Course Information
Description
This course is a continuation of English 1. Students use advanced research skills to write essays that are informative and persuasive in nature and based on topics from the social sciences and humanities. Students conduct research using secondary library resources but also focus on using qualitative methods to conduct primary research, including observation and interviews. MLA format and one other format (APA or Chicago) will be taught. Students will prepare 25-35 pages of polished writing.
Total Credits
3
Prior Learning Assessment
- Exam-National (CLEP)
Course Competencies
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Conduct secondary research from written materials, including scholarly sourcesAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaSecondary sources are located using library and internet databases that are relevant for scope of researchApply distinction between scholarly and non-scholarly sources to researchResources are documented through supporting materials such as notes, summaries, and annotated bibliographies
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Conduct primary researchAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaUse research methods such as surveys, interviews, and observationsAdhere to ethical standards when adopting primary research methodsPrimary research is documented
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Evaluate research methods, data, and source materialAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaIdentify the research methods used in a given source, such as interviews, experiments, textual analysis, or case studiesDescribe the types of data presented in a research source, including quantitative and qualitative data, and how the data supports the research claimsDetermine effective research methods for different types of research questionsAnalyze the credibility of a source based on its author, publication, and intended audienceRelate research design, such as sample size, data collection methods, reproducibility, and ethical considerations, to validity of findings
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Apply ethical primary and secondary research practicesAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaExplain key ethical concepts related to research, such as plagiarism, informed consent, rights and welfare of human participants, and data privacy, in academic and professional research contextsRecognize potential ethical issues in published research, such as bias, misrepresentation, conflicts of interest, data falsification, lack of consent, and lack of transparencyDemonstrate consistent citation and attribution methods for sourcesUse an academic style guidePractice fair and accurate representation of data and findings, avoiding manipulation, fabrication, or selective reportingAssess responsibility for maintaining ethical standards in individual and collaborative research
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Craft effective research questionsAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaResearch questions are open-ended, curious, and researchableResearch questions clarify the scope of inquiryResearch questions are contextualized within a discipline or topic
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Apply a process approach to research and data analysisAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaOutline a basic research process, including defining research questions, identifying sources, collecting data, analyzing findings, and drawing evidence-based conclusionsResearch plan includes timelines and methods for locating, storing, and organizing data (e.g., simple spreadsheets or structured note-taking)Collected data is organized using systematic categorization methodsUse introductory analytical strategies to interpret and synthesize collected qualitative data, such as basic coding or categorizingRevise your research process by reworking research questions, data collection methods, or analytical approaches based on initial results
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Apply a process-oriented approach to writingAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaPrioritize the writing process over the finished productInterpret the assignment instructions for each writing taskUse flexible strategies for generating ideas, composing multiple drafts, peer-reviewing, revising with feedback, editing, and proofreadingDemonstrate prewriting strategies, such as brainstorming, clustering, or freewritingDemonstrate drafting strategies, such as outlining, writing in chunks, and multiple draftsDemonstrate revising strategies such as adding, deleting, and moving contentDeliver peer feedback while upholding the principles of privacy, academic integrity, and accountabilityDemonstrate editing and proofreading strategies, such as improving sentences and checking for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errorsReflect on the development and effectiveness of your composing processes, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for improvement
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Write a long-format research-driven argumentAssessment StrategiesAcademic Essay
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Apply active and critical reading strategies to a variety of scholarly textsAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaFind, summarize, or visualize the ideas in a text for comprehensionIdentify a text’s audience and rhetorical context to improve comprehensionRecognize the role of genre, including language and toneAsk critical questions about what a text is expressing, why the author wrote it, the meaning of specific words or phrases, or the implications of the contentEvaluate the evidence, compare the text with other viewpoints, recognize rhetorical devices, draw inferences
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Document source material in APA styleAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaIn-text citations follow the author-date formatIn-text citations are aligned to the reference listPage numbers are included for quotesIn-text citations follow the “And” rule with “and" in the narrative and an ampersand inside the parenthesesReference list entries follow APA style for their specific source type (journal, book, web)Reference list format uses hanging indents and alphabetical orderReference list uses sentence-case for titlesURL’s are functional and formatted according to APA style
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Share research, course content, or creative activity in writing and at least one other mode of academic communication relevant to the disciplineAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaIdentify modes of academic communication relevant to the discipline other than writingAlternate mode chosen aligns with a specific audienceAlternative mode tone and style align with a specific audienceInformation follows an organizational pattern specific to the alternative mode
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Examine strategies to ethically and critically use AI in research practicesAssessment StrategiesWritten, Oral, Graphic, and/or Self-AssessmentCriteriaRespond to use cases for AI tools in different research contextsDescribe the biases, limitations, and ethical concerns of AI-generated content and dataExamine factors like training data, transparency, and potential misrepresentations of informationExamine the broader ethical implications of using AI in research, including issues such as data privacy, intellectual property rights, accountability, and the potential for misuse or harmDevelop a framework for transparently integrating AI into your research workflow in a basic or introductory capacity, including proper attribution practices, guidelines for accountability, and responsible innovation
This Outline is under development.