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A Guide to Qualitative Field Research

• Carol A. Bailey - Virginia Tech, USA
• Description

A Guide to Qualitative Field Research provides readers with clear, practical, and specific instructions for conducting qualitative research in the field. In the expanded Third Edition , Carol A. Bailey gives increased attention to the early and last stages of field research, often the most difficult: selecting a topic, deciding upon the purpose of your research, and writing the final paper, all in her signature reader-friendly writing style. This edition features research examples from graduate and undergraduate students to make examples meaningful to fellow students; a new “Putting It All Together” feature, with examples of how different parts of the research process interact; and more emphasis on the “nuts and bolts” of research, such as what to include in an informed consent form, a proposal, and the final paper.

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

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The open-access Student Study Site includes the following:

• EXCLUSIVE! Author-selected, full-text SAGE journal articles expand on concepts in the chapters.
• Additional writings provided by fellow scholars in the field, including sample field notes and an essay on Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA).

Password-protected  Instructor Resources  include the following:

• Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft®  PowerPoint® slides  offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course.        
• EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text  SAGE journal articles  that have been carefully selected for each chapter by the author. 

“Methods texts often suffer from dry material and inaccessible definitions. This text makes methods accessible through an inviting, jargon-free tone, and engaging through its many creative suggestions for applying the lessons in hands-on exercises.” 

“This book offers a very comprehensive examination of fieldwork that includes practical and theoretical guidance for all students–undergraduate and graduate. The inclusion of online participant-observation considerations sets this book apart from all the others.”

“So much more than most methods texts, this text actually offers the tools and examples to help students actually plan and do research. Full of practical examples, useful tips, frameworks and tactics, this text is a great primer for students who want to get out into the field”

“ A Guide to Qualitative Research is an invaluable handbook for students embarking on qualitative research. Comprehensive, detailed, and engaging, it covers all of the key elements of qualitative research and is an insightful and practical text to inspire and guide future qualitative researchers.”

“Carol Bailey’s work is of the highest quality. I wholeheartedly consider it to be one of the better qualitative fieldwork texts geared toward neophyte students of qualitative research that I have come across in many years. It is obvious that she put some time into thinking about and conceptually organizing the book. It all flows together quite nicely with an engaging and crisp writing style that will keep readers attention.”   

“ A Guide to Qualitative Field Research is an accessible introduction to the design and conduct of qualitative research. For students new to this methodology, this text provides insight into key concepts and issues that should be part of their methodological toolkit, so that they know how to begin their studies, what to expect along the way, and strategies to address those “bumps” that are all too common in field research.”

NEW AND KEY FEATURES:

• This edition includes quotes from literature and famous people to make the narrative more humorous and engaging to the student.
• Expanded coverage of research in virtual settings ensures that readers get a well-rounded understanding of both in-person and digital research methods.
• Putting It All Together features contain examples illustrating how different parts of the research process are used in conjunction with each other when conducting research, serving as a useful review of the material and providing instructors with examples for further elaboration and class discussion.
• New and updated tables contain examples, provide an overview of material in a way that is easily understood, and include checklists that students can use when conducting their own research.
• Online and recommended reading provides a resource for those who want more in-depth coverage of material than can be provided in introductory texts.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 3: Topic, Purpose, and Research Questions

Chapter 6: From Gaining Entree to Exiting the Field

For instructors

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This title is also available on SAGE Research Methods , the ultimate digital methods library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial .

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HOW TO WRITE CHAPTER THREE OF YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT (RESEARCH METHODOLOGY) | ResearchWap Blog

• Posted: Friday, 17 April 2020
• By: ResearchWap Admin

How To Write Chapter Three Of Your Research Project (Research Methodology)

Methodology In Research Paper

Chapter three of the research project or the research methodology is another significant part of the research project writing. In developing the chapter three of the research project, you state the purpose of research, research method you wish to adopt, the instruments to be used, where you will collect your data, types of data collection, and how you collected it.

This chapter explains the different methods to be used in the research project. Here you mention the procedures and strategies you will employ in the study such as research design, study design in research, research area (area of the study), the population of the study, etc.

