4.1 Annotated bibliography entry
In this thread, post a completed annotation for one of the sources you will be using in the exploratory annotated bibliography. Closely follow instructions for the exploratory annotated bibliography assignment, posted under Course Documents.
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4.2 From Topic to Research Question
Based on the reading from The Craft of Research complete the following activity.
First, complete the sentences below and post them on the discussion thread; be descriptive but brief. For some of you the sentences will not be very focused or targeted, and that is OK at this point. I want to see that you are trying to establish a research interest and narrowing down a topic, and I also want to see that you are able to define why it is that you are choosing this topic and who might be interested in it (at this point, the audience might be fuzzy, but it is important to keep in mind who will be taking in your ideas, suggestions, and recommendations).
I am writing in the topic of…
Because I want to find out…
In order to (understand, establish, assess, recommend)…
And the potential practical application is that…
Second, respond to at least two other classmate’s postings. You may
1) offer suggestions for specific audiences that might be interested (the goal is for the audience to be professional or academic, so a professional organization might work);
2) provide specific suggestions about some of the main arguments and counterarguments that might be relevant to the research interest; or
3) suggest possible ways to focus or narrow the scope of the research.
Write 3-5 sentences.
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Week 4 Library Module: Evaluating Sources
Write a 2-3 sentence response to the your friend’s Facebook comment (from the library module Evaluating Sources), either defending or rejecting the claim, using library resources (available at http://library.gmu.edu).
Post the role you chose, your response to their status, and brief citation(s) to the evidence you found to this online discussion forum.
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4.3 The Writing and Research Process
This week you will continue to gather sources on your topic. As you engage in the writing of annotations and the research, you will begin to make connections between different aspects of the process.
How have your keywords changed since the initial library research? Why did the keywords change?
How are you selecting the sources that will make it to your annotated bibliography? How do they fit in the proposal?
From the reading on the writing and research process, choose two strategies that you think might be useful to help you narrow your research question. Why would that particular strategy help you?
What is a less useful strategy at this stage? Why?
List some of the next steps you plan to take as you work on the annotated bibliography and the proposal. What problems remain? What has been solved?
Post comments on two other student’s posts. Expand, pushback, or make suggestions.
Week 04 Journal: Exploring Research Topics
Create Journal Entry
Journal Selecting a research topic can be challenging, especially if you feel that you don’t know enough about a topic to decide whether an area of study is of interest to you. The only requirement for your topic selection in this course is that it be related to your major in some way, so you really have a lot of freedom.
Use this journal entry to reflect on some topics related to your major that you feel you may want to explore in more depth for your final paper. How is this topic related to your major? What about it interests you? Do you think you’ll be able to generate an argumentative research question?
Please keep in mind that your journal entry must be written in full sentences and be a minimum of 250 words.
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