For EGL 101 I have designed a ten-step guide/research log for students writing a researched argument, with almost every step calling for assessment by criteria. In their research logs, students do exercises to test how well they understood the advice in the guide and also write responses to self-assessment questions about each step of the research process. The questions guide their research process and keep them on track. The students’ answers in their research logs can be reviewed in class by small groups of students and/or the instructor. Below you will find a print-friendly file as a Microsoft Word document.

In summer 2001 I designed an online version to be used as a tutorial.. The print and online guides can be modified by instructors who wish to use them in their own courses.

The guides were developed under a Title III grant to Prince George's Community College from the United States Department of Education. Individual instructors may copy and/or modify it for use in their courses but may not use it or the shorter form for commercial purposes.

The ten steps are

1. Understand the assignment and plan how to do it.
2. Choose a topic you and your readers are interested in.
3. Turn topics into issues and questions.
4. Plan a search strategy and use databases.
5. Evaluate sources for suitability and for reliability.
6. Take notes: write summaries, paraphrases, quotations, and personal comments.
7. Plan your argument; synthesize information from a variety of sources.
8. Write a rough draft in your own voice; use and cite sources in the rough draft; avoid plagiarism in your use of sources.
9. Get feedback on the rough draft.
10. Assess your research process to improve it.

Ten-step guide/research log for students writing a researched argument, as a Microsoft Word file

Short Version of Ten-Step Guide as a Microsoft Word file

Instructions to students for EGL 101 researched argument

Suggested topics for EGL 101 researched argument

Useful Websites for Argument and Persuasion

Timeline for EGL 101 researched argument

Research Prospectus for EGL 101 researched argument

Source Reliability Report as a Microsoft Word file

Online Tutorial for EGL 101

Questions? Call me at 301-322-0083   or e-mail at wpeirce@attglobal.net
 

Click here for Peirce PGCC faculty home page

Click below for the home page of The Maryland Community College Consortium for Teaching Reasoning
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~wpeirce/MCCCTR