You also tell the reader your research design methods, why you chose a particular method, method of analysis, how you planned to analyze your data. Your methodology should be written in a simple language such that other researchers can follow the method and arrive at the same conclusion or findings.

You can choose a survey design when you want to survey a particular location or behavior by administering instruments such as structured questionnaires, interviews, or experimental; if you intend manipulating some variables.

The purpose of chapter three (research methodology) is to give an experienced investigator enough information to replicate the study. Some supervisors do not understand this and require students to write what is in effect, a textbook.

A research design is used to structure the research and to show how all of the major parts of the research project, including the sample, measures, and methods of assignment, work together to address the central research questions in the study. The chapter three should begin with a paragraph reiterating the purpose of research.

It is very important that before choosing design methods, try and ask yourself the following questions:

Will I generate enough information that will help me to solve the research problem by adopting this method?

Method vs Methodology

I think the most appropriate in methods versus methodology is to think in terms of their inter-connectedness and relationship between both. You should not beging thinking so much about research methods without thinking of developing a research methodology.

Metodologia or methodology is the consideration of your research objectives and the most effective method  and approach to meet those objectives. That is to say that methodology in research paper is the first step in planning a research project work. 

Design Methodology: Methodological Approach                

Example of methodology in research paper, you are attempting to identify the influence of personality on a road accident, you may wish to look at different personality types, you may also look at accident records from the FRSC, you may also wish to look at the personality of drivers that are accident victims, once you adopt this method, you are already doing a survey, and that becomes your  metodologia or methodology .

Your methodology should aim to provide you with the information to allow you to come to some conclusions about the personalities that are susceptible to a road accident or those personality types that are likely to have a road accident. The following subjects may or may not be in the order required by a particular institution of higher education, but all of the subjects constitute a defensible in metodologia or methodology chapter.

 READ ALSO:  HOW TO WRITE EFFECTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT ABSTRACT

Methodology

A  methodology  is the rationale for the research approach, and the lens through which the analysis occurs. Said another way, a methodology describes the “general research strategy that outlines the way in which research is to be undertaken” The methodology should impact which method(s) for a research endeavor are selected in order to generate the compelling data.

Example Of Methodology In Research Paper :

• Phenomenology: describes the “lived experience” of a particular phenomenon
• Ethnography: explores the social world or culture, shared beliefs and behaviors
• Participatory: views the participants as active researchers
• Ethno methodology: examines how people use dialogue and body language to construct a world view
• Grounding theory*: assumes a blank slate and uses an inductive approach to develop a new theory

A  method  is simply the tool used to answer your research questions — how, in short, you will go about collecting your data.

Methods Section Of Research Paper Example :

• Contextual inquiry
• Usability study
• Diary study

If you are choosing among these, you might say “what method should I use?” and settle on one or more methods to answer your research question.

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Research Design Definition: WRITING A RESEARCH DESIGN

A qualitative study does not have variables. A scientific study has variables, which are sometimes mentioned in Chapter 1 and defined in more depth in Chapter 3. Spell out the independent and dependent, variables. An unfortunate trend in some institutions is to repeat the research questions and/or hypotheses in both Chapter 1 and Chapter 3. Sometimes an operational statement of the research hypotheses in the null form is given to set the stage for later statistical inferences. In a quantitative study, state the level of significance that will be used to accept or reject the hypotheses.

Pilot Study

In a quantitative study, a survey instrument that the researcher designed needs a pilot study to validate the effectiveness of the instrument, and the value of the questions to elicit the right information to answer the primary research questions in. In a scientific study, a pilot study may precede the main observation to correct any problems with the instrumentation or other elements in the data collection technique. Describe the pilot study as it relates to the research design, development of the instrument, data collection procedures, or characteristics of the sample.

Instruments

In a research study, the instrument used to collect data may be created by the researcher or based on an existing instrument. If the instrument is the researcher created, the process used to select the questions should be described and justified. If an existing instrument is used, the background of the instrument is described including who originated it, and what measures were used to validate it.

