learner Data Discussion Paper Order Description Make sure to follow the criteria exactly Length: 3000 words ± 10% (excluding transcription) **Please adhere strictly to this word limit** (learner Data Discussion Paper) . Please read the additional "Ethics Guidelines" at the end of the assignment description. An information and consent form will be provided by your unit convenor. Please give one copy to participants and keep a copy for your records. This assignment involves collecting a small sample of empirical data, and writing a report based on the analysis of this data. The aim of this exercise is for you to get a feel for what is involved in collecting and analysing second language data. Since not all candidates will have previously completed a research methods course. Choose one of the following alternatives in order to collect some data from someone who has learnt a second or foreign language either formally or informally. Remember that you will need to transcribe the discourse you elicit and so you should record it on audio tape or digital media. Before collecting the data, check that the equipment and the way that it is set up will provide you with a recording of sufficient quality to enable you to transcribe the data. Before embarking on the project you should consider the question you are interested in. What you are interested in investigating will determine the topic you choose to undertake. For example, you might want to explore issues of motivation(specific topic not in general ) or learning strategies as they relate to a particular learner, in which case you would design and carry out a structured interview. Alternatively, you may wish to examine aspects of your chosen learner's interlanguage, in which case you would design a performance task to focus on the points of language that you wanted to investigate. As you plan and carry out your data collection and analysis, it may help to keep the following points in mind: • The study should have an aim, but this aim can focus on the individual learner, and can involve simply gaining a clear understanding of one aspect of SLA as it applies in this particular learner's case. • The study and findings should be situated within the context of the research literature (i.e. it is very important to relate your findings to a number of articles that you have read). The assignment should demonstrate that you are able to talk about these issues as someone who has read and thought about the relevant area of SLA). Students completing this assignment in previous semesters have commented that it is much easier to do this when the interview or performance task is designed with the relevant body of research literature in mind. • The conclusions drawn should be appropriate to the amount and type of data collected and analysed. This means expressing ideas with an appropriate degree of tentativeness, and taking care not to overgeneralise from a very limited data sample. The data that you analyse should come from one of the following sources: Option 1: A structured interview. This is the option that you would choose if you wanted to investigate an individual’s experiences, perspectives or beliefs on one aspect of their second/foreign language learning. Before doing the interview, think about the research question(s) you are asking and the information that you need to obtain to answer this question. You can use the research literature to help you to frame your questions. Your interview should last at least fifteen minutes. OR Option 2: A performance task. If your main aim is to elicit a sample of language for the purposes of analysing particular features of the learners' production, this is the option that you would choose. Depending on the features that you wish to investigate, you will need to think carefully about designing your tasks so that they elicit the feature in question. For example, if you want to investigate learners' use of the past tense, you would need to make sure that the learner was given adequate opportunities to talk about past events. It is often a good idea to ask the participant to complete two or three different types of activity. For example, you could elicit a narrative account of some kind by asking them to tell you a personal experience of some kind (e.g. a recent holiday they have had, about a festival, the story of a film they have seen recently, or the story of a book they have read recently etc.). Then ask them to describe in detail a picture or photograph which you provide. You might also ask them to relate a brief story from a series of pictures. Assignment 3 - Options 1 and 2 Transcribe approximately 10-15 minutes of the data. The level of detail in your transcription will depend on what you will be analysing. Ensure that you transcribe all the non-target-like elements accurately (i.e. don’t be tempted to ‘fix’ grammatical or other features when you do the transcription). There are quite a number of different transcription systems. You can use the simplified Jefferson transcription system shown below, or, if there is another system with which you are more familiar, you can use that. Just make a note of the meaning of any symbols you use The assignment should be presented using the following headings: Introduction This should introduce the reader to the research and should include a brief literature review in which previous findings relevant to the topic are outlined and synthesised. The background, rationale and objectives of the study should be described. Method This should provide details of your methodology under these sub-headings: Participant. Here you should describe the relevant characteristics of the individual or group concerned (age, gender etc.) Procedures. Here you should outline the instruments and methods that you used to collect your data. Data analysis. Here you should describe the procedures and techniques that you used to analyse your data, i.e. after you collected the data, what steps did you go through? Results and discussion This should outline the results of the analysis of your data. Depending on the type of study that you undertake, you