ENC Lecture 2/24

Main Overview of the Lecture

  • Goal: Help students develop coding categories and codes for their projects.

  • Emphasis on using office hours for personalized assistance.

  • Encourage students to think about applications of discussed concepts to their strategies.

Coding Categories and Plans

  • Students are expected to leave with multiple coding categories and codes.

  • Coding plan example consists of:

    • A category (e.g., claims)

    • A description of that category

    • Potential breakdowns of categories (e.g., claims, reasons, evidence).

Assignments and Deadlines

  • Reminder of upcoming assignments:

    • First full draft due on Tuesday.

    • Feedback will be provided on sampling and coding plans, but limitations may not be reviewed until later.

  • Major assignment rewrite due by the 29th, allowing students ample time to revise.

    • It is advised to utilize office hours for improved insights on rewrites.

  • Students are encouraged to write a revision memo explaining changes made.

Importance of Research Questions and Sub-questions

  • Sub-questions should help identify coding categories.

  • Students may reverse the process by creating coding categories before formulating sub-questions.

Primary Research Strategies

  • Two types of primary research:

    • Qualitative: Ideas, words, concepts, themes.

    • Quantitative: Numerical data.

  • The focus will be on qualitative research that is converted into quantitative through coding.

Coding and Analysis Plans

  • Qualitative Research:

    • Close reading and annotation.

    • Identify themes and categorize once patterns are observed.

    • Example: Analyzing language within different cultural contexts (e.g., K-pop fandom).

  • Quantitative Research:

    • Establish coding categories.

    • Record and visualize findings to indicate trends.

    • Example: Coding the frequency of phrases or concepts.

Framework Analysis

  • Begin by applying framework analysis:

    • Start with pre-established codes (grounded theory) and refine based on data collected.

    • Iterate back and forth between expectations (what you expect to find) and discoveries (what you actually find).

Data Gathering

  • Example scenario of a student studying YouTube videos:

    • Gather various texts/videos and note recurring themes or ideas (e.g., rhetorical strategies).

  • Coding needs to be both broad and narrow, separating broader categories (e.g., insults) into more specific ones (e.g., gender-based insults).

The Role of Numbers in Rhetoric

  • Understanding numbers is emphasized due to their rhetorical power.

    • Example: Using statistical data to support statements (e.g., "nine out of ten dentists" claim).

Rhetorical Frameworks

  • Framework for analysis involves:

    • Understanding rhetorical situations (subject, need, purpose) and audience.

    • These fit into various categories:

    • Logos: Logical arguments.

    • Ethos: Credibility and trust.

    • Pathos: Emotional appeal.

Qualitative Analysis

  • Students must analyze posts and comments through distinct lenses:

    • Identify emotions conveyed (sympathy, compassion) and their intended effect on the audience.

    • Recognize specific elements of discourse (e.g., humor, shared language).

Ethical Considerations

  • Responsible sharing of data requires blurring personal information in gathered texts.

  • Avoiding bias in coding procedures and explicitly stating assumptions is crucial.

Application of Theories and Categories

  • Analyze findings based on pre-informed categories.

  • For example:

    • Depending on subject matter, you might categorize posts by types of claims or evidence shared.

    • Use systematic frameworks to see how categories fit within your context.

Feedback Mechanisms

  • Students should check feedback regularly on their sampling plans for continuous improvement.

  • Office hours can be a resource for clarification and guidance.