If a Likert scale is used, the scale should be described. If the study involves interviews, an interview protocol should be developed that will result in a consistent process of data collection across all interviews. Two types of questions are found in an interview protocol: the primary research questions, which are not asked of the participants, and the interview questions that are based on the primary research questions and are asked of the participants.

In a qualitative study, this is the section where most of the appendices are itemized, starting with letters of permission to conduct the study and letters of invitation to participate with the attached consent forms. Sample: this has to do with the number of your participants or subjects as the case may be. Analysis (how are you planning to analyze the results?)

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EFFECTIVE GUIDE AND METHODOLOGY SAMPLES

This chapter deals effectively with the research methods to be adopted in conducting the research, and it is organized under the following sub-headings:

• Research Design
• Area of Study

The population of the Study

• Sample and Sampling Techniques
• Instruments for Data Collection

The validity of the Instrument

Reliability of the Instrument

• Administration of the instruments
• Scoring the instruments

Method of Data Collection

Method of Data Analysis

Research Design:

This has to do with the structure of the research instrument to be used in collecting data. It could be in sections depending on different variables that form the construct for the entire topic of the research problems. A reliable instrument with a wrong research design will adversely affect the reliability and generalization of the research. The choice of design suitable for each research is determined by many factors among which are: kind of research, research hypothesis, the scope of the research, and the sensitive nature of the research.

Area of Study:

Research Area; this has to do with the geographical environment of the study area where the places are located, the historical background when necessary and commercial activities of that geographical area. For example, the area of the study is Ebonyi State University. At the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996, the Abakaliki campus of the then ESUT was upgraded to Ebonyi State University College by Edict no. 5 of Ebonyi State, 1998 still affiliated to ESUT with Prof. Fidelis Ogah, former ESUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor as the first Rector. In 1997, the Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences with 8 departments was added to the fledging University, and later in 1998 when the ESUT Pre-Science Programme was relocated to Nsukka, the EBSUC Pre-Degree School commenced lectures in both Science and Arts in replacement of the former. This study focused on the students of the Business Education department in Ebonyi state university.

The population is regarded in research work as the type of people and the group of people under investigation. It has to be specific or specified. For example educational study teachers in Lagos state. Once the population is chosen, the next thing is to choose the samples from the population.

According to Uma (2007), the population is referred to as the totality of items or object which the researcher is interested in. It can also be the total number of people in an area of study. Hence, the population of this study comprised of all the students in the department of Business Education, Ebonyi State University which is made up of year one to four totaling 482. The actual number for the study was ascertained using Yaro-Yamane's formula which stated thus:

n   =        N

N is the Population

1 is constant

e is the error margin

Then, n   =         482

1+482(0.05)2

= 214.35 approximately 214

Sample and sampling technique:

It may not be possible to reach out to the number of people that form the entire population for the study to either interview, observe, or serve them with copies of the questionnaire. To be realistic, the sample should be up to 20% of the total population. Two sampling techniques are popular among all the sampling techniques. These are random and stratified random sampling techniques. (A). in Random Sampling, the writers select any specific number from a place like a school, village, etc. (B). In Stratified Random Sampling, one has to indicate a specific number from a stratum which could be a group of people according to age, qualification, etc. or different groups from different locations and different considerations attached.

Instruments for Data Collection:

This is a device or different devices used in collecting data. Example: interview, questionnaire, checklist, etc. instrument is prepared in sets or subsections, each set should be an entity thus asking questions about a particular variable to be tested after collecting data. The type of instrument used will determine the responses expected. All questions should be well set so as to determine the reliability of the instrument.

This has to do with different measures in order to determine the validity and reliability of the research instrument. For example, presenting the drafted questionnaire to the supervisor for scrutiny. Giving the questionnaire to the supervisor for useful comments and corrections would help to validate the instrument.

The test-retest reliability method is one of the simplest ways of testing the stability and reliability of an instrument over time. The test-retest approach was adopted by the researcher in establishing the reliability of the instrument. In doing this 25 copies of the questionnaire were administered on twenty-five selected respondents. After two weeks another 25 copies of the same questionnaire were re-administered on the same group. Their responses on the two occasions were correlated using Parsons Product Moment Correlation. A co-efficient of 0.81 was gotten and this was high enough to consider the instrument reliable.