may need to quantify these in some way in order to be able to make sense of them. Percentages and/or raw scores are adequate; there is no need to use inferential statistics. Most students undertaking this assignment opt for a qualitative design, where the data does not lend itself to quantification. In these cases, it is still important to provide the reader with evidence that your interpretation can be supported by the data. Following the results there should be a discussion of your findings and your interpretation of their significance. These should be discussed in the context of previous findings in the literature where appropriate. Mention any problems or limitations in your data collection or analysis which might affect your interpretation of the data (e.g. any difficulties in making decisions about how to classify particular instances of language use, or how to assign meaning to an utterance). Conclusion This should briefly summarise your findings, identify any unanswered questions and indicate any avenues for future research that arise from your study. References Include here bibliographic details of all references cited in the body of the essay. Please use a standard author-date referencing system (e.g. APA). Assessment criteria for Assignment 3 The following criteria will be used to assess the assignment: (Important) • Clarity and logic of exposition (includes clarity of rationale for study, quality of literature review) • Suitability of methodology to the objectives • Quality of data analysis • Discussion of points from the data collected in the context of the relevant literature (very important) • Argumentation, structure and organization (persuasiveness of argument, appropriateness of conclusions in relation to evidence) • Presentation (including layout, punctuation, grammar, spelling, referencing, and the conventions used in your transcription(s). The textbook is {The study of Second Language Acquisition } Rod Ellis - Oxford University Press
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arts Textbook: Launching the Imagination: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Design 5th Edition Problem: You have two reading assignments this semester from the textbook. You must write one typed response essay per reading assignment. Each essay needs to start with an introductory paragraph that includes the name of the chapter, title of the book and author’s name. The introductory paragraph should describe your response to the reading by laying out 5- 6 selected subheadings from the text that you will be using as points of support for your response. Each selected subheading will correspond to one of your body paragraphs, in which you will explain your point further and support it with a direct quote form the text. Your response cannot be just a summary of the reading. A response builds a dialogue between your self as the reader, and the text. Ask yourself questions like: How does this reading relate to your experiences so far? What parts of the reading resonate with you and why? Can you compare or contrast the purpose of this reading to other readings or experiences? Have you seen the purpose of this reading put to practical use and if so, what was the outcome? Your concluding paragraph should summarize your response to the reading. The majority of each of your essays should be your informed response to the content of each reading not just a report on what the reading said. Again, each paragraph should contain at least one example from the text. That means, in total, your essay must have at least 5-8 examples from the text. Format: Each essay must be a minimum 3-5 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, 1” margin left, right and bottom, .5” margin on top. Objective: The primary objective of these readings is for each of you to be aware of a larger canon of creative thought in many disciplines. The readings and responses will also address two of the course goals: 1. cultivating a comprehensive level of visual literacy 2. exposure to contemporary issues and disciplines in the visual arts, which includes 2D, 3D and 4D art forms. Suggested Reading Strategy: 1. Skim through the assigned reading. Read first and last sentence of each paragraph to get the “gist” 2. Re-Read with a high-lighter or pen for a close reading, marking down questions and interesting passages as you go 3. Third time through the reading answer those questions and use your notes to begin your response outline Response 1 – Two Dimensional Design | Chapters 1-4 | pages 3 -103 Response 2 – Concepts and Critical Thinking | Chapters 5-8 | Pages 105 -177 Deadline: Responses should be typed, printed and submitted at the start of class on the day it is due. In addition, a digital copy must be submitted to your TA by 11pm that same night. Due Dates: September 28 for response essay 1 November 9 for response essay 2 Evaluation Rubric Format: Each response must be a minimum 3-5 pages double-spaced, 12 point font, 1” margins left, right and bottom, .5” margin on top. Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Essay structure: Must include 1 introductory paragraph, 5-6 body paragraphs and 1 conclusion paragraph. Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Grammar: Appropriate college level grammar, spelling, punctuation and citation Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Use of Subheadings: Your response should address at least 5 subheadings clearly identified in the text. Each paragraph should relate to one of the subheadings. Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Use of Examples from the text: You must site at least 5-8 examples from the reading to support your responses.(At least one example per body paragraph.) The subject of each body paragraph should be one of your selected subheadings. Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Evidence of comprehension and consideration of the material: The majority of each of your responses should be just that; your informed response to the content of each reading not just a report. Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor
29 October, 2015
