Irwin Weiser

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Course Information and Policies: English 625

Spring 2003

 

Course Description

 

During this course, we will be reading about a variety of empirical methods commonly used in writing research and reading examples of studies employing these methods.  In addition, you will have the opportunity to practice empirical research through a group project conducted by the class and through the writing of a research proposal for an empirical study (perhaps for some of you, a study you may wish to pursue for your dissertation).  I don't assume that you are necessarily familiar with empirical methodology or statistics; in fact, I assume the opposite, though I know that your expertise in these areas may vary.  I don't expect that you can learn everything you need to know to conduct empirical research this semester.  Instead, my goal is for you to become familiar with the methods, discourse and discourse conventions, and issues surrounding empirical studies.

 

Texts

 

Johanek, Cindy. Composing Research: A Contextualist Paradigm for Rhetoric and Composition. Utah State UP, 2000.

Kirsch, Gesa and Patricia A. Sullivan, eds.  Methods and Methodology in Composition Research. Southern Illinois UP, 1992.

Lauer, Janice M., and J. William Asher.  Composition Research: Empirical Designs. Oxford UP, 1988.

Course Pack for English 625.  Available at CopyMat.

 

 

The Work

 

For nearly every class, you will have reading assignments from the texts and the coursepack.  There will be a take-home final exam based primarily on these readings, patterned after and designed to help you prepare for the rhetoric prelim.  This exam, which I’ll give you on May 1 and you’ll have a week to write, will count 20% of your course grade.

 

Each of you will be responsible for preparing a two-to-three page written analysis of and for leading the discussion of one study or other reading from the coursepack.  This analysis/study discussion will count 10% of your course grade.

 

All of you will work together on a group research project on a topic I'll present to you during the first class. The project will involve developing research questions, determining appropriate research methods, gathering data, developing a coding scheme for the data you'll gather, and analyzing and reporting on your findings. This project will count 20% of your course grade.

 

In preparation for your final project, each of you will prepare and present a poster outlining your project. We will hold a public poster session on April 3, to which other graduate students and faculty will be invited. Your poster will count 20% of your course grade.

 

The final project is a research proposal for an empirical study. You will identify a research problem, conduct a review of relevant literature, and map out a plan of research, including methods for gathering and analyzing data.  If you are considering doing an empirical project for your dissertation, this might prove to be a first draft of your dissertation proposal. This project will count 30% of your course grade.

 

Due Dates

 

Your reading analysis is due at the beginning of class on the day you are scheduled to lead the discussion.

 

Your poster must be completed by the beginning of class on April 3.

 

We will complete the group project byApril 22.

 

Your research proposal is due on May 1.

 

The final is due at 4:00 on May 8, in my office.