Administration of the instruments:

Here, the writer states whether he or she administers the test personally or through an assistant. He also indicates the rate of return of the copies of the questionnaire administered.

Scoring the instruments:

Here items on the questionnaire or any other device used must be assigned numerical values. For example, 4 points to strongly agree, 3 points to agree, 2 points to disagree, and 1 point to strongly disagree.

Table of Analysis

The researcher collected data using the questionnaire. Copies of the questionnaire were administered by the researcher on the respondents. All the respondents were expected to give maximum co-operation, as the information on the questionnaire is all on things that revolve around their study. Hence, enough time was taken to explain how to tick or indicate their opinion on the items stated in the research questionnaire.

In this study, the mean was used to analyze the data collected. A four (4) point Likert scale was used to analyze each of the questionnaire items.

The weighing was as follows:

VGE—————- Very Great Extent (4 points)

GE—————– Great Extent (3 points)

LE—————– Little Extent (2 points)

VLE—————- Very Little Extent (1 point)

SA—————– Strongly Agree (4 points)

A——————- Agree (3 points)

D—————— Disagree (2 points)

SD—————- Strongly Disagree (1 point)

The mean of the scale will then be determined by summing up the points and dividing their number as follows with the formula:

Where; x= mean

f= frequency

X= Nominal value of the option

∑= summation

N= Total Number

Therefore, the mean of the scale is 2.5.

This means that any item statement with a mean of 2.50 and above is considered agreed by the respondents and any item statement below 2.5 is considered disagreed.

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Research Strategies and Methods

• First Online: 22 July 2021

Cite this chapter

• Paul Johannesson 3 &
• Erik Perjons 3  

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Researchers have since centuries used research methods to support the creation of reliable knowledge based on empirical evidence and logical arguments. This chapter offers an overview of established research strategies and methods with a focus on empirical research in the social sciences. We discuss research strategies, such as experiment, survey, case study, ethnography, grounded theory, action research, and phenomenology. Research methods for data collection are also described, including questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, observations, and documents. Qualitative and quantitative methods for data analysis are discussed. Finally, the use of research strategies and methods within design science is investigated.

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Johannesson, P., Perjons, E. (2021). Research Strategies and Methods. In: An Introduction to Design Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78132-3_3

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How to Write Your Dissertation Chapter 3?

Table of Contents

In this article, we are going to discuss dissertation chapter 3 , as many students consider it to be the most challenging section to write and for a good reason.

The body of the dissertation research papers is divided into different chapters and sections. The standard dissertation structure may vary from discipline to discipline, but it typically includes sections like:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology

Each part of the dissertation should have a central idea, which is introduced and argued.

We will provide you with a concise and in-depth overview of chapter 3 methodology to help you get started.

What is dissertation chapter 3 about?

Chapter 3 dissertation outlines specific methods chosen by a writer to research a problem. It’s essential to provide enough information so that an experienced researcher could replicate the study.

You need to explain what techniques were used for data collection and provide an analysis of results to answer your college research paper question. Besides, you need to explain the chosen methods and justify them, describe the research setting, and give a detailed explanation of how you applied those methods in your study.

… How you do that?

• Start with a clear explanation of approaches used for solving the problem.
• Describe all the components of methodology in detail.
• Describe all methods and tell how you used them in your study. Clarify why each particular technique would be the best choice for answering your research question.

Below is the basic outline you can use as a template when writing dissertation methodology section.

How to write AP government chapter 3 outline?

Looking for AP Government chapter 3 outline which provides a college-level introduction to the structure and function of the US government and politics? Keep in mind that it’s not the same thing as a typical outline of the methodology section in your final paper.

Example of outline for chapter 3

• Introduction , stating the purpose of the part, introducing the methods, and outlining the section’s organization.
• Research questions , hypothesis, and variables.
• Research design – describe the investigation approach and justify specific chosen methods, citing relevant literature.
• Study setting – describe the role of the researcher in gathering data.
• Study participants and data sources – explain criteria and strategies used when selecting participants and describe systems used for collecting and storing information.
• Procedures and instruments – demonstrate methods and state each step for performing the study in detail.
• Data analysis – discuss statistical tools and methods applied to analyze information and measures to increase validity.
• Summary of the key points.

