EDIT 6900 & 7340
Researchable
Question (RQ)
Assignment Description
Value: 10 points
designed by Janette Hill; adapted by M. Fitzgerald
Updated 8-20-09 for EDIT
6900 and EDIT 7340
Mode
- M.Ed. and non-degree
students: here, you need to make a choice between working in a team and
working alone. I have no preference - you may freely choose the best
scenario to fit your needs and learning style.
- Ed.S. students: because
this Question forms the basis of your Applied Project, you must do this
as an individual.
- Students in any degree
program working alone should feel free to solicit lots of peer feedback
from cohort members and classmates.
Purpose
A research project begins with
a
problem or feeling of curiosity. After some initial reading for
background, the next step is to compose a researchable question.
The question serves as the focus for any research project.
Evaluation of this assignment will be formative. That is, the
goal is to construct the question (with supporting elements), and full
credit will be given for a complete submission. Qualitative
feedback, however, will be provided, so that you may launch your
project properly; I expect to see this feedback implemented in the next
assignment.
It can be a major challenge to write a question that is truly
"researchable." Do your best to make your question specific and
answerable. I will work with you (even after the
assignment is graded) toward the goal of establishing a truly
researchable question.
Components
- The following statement
(one sentence, if possible):
My study is about...
- Paragraph: why you
perceive this to be a
problem
worthy of research for
a lay audience*
- Context: brief explanation
of where this problem is situated - media center, classroom, etc.
- Research Question: it should
be one sentence, and it should be a question
- Rubric with self-assessment
*Justify your study to a
principal, parent, or some other interested,
educated person who knows nothing about our field.
Special instructions for EDIT
7340
students: yes, this assignment should look very familiar to
you.
Consider it another draft of previous work. If it was already perfect
and
your mind hasn't changed about your topic, then simply copy from before.
Submission
Format
Individual
submissions: Name file in this format: yourname-rq.doc. (Include
the rubric.)
Group submissions: create one file with the assignment and rubric, and
include each member's name in the filename. One team member only should
submit this file. Other team members should submit only a copy of
the rubric below (filled out).
Evaluation Checklist
Criterion
|
Value
|
Your
assessment:
(yes or no)
|
MAF's
assessment
|
Answers
the question "My study is about ____"
|
2
|
.
|
.
|
Indicates how this question is worthy of
research
|
2
|
|
|
Provides enough context for readers to
picture your problem situation
|
2
|
|
|
Research
Question is a single sentence
|
1
|
.
|
.
|
Research Question is a question
|
1
|
|
|
You
self-assessed
|
1
|
.
|
.
|
Mechanics
are not a problem
|
1
|
.
|
.
|
Total:
6900
Assignments | 7340
Assignments | ELC
Fitzgerald
home
All rights reserved
| Expires 12-31-09
http://it.coe.uga.edu/~mfitzger/6900/researchable-question.html
Updates:
8/20/09: refreshed for 2009. 8/11/08: refreshed for 2008
9/20/07: changed submission format for EDIT 6900. 9/6: specified
submission format
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