Course Syllabus

Summer 2024 | ENG-1020-VO02 - Introduction to Research Methods

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Janice Mitchell-Love
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Collin Lee

General Education Requirements

CCV Writing and Research

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This writing course introduces students to research methods across social science disciplines. Topics include various methodologies (e.g., interviewing, questionnaires, observation, literature search, data collection), presentation formats (e.g., written vs. oral), and APA documentation procedures. It also examines library and web-based research techniques. This course fulfills the research and writing intensive requirement. Students must complete a final research paper with a grade of C- or better in order to pass this course. Prerequisite: English Composition

Essential Objectives

1. Demonstrate research methodologies commonly used in the social sciences, including formulating and narrowing research questions, observation, survey design, interviewing, and presentation skills (oral & written).
2. Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative research methods used to study human behavior.
3. Demonstrate information literacy skills: distinguish between and utilize both primary and secondary sources; perform library and web-based literature searches; and evaluate data and resources for credibility, reliability, and validity.
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply either APA or MLA citation styles in academic writing by parenthetically citing sources in the text and correctly compiling them in the relevant end sources page.
5. Compose, revise, and edit a final paper that includes a thesis statement, integrates five or more scholarly and professional sources--including primary and secondary evidence as needed--to address an academic research question, and demonstrates writing proficiency by achieving a grade of C- or better.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

ENG-1020-VO02 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

This is a very practical, hands-on course. The goal is to learn about and work with various research methodologies and information skills; in addition, at semester's end, the student should be able to comfortably use the two major documentation styles, MLA and APA and feel reasonably familiar with other styles such as Chicago style. Students will demonstrate their grasp of these methodologies, information skills, and documentation styles by working with them on various discussion forum tasks, by submitting some brief research-related assignments, by completing research tasks specific to the research paper, and by completing a longer research paper (minimum of eight pages in the body) that will use MLA or APA style (student choice). This research paper must earn a grade of C- or higher in order for the student to successfully pass Intro to Research Methods, and much of the semester will be spent on its production.

To repeat, this is all very practical. The goal is to make each student more comfortable with the research paper process and with the major documentation styles.

Evaluation Criteria

Your final grade will be derived from the following: participation in discussion forums (which requires complete homework preparation); homework tasks which could include reading, research, and/or review assignments; research tasks (including various tasks having to do with the argumentative research paper such as a research proposal, a thesis statement, an outline, drafts of a Bibliography or References, interview assignments, and survey assignments), an argumentative research essay with a minimum of eight pages in the body, and a final presentation related to the argumentative research essay.

The final grade will be derived using the following weighting of components:

30% Participation in discussion forums

10% Homework tasks

10% Research tasks

40% A researched argumentative essay (Note: this must earn a minimum final grade of C- or higher)

10% A final presentation

Grading Details:

All written assignments should be typed and double- spaced with a size 12 font (usually New Times Roman or Arial) and 1”- 1.25" margins on all four sides. Appropriate college-level formatting and writing are expected. Assignments will be assessed in the following areas: organization (introduction, transition from one paragraph to the next, conclusion), content, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Below is a grading guide and what is expected at each level.

A+ through A-: For any work to receive an "A," it must clearly be exceptional or outstanding work. It must demonstrate keen insight and original thinking. It must not only demonstrate full understanding of the topic or issue addressed, but it must also provide a critical analysis of these. An “A” paper reflects a student’s ability to clearly and thoughtfully articulate his or her learning. It must also be on time, meet the minimum length requirement, and contain very few grammatical, spelling, and typing errors. The reader should completely understand the point the writer is trying to make. If needed, evidence should be clearly and correctly cited. If the writer’s opinion is stated, an explanation of the reasoning behind it and examples should be given.

B+ through B-: For any work to receive a "B," it must be good to excellent work. It must demonstrate strong originality, comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail. A “B” paper reflects a student’s ability to clearly articulate his or her learning. It also meets the minimum length requirements, contains few grammatical, spelling, and typing errors. The reader should understand the point the writer is trying to make.

C+ through C-: For any work to receive a "C," it must meet the expectations of the assignment and should demonstrate solid comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail. A “C” paper reflects a student’s ability to adequately articulate his or her learning. If the reader asks questions throughout the paper as to "why does the writer feel this way?" or "what exactly does the writer mean by that?" then the student did not clearly support his/her opinions or make his/her point. It also meets the minimum length requirement and contains several grammatical, spelling, and typing errors which take away the readability of the paper.