What is chapter 3 methodology?

When reporting about their new studies, scholars always have to answer 2 main questions:

• How was the latest information gathered or generated?
• Which specific techniques and procedures were utilized when analyzing data?

There are loads of different techniques and procedures you can choose to investigate a particular research problem.

Remember: choosing appropriate methodology is critical to the success of any study.

If you select an unreliable technique, it will produce inaccurate results during the interpretation of your findings. That’s not the outcome you want.

There are two groups of primary data collection methods: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative research techniques don’t involve any mathematical calculations and numbers.

They are strongly connected with emotions, words, feelings, sounds. Qualitative study ensures in-depth investigation and a greater level of problem understanding.

The qualitative investigation includes interviews, case studies, role-playing, games, observations, focus groups, and questionnaires with open-ended questions.

Quantitative techniques for data collection and analysis are based on mathematical calculations in a variety of forms and statistics.

They include methods of correlation and regression, questionnaires with close-ended questions, median, mode, and mean and procedures.

These procedures are cheaper to apply than qualitative ones. They require less time for implementation. They are highly standardized and, as a result, scientists can easily compare findings.

Wondering which approach to choose to cover your investigation question? It depends on the research area and specific objectives.

Few thoughts on chapter 3 thesis

In chapter 3 thesis, which is written in the same way as methodology part of a dissertation, you discuss how you performed the study in great detail. It usually includes the same elements and has a similar structure.

You can use the outline example of this section for a dissertation but you should take into account that its structure should illustrate the research approach and design of your specific study.

That’s why you should be careful and include only relevant elements into your methodology section.

As you see, dissertation chapter 3 is a very significant part of the lengthy academic paper students write to get their degrees.

It should be written like a recipe so that anyone could adopt your techniques and replicate your investigation.

It requires strong analytical and critical thinking skills, dedication, and many hours of reading and writing.

It’s essential to choose the right approach to selecting and explaining investigation techniques.

We hope that this quick guide will help you create an impressive methodology section of your final academic project.

Not feeling like writing your dissertation chapter 3? How about handing it to a pro? Few clicks, brief instructions, and you’re free. Come on, our writers strive to help you out!

Desperate questions for writing a Paper

Types of research papers, problem solution essay topics.

Research Guide

Chapter 3 the research question.

A good paper starts with a good research question. But how to identify a great research question? In this Module, I will introduce some of the characteristics that make a question a good research question. This section draws on Nick Huntington-Klein’s The Effect .

3.1 Elements to Consider

A great research question needs to fulfill a set of characteristics:

• It is based on theory : Before even having data collected on this, you need to have a good story behind the potential outcomes you obtain. There must be something interesting to say about what you did.
• It is feasible : This characteristic is relevant for different reasons. First, you need to know that the data you need to answer the question is available, or that you can collect it. Second, even if it is possible to obtain the data, you need to be certain that the data is actually going to help you answer the question you have. Third, time is limited, so you also need to consider if you can answer the question within the time frame you considered. Finally, you also need to consider if there is a research design that will allow you to answer your research question. This particularly happens with questions that are more convoluted.
• It is relevant : In the past, I was advised to focus on questions that affect at least a 3% of the world population. Although I believe that number is arbitrary and not necessarily useful, I think that the main point remains. Choose questions that are relevant for at least one community (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, a set of small firms in one region, etc). Of course, projects that address issues that affect a larger share of the population are sometimes easier to address, as data tends to be more available, but you also need to consider novelty, which is my next point.
• It has not been answered before : This point requires some clarification. Researchers build upon each other’s work. We do not reinvent a topic each time. Knowledge progresses at a marginal rate. To do that, research projects do one of three things:
• Contradict a current theory.
• Extend a theory to a new sample to reach external validity (or at least suggest internal validity in a new context).
• Use a different method to test a theory. This is, you do not need to reinvent the wheel with your research project, but need to be original in how you answer the question.

