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Expanded Prompts for the Fifth Response Essay

The fifth response essay has expanded prompts available through a link announced earlier. The due date for submission has been extended to November 4 at 5 PM, coinciding with Election Day, instead of the previously scheduled date of November 3.

Class Structure Overview

The structure of the class for today is outlined as follows:

  • First Half: The instructor will discuss the topic 'Where do pearls come from?' and introduce the research project.
  • After Break: A visitor from the Sweetland Center for Writing will speak about their services and support for students. The visitor will return next week for further discussions.

An email address for the Sweetland Center for Writing is mentioned and available on the campus portal. Students are encouraged to contact the visitor with any questions.

Introducing the Research Topic: "Where Do Pearls Come From?"

The instructor poses the question, "Where do pearls come from?" as a way to connect it with the broader theme of research. Despite students possibly knowing the answer, the instructor intends to demonstrate the connections between the source of pearls and research methodology.

Research Paper Presentation

The presentation will encompass both pragmatic elements (such as logistics and information source) and overarching strategies for approaching research papers, as this will not only be the students' first research paper but a skill they will gradually develop through their college career.

Quote by Zora Neale Hurston

A central reference in this lecture is a quote from Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropologist and author, who states, "Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." This quote helps to frame the concept of research as an enthusiastic exploration with an underlying goal.

Breaking Down the Quote

  1. Poking and Prying

    • Poking: Refers to the act of investigating or searching. The instructor describes a familial anecdote about a person who 'pokes' at devices instead of using them traditionally, exemplifying the nature of exploration.
    • Synonyms for poking include searching, exploring, and persisting.
    • Example: Research often involves persistence, even when one encounters setbacks or 'blind alleys.'

  2. Prying:

    • Drawing from the Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, prying is defined as:
      • Intransitive (Pry 1): To look or inquire closely, curiously, or impertinently.
      • Transitive (Pry 2): To raise, move, or force open something, or to obtain with effort or difficulty.
    • Researching can demand both a diligent investigation and a decision-making process where one gathers materials and explores questions.
The Purposes of Research
  • The purpose of poking and prying is to satisfy curiosity and unveil information about a topic. Curiosity serves as an itch that drives individuals to explore deeper into subjects of interest.
  • Curiosity ignites the research process, leading to the invention of new insights that contribute to academic discourse.

The Research Project (RP)

The class has a research project that constitutes the last writing assignment, due December 15.

  • Specifications:
    • The paper will be between 7-10 pages, not including footnotes and works cited.
    • It should respond to an issue raised in class, based on original research and personal analysis.
    • It builds upon prior learning from class discussions and performance-related response papers.
  • Prompts for this project will be released on October 31, and students may craft their own topics.

Project Stages

The research project will be completed in stages:

  1. Proposal Due Date: November 10 - A short paragraph detailing student proposals.
  2. Partial Draft Due Date: November 21 - About 5 to 6 pages, an incomplete draft for feedback.
  3. Final Revision Due Date: December 15 - Final finalized version of the paper.

Each stage includes built-in support such as discussions with peers, section leaders, and group workshops to facilitate progress.

Importance of Participation and Time Management

The instructor emphasizes the significance of using team collaboration effectively and adhering to the project timeline. Completing the often difficult research process will yield valuable skills for future endeavors, stressing the importance of team responsibility and commitment to avoid letting down peers.

Class Functions and Canvas Resources

The following key resources are accessible on the Canvas platform:

  • A module for Research Project Support, including project descriptions, assigned readings, and necessary forms for organizing work and feedback.
  • General writing support in preparation for research papers, including engaging with the Sweetland Center for Writing, which has resources for all students, reinforcing that writing support is not only for those struggling.
  • Various citation management tools that can aid in organizing references, such as Zotero and EndNote, ensuring that students are equipped to handle academic citations effectively.

Understanding the Research Essay

The instructor elucidates that the essence of an essay involves crafted written explorations of problems or questions meant to communicate specific arguments to a reader. It should not merely be a collection of thoughts but a structured approach to convey information clearly and cohesively.

Key Elements of a Research Essay

  1. Unified Communication: Ensuring the essay presents a clear argument and takes the reader through an organized narrative to avoid confusion.
  2. Purposeful Composition: Crafting a research essay distinguishes between response papers (initial explorations) and research essays (culminating results).
    • Response papers draw data from personal analysis of performances, whereas research essays engage with external materials to develop arguments.
Developing Questions from Topics

Students are advised that research should stem from a specific question within a broader topic. For instance, discussing steel pans should not simply be about the instrument but delving into questions related to culture or musical evolution surrounding it.

The goal is to transition from general topics to intricate questions that warrant investigation. Examples from the instructors' own work illustrate the process from curiosity to systematic analysis.

Concluding Thoughts on Curiosity and Research

Curiosity, equated to an itch that prompts action, is at the center of the research endeavor. The outcome of the research process is a refined piece of knowledge meant to stimulate further inquiry, creating a cycle of intellectual exploration. Each researched project acts as a pearl crafted from the grain of curiosity, reflecting the transformative nature of rigorous academic investigation.