D+ through D-: For any work to receive a "D," it marginally meets the expectations of the assignment. It demonstrates some comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail. A “D” paper reflects a student’s difficulty in articulating his or her learning. A paper of this quality warrants a private discussion between student and instructor as to why this grade was achieved. It may meet the minimum length requirement and contains numerous grammatical, spelling, and typing errors which take away from the readability of the paper. It is not organized, and there is no reference to research or text material when necessary. This is not college level quality and was not thoroughly proofread.

F: Work that receives an "F" grade does not meet the expectations or objectives of the assignment. It demonstrates consistent problems with comprehension, organization, critical thinking, and supporting details. An “F” paper reflects a student’s inability to articulate his or her learning. Students are strongly urged to discuss this grade with the instructor and perhaps their advisor. It is also a paper not completed at all or that is more than one week late. It does not meet any of the above requirements for A through D grades. It is a paper that has been plagiarized.

0: Work that receives a zero was intentionally plagiarized. Students are strongly urged to discuss this grade with their instructor and advisor.

Specifics on the Final Argumentative Research Paper:

The final argumentative research paper is an argumentative paper that consists of a minimum of 8 full pages of content (citation pages, title page, abstract, etc. do not count as part of the eight-page requirement) with six (6) resources. Resources must come from a variety of academic sources and should include primary and secondary sources along with an interview and survey. The student must earn a final grade of at least a C- on this argumentative research paper in order to pass the course regardless of the total grade in other course areas.

One Note:

This paper will be an ongoing process throughout the semester. Various graded research tasks will be assigned such as a topic proposal, a thesis statement, an outline, drafts of the Bibliography or References (depending on whether student is using MLA or APA), and interview- and survey-related assignments. These tasks will help students remain on-time and focused for the submission of the final draft of the research paper.

Grading for Discussion Board

A = Outstanding Quality: Postings demonstrate a solid understanding of the concepts, topics and ideas as evidenced by thoughtful responses and questions that show a clear connection with and/or are integrated with the course material at hand. Postings show depth and include many supporting details. A posting of outstanding quality might demonstrate, for example, a critical analysis of an existing posted idea or introduce a different interpretation to an existing concept or idea. When discussing literature, quotes from the reading, when appropriate, are included. Outstanding postings demonstrate the following characteristics: they are thoroughly developed; they are completely free of major grammatical or mechanical errors; they demonstrate a reasonable attempt to be free of minor grammatical or mechanical errors; they are well argued with many supportive examples and illustrations from readings and discussion; and they show strong evidence of original thinking. In outstanding postings, the tone is clear and respectful Postings are submitted on-time and are distributed throughout the week. All directions, such as required number of sentences per post, are followed. (Note: underlining is simply to emphasize points often overlooked by past students.)

B = Good quality: Postings demonstrate an adequate understanding of the concepts, topics, and ideas as evidenced by posting more general statements in the forum. A good quality posting might, for example, indicate agreement or disagreement with an existing discussion including a limited explanation or justification but would not offer depth of critical analysis or a different interpretation to an existing concept or idea as an outstanding post might. When discussing literature, quotes from the reading, when appropriate, are included. Postings are thoroughly developed, largely free of major and minor grammatical or mechanical errors, are reasonably argued with some supportive example and illustrations from readings and discussions, and show evidence of original thinking. In good postings, the tone is clear and respectful. Postings are submitted on-time and are distributed throughout the week. Directions, such as required number of sentences per post, are generally followed. (Note: underlining is simply to emphasize points often overlooked by past students.)

C = Fair quality: Postings demonstrate a restricted understanding of the concepts, topics, and ideas as evidenced by posting information that could be derived from prior posts and/or including highly general comments. When discussing literature, quotes from the reading, when appropriate, are not included. Postings show average development, contain consistent major and minor grammatical or mechanical errors, incorporate few supportive examples and illustrations from readings and discussion, and/or show marginal evidence of original thinking. In fair postings, the tone is clear and respectful. Postings are submitted on-time but are not distributed throughout the week. Directions, such as required number of sentences per post, are not followed. (Note: underlining is simply to emphasize points often overlooked by past students.)

D = Poor quality: Postings do not contribute materially to discussion. There is insignificant interaction with peers and little development of thought or technique. Demonstration of acceptable grammar and mechanics usage is poor. In poor postings, the tone is respectful. Postings may not be submitted on-time and may not be distributed throughout the week.

F= Unsatisfactory quality: Postings are not submitted on-time or postings are not submitted at all. Student work could be plagiarized. Student work is so insubstantial that credit cannot be awarded. Posting could be so unintelligible that a determination of tone cannot be rendered.

0 = Zero: no postings submitted for the week.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Late Work:

Unless you have an emergency situation, have talked to me before the assignment is due, and have gotten permission from me to be late, no late assignments are accepted. Note: simply notifying me does not give you permission to be late; I have to answer you and give you that permission.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity