Over the weekend, I asked you to start thinking about questions that you have related to writing, reading, research, or even learning.For this post, I'd like you to add all the questions you can think of. Don't worry about overlapping with anyone else's question or even having the same or similar question. And don't worry about whether the question is "right." There is no "right" question. They just need to be questions that you don't already know the answer to, or else there'd be no reason to ask them:). You might have a suspicion about some answers, but if you go into your research thinking you already know what you'll learn, you won't be open to discovery and learning. Once you've settled on the question you want to pursue, I'll be asking you to identify key constructs/conceptions about writing, reading, research or learning that are key to thinking about that question. Then, we'll be ready for Project 1 and your individualized research.
I've been called for potential jury duty on Monday, so I will be checking in as I can throughout the day. I might actually have more time than usual since I'll be confined to that small room for long periods waiting to see if they pick me:). But, if you try to contact me and don't hear back until later in the day, that's probably why. Please try to post your potential research questions as soon as you can, but for sure, by Monday at noon, and star or otherwise mark the one(s) you're most interested in.
To provide a spark, here are some questions past students have pursued, as well as some that I would like to pursue for my own research. Of course, you don't need to choose one of these; they're just here to help you see the kinds of questions that some people have asked before.
-What is the role of grammar in writing instruction?
-What can be done to help high school students better understand the demands of college writing?
-How could rhetorical reading help engineering students?
-How does someone get started on a new writing project?
-How much does a student's attitude towards writing affect their ability to finish a writing project?
-Why do so many students have trouble with plagiarism?
-What is a good strategy for reading a teacher's writing assignment?
These, of course, are all school-related, but your question doesn't have to be about school-related writing, reading research, etc. Let yourself think widely here. The worst that could happen is for me to say your question might not be workable in such a short summer session. Our job is to help you figure out how to do what you want to do if it's at all possible in 3-4 weeks:).
How can beginning first year college students get a good feel of what college writing is all about?
ReplyDelete*How can I become a better writer?
what is the best way to do research?
What is the difference between high school writing teachers and college writing professors?
Anna, these are some interesting question to start with. The second, the one you indicated you had the most interest in, is the most general, but knowing a little more about why you've come to this question might help us help you revise it so it's doable. What challenges do you think you face as a writer? What do you think you lack that you'd like to get better at?
ReplyDeleteOn a research paper, do I need to have an argument in order for it to be a good paper?
ReplyDeleteOn a research paper, if an argument is created, how many points do we have to have in order to support the argument?
-What can be done to help students be better at their spelling and grammatical skills?
ReplyDelete-When writing a research paper, how can I keep myself from quoting or paraphrasing so much?
-When writing I always feel as if the hardest part (and what I am most weak at) is developing my introduction, how can i develop a stronger start?
Why didn't teachers teach us to learn to read rhetorically instead of us only reading a book or article as a story?
ReplyDeleteHow is writing and reading rhetorically going to be useful in my life?
How do you prevent plagiarizing work?
How do you begin a research paper?
ReplyDeleteWhy do students have trouble with plagiarism?
What is the # 1 problem (in your mind) students have when writing a research paper?
I have a problem of writing as if I was talking. What are some helpful hints I can learn to stop from doing that?
Is research using physical books or research done online, through a database more effective?
ReplyDeleteHow do I research more efficiently?
How could technical writing benefit English majors?
What is the easiest way to start research?
How can I become a better writer/reader?
ReplyDeleteIs there anything I should avoid when writing a research paper?
Does becoming a good reader/writer only come with experience?
Is there a "right" way to read/write?
Will practicing "rhetorical" reading, really make me a better reader? If so how?
How is it possible to begin to write like how Murray explained being personal writing, but discrete?
ReplyDeleteWhen researching how can you pick between certain information you receive?
How can rhetorically reading and writing help in my life?
In a research paper does it matter how many times you quote or paraphrase somebody you research?
How can one integrate personal thoughts in an analytical essay?
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to write an argumentative essay that no one else has thought of?
Is a student's background in English a big influence in how they write?
How can a student a student become better at writing essays?
How can I make a research paper easier to write?
ReplyDeleteDo sophisticated words make a research more interesting?
How do I write a research paper?
Can you start a sentence with a number?
What is the best way to convey my idea to the audience?
ReplyDeleteWhere is the best source to get my research from?
How do I write in a way that will capture my audience's attention?
How can I better my writing/research abilities?
Wow! You've come up with some really interesting questions as a starting place. A number of them are directly related to things you want to learn for yourself, which is good because it means you're seeing this as an opportunity to ask something which matters to you. And I imagine that, even though the questions look like they're specific to you, they're likely questions which would be helpful for an even larger audience. I'm going to ask you to move to Google Docs with your specific questions tomorrow, so hopefully reading through others' questions will help you think through what you want to ask and how.
ReplyDeleteHow can a student get excited about writing?
ReplyDeleteWhat are some factors to keep in mind when writing, particularly anything of a controversial nature?
Is it discouraged to write poetically(or any other such manner that is uncommon) in serious articles as a way of maintaining the author's 'personal voice'?
*-How can I avoid plagiarism? Is there a list of things to follow to avoid plagiarism?
ReplyDelete-Why was reading/writing rhetorically never mentioned during high school or previous years?
*+1-How can a reader avoid mind wondering when reading a book?
-When using two contrasting sources, how do I make sure I'm making a connection?
ReplyDelete-How does someone write something engaging with a subject thats not interesting for all?
How do I know if my writing is "good?"
ReplyDeleteHow much of "good writing" is grammar and how much is content matter?
What is the best way to research?
How can you better your research skills?
-How can you stay creative but still be serious?