Justin J. Bain
PhD Student in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric
Syracuse University
315-443-1412
jjbain@syr.edu
• Philosophy
• Writing 105
• Writing 205
• Writing 307
• Writing 110
Research Log Assignment
Over the next five weeks you will be asked to work with and test various research methods. Some of the methods will be more difficult than others, some will require more outside work than others, and some will be more appropriate to given topics of inquiry. Each of you will have an opportunity to work with each method, to learn from the experience of others, and to reflect on a given method’s strengths, weaknesses, difficulties, limitations, applications, etc.
As you work with each method, you will be asked to create/keep two sorts of documents, a research anthology and a research log. The research anthology will primarily consist of information gathered, extended bibliographies, annotations, notes, reflections, and applications. The research log will primarily consist of notes, reflections, and evaluations of methods themselves. As we progress in our research as a class, we will develop a list of criteria or critical terms that will be used in your research logs. To get us started, I have provided a few such terms that can be used for your first log. I’m asking you, however, to continue to develop and modify this list, as well as add your own terms as they arise.
• Name of method
• Predictions about using the method
• Strategies
• Applications/Use
• Difficulties
• Limitations
• General Reflections
Research logs will be written individually, and turned in to me each Tuesday (the Tuesday after you have employed the method). A typical log should be about 2 pages typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, times new roman or similar.