Writing & Research Methodology
English 8125 CRN 17939
Syllabus
This graduate seminar will introduce you to a variety of research methods and methodologies adopted in Rhetoric and Composition research. Designed as a survey course, 8125 will provide you with a general sense of the field that should be helpful as you select your own research path or prepare to write your thesis/dissertation and publish.
Texts
- Strategies for Empirical Research in Writing, by Mary Sue MacNealy, ISBN: 0-205-27253-3
- Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches , by John W. Creswell, ISBN: 0-7619-2442-6
- Becoming a Writing Researcher, by Ann M. Blakeslee & Cathy Fleischer, ISBN:0-8058-3997-6
- A Research Primer for Technical Communication: Methods, Exemplars, and Analyses, by Michael A. Hughes & George F. Hayhoe, ISBN: 0805863354
- Composing Research1, by Cindy Johanek, ISBN: 0874212928
- Methods and Methodology in Composition Research , Gesa Kirsch & Patricia A. Sullivan (Editors), ISBN: 0809317273
- ERes: Several reading will be available through ERes. You will need a copy of Adobe Reader to read the ERes readings, which you can download for free from: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Course Policies
Attendance & Participation
Due to the discussion-based nature of this course your attendance is expected. If you have a good reason for missing class (I determine what a good reason is), we need to make arrangements ahead of time. Missing three classes may be grounds for dismissal from the course. For a graduate course, “attendance” means more than showing up to class. It means coming to class with the readings done and participating in class discussions and activities, both electronic and physical. It also means bringing homework and examples when they are due. As a courtesy to me and other class members, please turn off pagers, text messaging devices, and cell phones during class.
Accommodations
Students who require special arrangements because of a disability should contact me with an accommodations form within the first two weeks of class (preferably) or as soon as possible to determine the necessary accommodations.
Academic Honesty & Copyright
The policy on Academic Honesty can be found in the Georgia State University Catalog. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the policies in both the Catalog and the Student Handbook and to abide by them. As a general rule, all work for this course must be original, created during this semester, and created expressly for this course by you. Any sources you consult or utilize must be properly attributed including the use of copyrighted images. Make sure you follow copyright policies with the use of copyrighted materials. Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of this course.
Questions & Availability
I am happy to answer your questions and discuss class related issues during free time in class, during my office hours, by appointment in my office, over Internet chats, or via email. If the office hours conflict with your own schedule, please email me to arrange an appointment.
Grading
Work will be due in various forms such as email, web, and paper. Work that is not submitted in the correct form will receive deductions. I will be happy to look over draft assignments and provide comments as long as I am given enough time. All assignments are due on the day indicated; assignments 1 day late will receive a lowered grade, after 2 days I will no longer accept the late assignments. If you think you might have a problem meeting a deadline, speak with me at least 48 hours in advance of the deadline.
Grades
A |
This assignment is superior and is of a near professional quality. The paper meets or exceeds all the objectives of the assignment. The content is sophisticated, thorough, and well-suited for the audience; the style is clear, accurate, and appropriate; the information and design is well-organized, understandable, usable, and formatted to be accessible and attractive; the mechanics and grammar are correct. The paper has publication potential. |
B |
This assignment is competent, but requires improvement in style, organization, design; or it contains easily correctable errors in grammar, format, or content; or the content is superficial. |
C |
This assignment is unsatisfactory for a graduate course. It may meet some of the objectives of the assignment but ignores others. The paper needs significant improvement in concept, details, development, organization, grammar, or format. It may be formally correct but superficial in content. |
Grades will range in each letter from a plus to a minus. The Plus/Minus Grading system will be employed in this class. F’s may be given if work is unacceptable. Zeros will be given for assignments not turned in.
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