3.2 Identifying Questions

The first step to find your research topic is to think deeply about the issues you care about. These issues, of course, need to satisfy the previous characteristics I introduced. For instance, you may care about your dog Fluffy, and you may want to know what makes him so adorable, but that is not (a) a relevant question for a large share of the population; (b) answerable (you do not have a large sample).

One way to identify potential research topics is by thinking the topics you analyzed in your courses and that can be addressed in an economic way. Think about the courses you liked the most, or a particular topic in a class. This may actually help since probably you already identified some literature on the topic. But remember, the question needs to be analyzed with economic lenses, and needs to fulfill the characteristics that I mentioned previously.

Another way to identify a question is to link it to your future (aspired) career. This, of course, requires that you have a clear idea on what you would like to do in the future, and also needs for you to be original in the way you tackle a subject.

This leads me to my next point. It is hard to identify questions if you do not know what is available, what has been done, and how. This is why you need to read and be curious. You need a critical mind. Just as artists do, obtain inspiration from different, and sometimes unusual, sources. When I ask you to read, this is not limited to academic literature. In fact, a large proportion of what I read is non-academic. Of course we all have a bias on what we read and see based on our interests, but try to broaden your spectrum, you may be surprised about how many interesting things exist out there.

3.3 Determinant Questions

Sometimes, we may be interested in a topic and want to learn and respond everything about it. We get so excited about what are the causes behind a certain issue, that we focus on everything at once.

However, as Marc Bellemare says it, good social science follows the scientific method. This is, you need to have a hypothesis “(x causes Y”), then test it, and finally analyze it.

Determinant papers do not follow this method. Instead, you use a bunch of variables (you have many x’s), but you lack a research design, and therefore just look at correlations, without a clear argument behind it. This type of papers may be useful in some cases (you can read another blog entry from Marc Bellemare on this, or look at the Simpson Paradox on Wikipedia).

You may decide to later on follow a given research agenda, but for one research paper (and particularly, for your senior thesis), keep your question narrow and specific. Briefly, avoid determinant questions !

This also includes avoid giving a clear interpretation to control variables and use them as secondary research questions. Instead, you may want to use a subsample of your data, or disentangle some of the effects behind your main variable of interest.

3.4 Some Examples 2

3.5 handouts.

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Online Guide to Writing and Research Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies and Writing Patterns

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• Online Guide to Writing

Introduction

Kinds of Assignments You Will Write

Developing a Paper Using Strategies

• General-to-Specific Pattern
• Specific-to-General Pattern
• Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern
• Discussing Raw Data
• Summaries and Abstracts

Supporting with Research and Examples

• Read and Understand the Question
• Organize Thinking Before Writing
• Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete
• Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

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Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Chapter 1: College Writing

How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?

What Is College Writing?

Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?

Chapter 2: The Writing Process

Doing Exploratory Research

Getting from Notes to Your Draft

Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition

Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience

Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started

Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment

Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic

Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy

Rewriting: Getting Feedback

Rewriting: The Final Draft

Techniques to Get Started - Outlining

Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques

Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas

Writing: Outlining What You Will Write

Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

Critical Strategies and Writing

Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis

Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation

Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion

Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis

Patterns for Presenting Information

Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques

Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data

Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts

Writing Essay Examinations

Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete

Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing

Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question

Chapter 4: The Research Process

Planning and Writing a Research Paper

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources

Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources

Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure

Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

The Nature of Research

The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?

The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?

The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?

Chapter 5: Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Giving Credit to Sources

Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws

Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation

Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides

Integrating Sources

Practicing Academic Integrity

Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources

Types of Documentation

Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists

Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style

Types of Documentation: Note Citations

Chapter 6: Using Library Resources

Finding Library Resources

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing

How Is Writing Graded?

How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool

The Draft Stage

The Draft Stage: The First Draft

The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft

The Draft Stage: Using Feedback

The Research Stage

Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing

Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers

Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure

Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument

Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion

Writing Arguments: Types of Argument

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Dictionaries

General Style Manuals

Researching on the Internet

Special Style Manuals

Writing Handbooks

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project

Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report

Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve

Collaborative Writing: Methodology

Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation

Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members

Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan

General Introduction

Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule

Reviewing Your Plan with Others

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