Before ClassPlease submit your homework

Check quiz grades (please return these before the end of class)

Tentative Unit 1 ScheduleWeek 2

1/19- MLK Day-No Class1/21-Using library databases

(bring computer to class)1/23- Intro to Exploratory

Narrative & Source evaluations

Week 31/26-Research questions and

resultsMinor Essay 1 Due1/28-Class cancelled (teacher

workshop)1/30-Strategies for

introductions

Week 42/2-Reflective writing and

body paragraphs2/4- Synthesizing sources2/6-First Draft peer review

Week 52/9- Strategies for

conclusions2/11- Grammar & Editing 2/13-Peer review & unit 1

wrap up

2/15-Exploratory Narrative Due

Today’s Goals

Understand the importance of research questions

Differentiate between quantitative, qualitative, broad, and determinate research questions

Formulate several possible thesis questions for your exploratory narrative

“The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

—Albert Einstein“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”

―Voltaire“The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers,

he's one who asks the right questions.” ―Claude Levi-Strauss

“More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.” ―Primo Levi

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”—Albert Einstein

Thesis-Seeking ProseSee pg 9 of A&B if necessaryWriting organized around a Thesis Question

rather than a thesis statement or themeIn the middle of the prose continuum but

slightly more to the right (open form prose)Should always look at an issue from multiple

perspectivesFinding an answer or thesis statement is not

necessary

Research QuestionsFour factors to

consider:

Quantitative:Vs.Qualitative:

Broad: Vs.Determinate:

All of these can lead to valid research questions but change the manner of inquiry and the answers that will be found

Research QuestionsQuantitative: these questions look at

objective properties or look for answers with quantifiable data

Qualitative: these questions look at subjective qualities, often descriptive in nature, or look for complex answers

Research QuestionsBroad: examine issues from multiple

perspectives. They often look for complex answers that must take many things in to account

Determinate: can be answered in a single word, number or piece of data. Many questions phrased using “should” or “do” fall into this category.

Determinate Research QuestionsExistence Questions: (Does X exist in domain Y?)Measurement Questions (How

large/small/fast/much/many/bright is X?)Comparison Questions (Is X Greater/less than Y or different

from Y?)Correlation Questions (If X varies, does Y vary?)Experimental Questions (Does a variation in X cause a

variation in Y?)

Avoid questions like this for the exploratory narrative (although they will be well suited to other types of research)

See A&B p. 279

Broad Research QuestionsWhat/who are the factors/people that have

contributed to (X)?

What is the best solution to the problem (X)?

How did (X) happen/come about?

What are the effects of situation/problem (X)?

Who is most affected by (X)?

How can we prevent /improve/decrease (X)?

Group Activity 1: Identifying Research Questions In your unit 1 groups Read through the provided list of research questions For each sample research question:

identify it as quantitative or qualitative and broad or determinate, state whether it would be an acceptable question for an exploratory narrative (and

could be answered in such an essay) If necessary, identify any problems in the wording or statement of the question that

could be revised1. How does the violence in videogames affect the youth?2. Is the Miami Dade school system standard too low?3. What impact could technological advancements, such as cell phones and text

messaging, have on the English language?4. Does the media censor too much?5. What happens when parents who are living illegally in this country have children

whom were born in this country and therefore are U.S citizens? 6. Are U.S. airport security standards too invasive?7. Which method of recruiting is the best for both the employer and employment

seeker?8. Why do students fear mathematics?

Journal Entry 3Focus: Exploratory Narrative Question BrainstormAt this point in your research process, you should have

selected an arguable issue that you would like to work with for the exploratory narrative (you may still modify it later but select one to work with for now)What are the unresolved problems related to this topic?

Why is it difficult to find a solution to these problems? What elements of this topic are still unknown? How could

you (or researchers) learn more about these elements? What sort of research do you plan to look for regarding this

topic? (primary sources, secondary sources, peer reviewed, op-ed, historical reviews, objective, advocate, etc)

Group Activity 2: Research Question Brainstorm

In unit 1 groupsShare your research topics with the groupDiscuss what forms of research questions

may be appropriate for each person’s topicGenerate 2 possible broad research questions

that fit into each person’s topic and classify each as quantitative or qualitative,

HomeworkNo Class on Wednesday!Read A&B p. 278-280Think of a memorable movie, tv show, or book introduction, or a

memorable first impression someone made on you (we will discuss this in class on Friday)

Journal Entry 4: Source Evaluation 2 (Due Friday)Find the second source you will use for your exploratory narrativeRead and analyze the second source you will be using for your

Exploratory Narrative. Sum up the argument it makes in the journal entry as well as your reaction to reading the source. Then play the Believing and Doubting Game to find the strongest and weakest elements of the source. Finally, reflect on how the source has changed your understanding of the research topic.

Think of this as a short version of Minor Essay 1 or as a body paragraph for your exploratory narrative.