a big idea and through the process of BIS 390 was able to focus in on a very specific and achievable topic. I feel I have learned allot about the research process and have set myself up for a successful BIS 490! Thanks @Professor Aaron Winter for all your insight and guidance!
Jamie, Log #9
ReplyDeletewhat you learned in this course:
I actually learned more about my disciplines than I thought I already knew. There is so much information out there, that I struggle with not being an "expert" in my interdisciplinary field (yet). It took retaking this class to understand and develop a coherent topic; although I was internally upset with myself for not having completed BIS390 the first time I enrolled, I am much happier with my current topic and feel I can produce something that I can be proud of; something that will positively represent the difficult journey that has been completing my bachelor's degree.
the progress you feel you’ve made in framing your topic as a concise research problem:
I'm still working on framing my guidebook. At this point, I recognize that the topics I want to cover in my guidebook are broad and may need to be scaled down and tightened up to be applicable to the interdisciplinary perspective.
the effort you’ve put into the class and the assignments:
Oh man, I definitely have worked my patooty off compared to my attempts in the last BIS390 course. Aside from still needing to work on my Lit Review, everything else in my proposal is done! Again, I feel like I have creating a coherent research topic and that alone is something to be happy about (compared to my last topic).
the areas that need further work once you begin your actual project:
I'm not sure as to what additional writing I will have to do beyond an evaluation of my results/conclusion. I feel the next major task is simply creating the guidebook, finding organizations and people to evaluate the book, creating a means of interpreting the evaluations and then summarizing the results.
Jamie, Log #8
ReplyDeleteNot sure if my Log #8 posted... not seeing it in other comment sections. Here's a summary of what I wrote and thought I submitted last time in case it's not too late. Log #8 was to be posted prior to our conference (over the phone while driving through the mountains). Basically, at that point, I was really struggling with my Lit Review. I felt confident enough with the rest of my paper and was seeking guidance from you (Aaron) and the writing center to make further progress on the Lit Review.
Thank you for the link to the meaning of reflection. It is true that reflection was how I was able to regroup when I felt overwhelmed. Many times as I worked on a section of the paper without taking the time to reflect on the readings or on where I was in the process the work that I did was a little disjointed. Taking time to look over my notes and prior writing really helped make the current work more meaningful and the time spent more productive. As I reflect at the end of the proposal project I learned alot from the process of putting together the components of the paper and am now a more critical writer and researcher than I was before. These skills will be very valuable as an educator. The process of writing with a voice that is to convince the reader of a new position on a subject which is much different that trying to support an already created position. As I reflect on the class itself I also always enjoyed the energy from the class discussions and your lectures. I found myself rereading some of the chapters that we discussed later that night (Yes, Thursday is tought) because after the discussion they seemed to be more relevent.It has been a great experience and although I will be skipping a semester to finish the project I will continue my research and other data collections to be prepared for a rigorous summer.
ReplyDeleteRobert R. Thomasson
ReplyDeleteResearch Blog #9:
Learning by trial and error this semester has proven to be my best learning technique. It is imperative to learn from your mistakes as a writer, because if not, your writing will never improve. Through trial and error techniques, I am less likely to commit another fallacy by learning from a previous mistake. Consequently, I’m more successful by practicing the writing lessons from the BIS program, which has improved my writing techniques due to the trial and error with writing.
This semester was a very interesting experience. I feel like spent the whole semester peeling layer after layer off my project to get at the core of it. I thought I finally had a manageable project and I wrote what I thought was a pretty solid literature review. Once I focused on the design of my research study I was thinking I was almost finished with writing the proposal.
ReplyDeleteThen I did the assigned reading in Booth, and for some reason I re-read the section that advised anticipating others’ arguments—in my field there are plenty of disagreements. Reviewing my paper I noted holes in my argument so I went back to work and ended up adding quite a bit to the literature review. Hopefully it’s not too much but now I’m out of time to let it sit here for a week so I can have the perspective of time.
As I worked on this I went back to papers I’ve written in other classes, and it felt very satisfying to be able to pull together some of the work I’ve been doing at GMU for years.
Stacy
ReplyDeleteResearch log #9:
What I learned:
I learned that "They say, I say" was right. Templates are a useful tool. Even though I don't think I ended up using any in my writing, just looking at them made me realize that I knew what to say and got me started of thinking how I should say it.
I also learned that some of the things I've learned in my business classes actually stuck. When I was reading an article on the value of Groupon advertising I realized that I understood something about the cost analysis better than the person writing the article. That suprised me.
The progress you feel you’ve made in framing your topic as a concise research problem:
I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because (if approved) I feel like my project is in a good place. I finally have a clear idea of where I want it to go and where I don't want it to go.
The effort you’ve put into the class and the assignments:
I feel like I put alot of effort into the Project Proposal as a whole. Although I really should have kept up with it and the readings more throughout the semester. I resolve to do better next semester.