I think my work ethic differs from a lot of students. I always start out very strong and end up acting apathetic towards the end. For example, my first presentation was strong and I was prepared. My other gorup members were not. On the second presentation, they were all perpared, but I did worse the second time around.

All in all I knew this would be a lot of work. Id have to work at it majority of the week. I knew this was comming so I wasnt really nervous. That doesnt mean I didnt get irritated or frusterated throughout the course, because I did. Marlen is a professor that pushes his students to do their best. I guess I go overboard with this because I want everything I do to be really good. So when my work isnt the best I get upset. But he still keeps pushing. Having my work be perfect is definatley an issue for me and has been during this class. Its one of the reasons why I didnt have my research question until we arrived at our methods section! My final result was okay. It wasnt a masterpiece, but I think it was a good catalyst for future research. This was my first time and I know I should take it easy on myself. But Im still learning to do that.

As for future goals of research, I like to take the days one at a time. I know Ill probably go to grad school and write dissertations and all that. So now I feel a little more confident knowing what I learned here. But I still expect it to be challenging.

I think my proudest moment was continuing on with my research. When it turned out that I had only one participant I started to freak out, because I knew this wasnt good enough for a solid research paper. Well my next option was to change the focus, but I had just established a focus, I didnt want to change it again. Then I got irritated. I just wanted to screw this paper. But I calmly sat down with my paper in front of me and figured out my paper would work. Because although I had one participant, her answers were similar to the literature review I wrote. So I thought ill keep this, and write about why I kept it. So thats what I did.

What will stick with me longest? Besides that perfumes are basically blow jobs, the fact of how to write a research paper itself. There are so many elements that go into it, so many questions to ask. I feel like we took it pretty slow, but it was good becuase I understood how to combat all of this.

Each step and process made me rethink the way I write. It seemed like an annoyance at the time, but now I realize I learned several elements of research writing. I have to say each part was important, but the literature review was something I had never done before. It helped me understand the work that has been established, but also helped my own knowledge.

For the second review project, Kelsey noted that my intro was jumbled with too many ideas. And after not having read my intro for a while, when I read it again I thought the exact same thing. I totally revised my intro and I think its much better. Thanks kelsey!

The easiet part of this paper was the data, results and conclusion. Once I had my background knowledge (intro, lit review, methods) it flowed very easily on paper. The hardest part by far was choosing a topic and the literature review. I actually did not hit my topic question right on until about a few weeks ago! I just was not satisfied with my topic. The literature review was really intimidating. There were so many articles and studies that had been done-I just did know how to choose without choosing so many.

I think my literature is good, but it could definitely use some improvement. I think my methods and conclusion are the weakest. I think the intro and discussion best show me as a writer.

I do like the idea of exchanging papers and ideas, but I didnt feel it was my position to give a number grade. I liked the idea of getting away from my own and seeing another’s work, and another perspective seeing my work. I welcomed any criticism although I had few. I liked another perspective reading my paper. it showed whether my writing made sense or not to my audience. 

my paper specifcally needed a stronger methodology. and maybe a better history of education for native americans. other than that, my peer reviewer said i had a lot of detail and it flowed well. she was able to understand it with little knowledge.

• purpose is to present the results that have meaning, this is essential, the writer shouldnt just be listing the results
• its a summary that can include tables or graphs or other ways of organizing data

DISCUSSION

• this section is where the writer has the most freedom, he or she interprets the results gathered from the research and also connects it to what has already been done
• should connect to the introduction
• tells how the study has moved forward
• use active voice
• keep new ideas out of this section

CONCLUSION

• a conclusion wraps up the paper
• restate thesis
• analyze and evaluate the main points
• connect why the reader should care about this topic that has been researched
• avoid introducing new ideas

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/apa4b.htm#IIE

http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/16/3/191.pdf

http://www.tailoredessays.com/how-write/research-paper/introduction-conclusion.htm

deplit and irvine have argued that African American teachers can bring sensitivity and interest to the problems of African American students that other teachers might not. despite the logic of this arguement, the enrollment of ethnic minorities in teacher preparation programs has declined throughout the us (87)

the success stories of many of our graduates who are now teaching in urban schools show the competent, committed, culturally aware teachers who promote success for all can negate the impact of ethnic dissimilarity between teachers and students (87)

most teacher canidates need a deeper understanding of the cultural dynamics in schools and society as well as awareness of the oftens ubtle, but powerful, forms of cultural discrimination. likewise, they need to know how to design culturally relevant instruction and apply multicultural principles in their classrooms and lives (88)

I plan to use teachers at the Tuscarora School as my research participants. I might possibly also use statistics to show “success”. A professor here at IUP has contacts with the school and this is how I will be connected to them. I would like to use at least 3 teachers-one non native, and one native. There are no dangers for my participants, but I do see some possible issues. I know native peoples are very weary and cautious about outsiders, especially those with probing questions. I have introduced myself to the principle, but have not yet elaborated on any participants in my research. Right now, I understand the methods, and Im just eager to get this section going. I feel like it will put my paper in perspective and help me organize and revise it. I do want to interview teachers, but with interviewing im only asking for specific answers. I hope the interviewing session can be more like a discussion, in which they can speak freely so the ideas and topics discussed are not limited. Maybe new ideas can be brought up in our conversation. I have not yet thought of any questions, but I plan to do the session over the phone or by email. I wanted to visit the school itself, but Im afraid I dont have the resources to make the trip.

