Publish or Pear-ishPublish or Pear-ish

Moving through research Moving through research in the 21in the 21stst century century

Michael Davis—Millard WestMichael Davis—Millard West

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26351962@N05/3770703158/

My Agenda:My Agenda:

• A word of disclosure• Past images• New images• Process• Intended results• Discussion/Q&A

What we are trying to avoid:

Frazz by Jef Mallett—September 22, 2009 (Comics.com)

The image I used to use…and still do at times:

Photo from: http://www.iceberg.pl/

The image I’m trying to convert to:

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26351962@N05/3770703158/

…and here’s why:

Photo from: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/130/Fruits/Pomes/Pear_MC_.jpg

A pear is better for you!

They are alike

SMALL AT THE TOPSMALL AT THE TOP

FULL AT THE BOTTOMFULL AT THE BOTTOM

The differences

WATER AT THE TOPWATER AT THE TOP

WATER AT THE WATER AT THE BOTTOMBOTTOM

IT’S ALL JUST IT’S ALL JUST WATERWATER

INPUT FROM THE INPUT FROM THE TOPTOP

You have to go You have to go deep to get to the deep to get to the

“core”“core”

The process:The process:

• Start with a thesis• Choosing a format to follow• CARS• Notetaking/validation• Structure

Thesis

• It is a controlling idea– This is nothing new

• However…– It should be a controlling idea from the start

• “Fighting a good fight”– Like a topic sentence, all research should go back to the

thesis– Reassure them that through the process it can and should

change

Thesis

• Places to go:

– Empire State College

– Capital Community College, Hartford, CT

Choosing a format:• MLA—Modern Language Association

– They will gladly sell you their stuff

• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)– Has a few discrepancies, but is a format

• APA—American Psychology Association– Another widely used formatting system

• The bottom line is to choose on and stick with it

CARS—a system developed through the Millard Public Schools Speech Communication Teachers

• CREDIBILITY

• ACCURACY

• REASONABLENESS

• SUPPORT

CARS—a system developed through the Millard Public Schools Speech Communication Teachers

• CREDIBILITY—– evidence of authenticity and reliability

• Author’s Credentials• Evidence of Quality Control

– professional peer reviews, etc.

• Lacks when…– Anonymity– No indication of reviews– One-sided reviews (biased)– Red flags: like bad grammar, etc.

CARS—a system developed through the Millard Public Schools Speech Communication Teachers

• ACCURACY—– the information is actually correct

• Factual• Timely• Comprehensive• Lacks when…

– No dates, or “old” dates– Assertions are vague– Generalized language– One-sided information

CARS—a system developed through the Millard Public Schools Speech Communication Teachers

• REASONABLENESS—• Fairness• Objectivity• Moderateness• Consistency of information• World view perspective• Lacks with…

– Intemperate tone or language– Over-claims and hyperbole– Sweeping, generalized statements– Conflict of interest

CARS—a system developed through the Millard Public Schools Speech Communication Teachers

• SUPPORT—source and corroboration information• Corroboration—support from other sources• Triangulate findings

– Three is a “magic number”

• External consistency• Lacks with…

– Stats with no source– Absence of documentation– No corroborative source(s)

Here’s what I use:ALTERNATIVE SOURCE USE APPLICATION:Using the criteria below, completely justify your request to us an alternative source—be sure to address all points.CredibilityTrustworthy source, the quality of evidence and argument, author’s credentials, evidence of quality control, known or respected authority, organizational support. Goal: an authoritative source; a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.AccuracyUp-to-date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive, audience and purpose reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy. Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday); a source that gives the whole truth.ReasonablenessFair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of fallacies or slanted tone. Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably; a source concerned with the truth.SupportListed sources, contact information, available corroboration, claims supported, documentation supplied. Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made; a source you can triangulate (find at least two other sources that support it).

Mine

My way of putting things together:

• My adaptation to the note card system:

My way of putting things together:

• My adaptation to the note card system:

My way of putting things together:

Full document

A brief word on structure:

• I prefer a system of three:– One piece of evidence is chance– Two shows a coincidence– Three shows a pattern

– After all, a stool needs at least three legs to stand on its own

Paragraphs

• Concrete Detail : Commentary

• One Concrete Detail– A student’s statement of truth based on research

• Needs TWO Commentaries– Facts from actual source(s)

Full Document

ParagraphsBody Paragraph Format (11 sentences, 100+ words)

FORMAT:•Topic Sentence (TS)

•CD—could start with “For example…”•CM•CM

•CD—could start with “In addition…”•CM•CM

•CD—could start with “Furthermore…”•CM•CM

•Concluding Sentence

Back to our pear…

Photo from: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/130/Fruits/Pomes/Pear_MC_.jpg

A pear is better for us all!

The stem is the source of information

Research is a growing process

Growth can’t stop before the it is done

Products need to get to the core

Q & A