Research Unit

Unit Description

This assignment will prepare you to do research at the college

level. What is college level research, you ask? Previously, you may
have done research by gathering information on a topic from a
variety of sources. This is the “report” style of research. You will
learn how to do research that does much more than simply
report. Here, you will learn how to do original research—
research that focuses on a specific question or problem that
you (and your eventual readers) find interesting and
significant.

Here’s one example of the difference between report research

and original research. A student doing report research would
gather a bunch of information on the riots in Ferguson,
Missouri—then type it up. In contrast, your original research will
ask a specific question like, “How did local police practices in Ferguson contribute to tension in the
community?” Your sources will still help you gather information related to that question. However, your
research will do more than just repeat or compile that information. Instead, you will interpret or
digest the information, connecting and analyzing the info in your own original way. In this way,
your research will offer not more than just information; it will also offer a unique perspective—one that
readers cannot get from anyone else but you!

Learning Objectives
By the end of “Writing and Research,” students should be able to...
1. Understand and practice writing as a multistage process
a. Use writing for inquiry, learning, thinking, and communicating
b. Develop strategies for inventing, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading
c. Read actively to identify and develop ideas, using strategies like annotating and reflective
note-taking
2. Produce texts that present ideas effectively
a. Focus on a controlling idea or question
b. Support ideas with reasoning and evidence
c. Summarize others’ ideas clearly, accurately, and thoroughly
d. Integrate their own ideas with the ideas of others
e. Synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources
f. Organize material to support and clarify ideas
3. Identify and practice research methods
a. Develop and refine a research topic and question
b. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources
c. Identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments in sources
d. Document where information and ideas come from using an established system such as
MLA style

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 Grades

Project Description Points

Attendance & We have forty class sessions. Earn points for each session that you… 200
Participation • attend in its entirety,
• complete Activity Sheets (5 points per class
• and fully participate in, putting effort into each and every class X 40 class sessions)
activity.
If you are unprepared or not participating, or if you arrive late
or leave early, you will not earn points that day. If your absence
is marked green in the portal, we will not deduct points for that
day, as long as you maintain your Activity Sheets

Paper The 10 assignments include: 350

Components (4) Summaries of sources using stop and jot sheets (35 points per entry
(1) Introduction X 10 entries)
(1) Outline
(1) Body Paragraph Assignment #1
(1) Counter-Claim
(1) Draft
(1) Peer Edit

Speech Complete 3-5 annotations for speeches in the Yellow Booklet. If you 180
Annotations do more than 3, you can get extra credit.

Research Articulate your tentative research question, its significance, and your 80
Proposal work plan. We will have a one-on-one conference to discuss your
proposal.

Journal A collection of reflections based on either reading additional material 100

Reflections related to your topic, a reflection based on a benchmark assignment,
personal growth, or a hardship faced during the marking period.
These need to be one-page in length.

Annotated Research something you’re interested in. Bring together five different 120
Bibliography perspectives on that topic from five other researchers. Discuss how
these five perspectives relate to one another.

Research Paper Write a research paper that makes a debatable claim, supports it with 300
reasoning and evidence, and engages with the claims of other
thinkers. Within your argument, engage with (summarize and
synthesize) AT LEAST four sources that tackle the same specific
topic or question, but which offer differing perspectives.

Research Binder Maintain your binder. We will announce binder checks in order to 150
keep grading your work on-time. We will also award points at the
end of the paper to completed binders-organized an in order.

Research Talk Present your first research project to the class in the simple but 75-100

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 provocative style of a TED Talk. This is extra credit an option. This
will help you in case you need extra points during the marking period

Total points 1,555

available

Final Grade Points

A 1,330+
B 1,230+
C 1,130+
D 920+
F 900 or below

Calendar: Note that this is a “preview” of our schedule for this unit, and it may change (due to special
activities or inclement weather). Our class website is the authoritative source for our schedule, and
especially our class-by-class schedule. You must pay attention to website and, on occasion, post
assignment there.

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 Weekly Breakdown
Week Assignments this week Major Assignments Journal Assignment – due
Week
of
Topics
(in addition to journals) Fridays

1 Feb 1 What is the -Happy Survey -Journal You can choose to do a reflection
purpose of -Annotate +Understand -Semester Reflection this week on any fears, questions,
research? Syllabus concerns you have about writing a
-Contract for research Unit -Binder with Table of lengthy research paper. You might
Contents also want to start thinking about
some of the topics we talked
about in class and expand on one
of our class discussions.