Caprette, David R. “Writing Research Papers.” Rice University. http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html (accessed March 12, 2010).

1.) My research question is: How can education on the Tuscarora Reservation be a model for future Native American students and other ethnically diverse cultures? Education has always been something of irony for me. I liked to learn about all sorts of different subjects, but for the most past I hated how schools were set up. Sitting all day with a teacher looming in front of the classroom, boring lectures, useless testing. And for some reason, powerpoints were the “go to” method. I hated those the most. True, I did learn enough to get myself into college, and I was a straight A student, but I truly felt like I did not learn. I sat there, took the information in and regeratated it. And I only remember parts that my brain allows. When I started college, I slowly was introduced into a new thinking, new ways of learning. Some teachers were the same, but others showed me how to open my mind and think differently. I immediatley knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life; to continue to learn and transfer what I know to those who need this information (just like I needed it) to bring out the best in people. My other interest in life included Native American cultures (cultures, not culture). I always admired their way of life and beliefs. When I learned that some schools are still struggling, I wanted to help. I put these two concepts together and decieded  this is what I wanted to do. Its a subject where I have to watch my toes, but nonetheless a subject thats a challenge I want to take on. Tuscarora is one of the reservation schools that is quite successful in teaching students academically and culturally. Thus, I thought an investigation of their education can be a model for other reservations, or even for teachers in public schools who have Native American students. This is my main focus, however, I soon asked myself, “Well why cant these methods be a model for other ethnically diverse students?”. So far, I definatley see how the general idea (not necessarily the specific points) can be applied to other non anglo groups. I will explore this topic a little, but mainly I want to explore how education can be used for Native American students. I am not going into this thinking I will teach them or save them. I like to think its more of guiding them to their paths, whatever they may be. Really, I think they, as peoples, have many things to teach us if we just listen. As much as I will be a teacher, I know I will still be learning. I believe Native American teachings should be valued-their own personal teachings and ones that are universal. I feel that with improved education for Native American students, I will be able to become the teacher I imagine, students will grow stronger, and others will follow suit in improving education for ethnically diverse peoples.

2. I think cultural education is essential to a successful formation of identity…How does cultural education form identity within the classroom? Why is this important?

I think there are certain methods used in a western classroom that are ineffective for Native American students…Which methods are successful or unsuccessful in teaching Native American students?

I think people and the societies they create are constantly changing. Education should correlate with these changes…How has education adapted or not adapted to the changes in society?

I think for Native Americans family and community are highly valued and thus should be an essential part in their education…How is community incorporated in education for Native American students?

I think these successful methods can be applied to other cultural groups…How can these methods be generalized for other ethnic or culutral groups?

3.) There has been much research done on education for Native Americans. However, my angle is how we can use a successful school, like Tuscarora, to promote improvement for other schools. I used to want to display the atrocities of Native American history, but I learned that will not improve anything. Action must be taken to have improvement or growth. Im using this certain angle so that I can better learn how to become this sort of teacher. And perhaps for others who wish to take this on. While it is important to know the tragedies, its more important to know how to fix them. I hope to accomplish that with the direction I have taken

4. For methodology, I will be using interviews with teachers and faculty on the reservation. I plan the interviews to be one on one and personal. Unfortunatley, they will have to be over the phone or with skype. I plan to ask questions about their school specifically and education in genreral.

Introduction-sufficiently forecasted the remainder of the essay: i gave the article a 5. i found nothing wrong with how the introduction was set up. he used a chart which was good. it leads up to the remainder of this essay well.

Conclusion-sufficiently wrapped up the author’s thoughts; connected the into:i gave him a 4 this time because it was an ok conclusion, it wraps it up but i think it could have connected to the intro better

In-text citations-at least 2 and properly formatted: a 1. he only uses the new york times as a source and there is no bibliography at the end. there is no second source used. im assuming he is using mla.

Works cited/references-only work actually cited in the paper is included:1. he uses it in the paper but no bibliography

Grammar/mechanics-language choice; punctuation;spelling, etc.: 5. no spelling errors as far as i can tell. language wasnt hard, easy to understand, gets the point across. 

Pre & post writing paragraphs-did the author sufficiently describe goals and how to meet them? did author sufficiently explain how goals were met: 2. there are brief introduction and conclusion but it is just that, doesnt outling goals or how he will meet them. very brief.

Flow-transitions between paragraphs; all sentences in a paragraph related; no run-on or fragmented sentences: 5. saw nothing wrong with content flow, easy to follow along

Hooked and maintained reader interest: 4. while it wasnt hard to keep reading, i felt like he could have improved this area.

genre-met the needs of the intended genre: im guessing this is an analytical paper in which he is analyzing why rampages have increased, if this is correct i would give him a 4. could have been better with more sources.

total 34/50