Annotations, Research log and Outline of the Master's Project
Here is a template for organizing your annotations for the master's paper (it is linked to the main syllabus on Mondays as well). The due dates for submitting your weekly annotations is always Mondays. The dates are listed on the master syllabus. By the end of the quarter you will have submitted at least 9 annotations.
You'll notice that this annotation log is different than the research log template. It is something that you complete after having read the actual article (i.e. not just the abstract). This log pokes you for more information that will (i) help you critique the actual article; and (ii) relate the article to your master's paper question. As we continue to work together in the research methods segment of the program you will be able to add guiding questions to the different parts of the template to help you consider the strength and relevance of the studies you review. Ultimately, you will need to critique 40 studies for the chapter 3, the integrative & critical review of the literature that informs your master's question.
Start practicing putting what you learn in your own words now (i.e. don't just quote the abstracts here). Remember, if you start critiquing and writing now about what you are learning, it will help you later organize and communicate the key analyses for your masters' paper.
You should still keep a research log to help you keep track of search engines (e.g. eric), search terms and types of articles so that you loose track of the paths you've been searching in. The log should help you keep from traveling in circles in the library. Consider finding a way to keep track of this search on a table of sorts. Print outs of abstracts, while definitely useful, don't necessarily help you to keep track of the patterns in your search strategies.
We will provide you a more detailed link to the scope of the master's paper, as well as a description and rubric for each chapter, early next week. A simple outline of this paper looks like this:
Chapter 1 |
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Chapter 2 |
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Chapter 3 |
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Chapter 4 |
Introduction & rationale behind question: A. Statement of the Research Question - Your paper will be built around a question that B. Rationale - Papers of the type you will be writing generally begin with a rationale or explanation about why the topic is important and worth researching. It provides a literature base, as opposed to a critique of the research, for exploring the question. The rationale foreshadows the larger research literature critique. In the rationale, you define your terms (not everyone defines "experiential" or "developmental", or "reluctant readers as you do), and state the limitations you are placing on your research.
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History: Educational research doesn't just happen. Compelling questions arise from particular social, cultural, economic and historical contexts. This chapter will explore the historical background for the question you have chosen.
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Integrative, Critical Review of the Literature: This section is the heart of your paper. Generally, integrative reviews of the literature critically review and summarize recent research related to a specific topic or question. Your goal in this chapter is to present the current state of knowledge concerning your question, including any important issues/controversies that the research has left unresolved. Essential to this chapter is the critical review and analysis of the research that you have found. |
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Conclusions: This final section is your opportunity to go back to your original question/topic. Relate some of what you found in the current literature to the historical background of the question that you described in Chapter II. Depending upon your question and the findings from the research literature, you may make recommendations for classroom practice, based on the critical review that you presented in the previous chapter. You may also make specific suggestions for research needed in the area. |