2 Feb. Identifying a -Watching Happy Journal Reflection: What did you

8 Problem -Completing a writing prompt think about the documentary? Did
on Central Idea/Claim it get you to think about a topic
for your paper? What was the
most riveting scene/part of the
film and why?

3 Feb Break Week Break Week Break Week Journal Reflection

15 What are some ideas you have for
your paper? Make some personal
connections to one or more of the
topics.

4 Feb Introduction to Understanding rhetorical Write and submit Journal: Are you happy with your
22 Rhetorical strategies prospectus/letter topic? What are some issues you
Strategies; Ethos, Research topic and read 3-4 proposal are concerned about? How do you
Pathos, Logos sources for your project Prospectus Due by think you would apply ethos,
Friday pathos, logos?
Or
Free write on something of
interest to you.

5 Feb How to create a Reading and evaluating Summarize all (3-4) Journal: What is the hardest part
29 good summary?. sources sources finding research for your topic—
Gather all of your research! Annotated or write a reflection on anything
Bibliography that you want to this week.
Task 3 Regents related
to your sources

6 Marc How to write a Creating the introduction Annotated Journal: What struggles are you
h 7 thesis/claim and and outline Bibliography due on having? What is the most
outline the entire www.turnitin.com by interesting thing you have learned
project. 10 pm on Monday, so far about your topic?
March 7th Or Reflect on something you
would like to this week.
Introduction and
Outline due on
March 11th

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7 Marc Making Claims. Writing the counter-claims Draft is due on Journal- Your choice
h 14 Responding to Developing the body March 18th via Reflect on the work you have
counter-claims paragraphs turnitin.com done so far.

8 Marc Break Week Journal: Free write on whatever

h 21 you would like about school—
life—college---just make sure it is
school appropriate.

9 Marc . Peer Edit Final Paper Due Via Journal: How is the marking
h 28 Turnitin.com on period going? What are some
April 2nd skills you are taking away from
this class this quarter? Do you feel
like you have gained confidence as
a writer and a researcher?

10 April Task 1 Prepare and deliver Journal- What would you change
4 Task 3 extra credit TED talk about the quarter? What would
you tell another student about this
project? What are some changes
you would make to this project—
shorter is not an answer 

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Contract for Research Unit

To participate in this research unit, I agree to…

(write your initials beside each item if you agree)

Attend class regularly—not missing more than a week’s worth of classes (in other words, no
more than 1 class).

Arrive to class on time. I understand that arriving late is disruptive and that…
-Arriving up to 5 minutes late will cost me 4 course points--half of the Attendance &
Participation (A&P) points for that class session.
-I cannot enter class more than five minutes after class has started, and I will lose all A&P
points for that session.

Complete and submit writing tasks when they are due. I understand that late work will be
penalized by 10 percent per day, and that no late work will be accepted more than a week after
the due date. I also know all major assignments will be handed in to www.turnitin.com

Complete all journal entries on time and bring a copy of each journal entry to class on
the day that entry is due. I understand that I cannot earn points for attending class if I do
not have my journal entry completed and with me in class.

Be prepared for each and every class session. This means completing, and bringing with
me to class, all materials (journal entries, readings, drafts, etc.) that were involved in preparing
for that class session.

Bring to class any and all readings completed for that particular class session.

Participate in all in-class exercises and activities. I understand that if I do not participate
in class activities, I will lose my attendance and participation points for that day.

Submit only my own original work and never plagiarize. I understand that plagiarism
includes submitting others’ work as my own. I understand that plagiarism also includes
borrowing information or ideas from others and failing to give credit--to acknowledge that
they are borrowed, and whom they are borrowed from. I understand that plagiarism is a
serious academic offense and that, if I plagiarize, I will fail the assignment and be reported to
college administration.

Refrain from using electronic devices including phones, tablets, and computers, except
when instructed, or after seeking permission to use these for class purposes only. If I must use
my device, I agree to leave the classroom to do so: “take the call in the hall.”

On the lines below, please print your name, then sign and date. You will submit this signed contract to the
instructor, but do make a copy for your records.

________________________________ (Print) _____________________________________ (Signature)

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