Course info
Outline of Module:
This module has a research focus and prepares students over a semester to write a research proposal comprising of the appropriate methodology and a corresponding literature review. Students are returning from 3 weeks of teaching practice and they then select a topic relevant to their experiences in the school. The module focuses on developing key concepts and skills related to writing a research proposal as an academic but with a personal and professional rationale. Students will present a well written, coherent proposal (of 8-10 pages with between 6- 8 references) on any one of the geographic topics below. The proposal comprising of a literature and methodology will be constructed under key thematic headings and there will be an oral presentation of the methodology for a summative assessment. There is no exam in this module.
Outcomes:
Students must be able to:
· Construct a coherent research proposal: methodology ( approximately 5 pages comprising of an aim, critical questions, research style, tools and sampling, a data collection table, ethics, limitations and references) and literature review of 4 pages presented thematically on a geographic topic of your choice
· Use between 6-8 references ( books, journal articles, reports) in the literature review
· Have knowledge of key concepts relevant for research methodology and a literature review such as seminal article, theory, model, plagiarism in addition to theme specific concepts
The skills that will be developed:
· writing a logical coherent literature review and methodology section,
· referencing according to APA 6th style,
· effecting track changes in peer reviewing and
· oral presentations and discussions of segments of the proposal
Important Aspects for students to remember:
Pls note that lectures will be held thrice during the week (refer to timetable) when need be, some lectures will be held with the entire class and for others, students are expected to work on their own/ peer/lecturer consultation given the guidelines provided on certain days.
Each week will have a separate task that will be due as this module involves developing a research proposal over a semester. This is a continuous assessment module.
Hence, students who are absent take the risk of failing if they do not meet regular deadlines.
Dates
and Associated tasks 05-08
August: Read on a topic of your choice (choose
from 1 of 3 topics given below)and bring 3 readings to class with your
summaries on the topic. None of the readings should be older than 10 yrs.
unless it’s a seminal piece. Class discussion on what is a literature
review. Homework for the first 4 weeks: select 4
sources of literature (reports, books, journal articles): one per week related
to your topic (you may choose to discuss 1/2 that you previously chose) and
summarise them, one per week. Task: What is the topic and key ideas/themes
for the topic from your readings (student presentation) to construct a research
study- write some key ideas. In class task: Choice
and clarification of Topic with lecturer. 12-16
August: Research Methodology over 3 weeks Lecturer to lead discussion with ppt and
students to read and write Task: Develop the aim, critical questions
and research style with appropriate tools, discuss ethics in research in class
and refine all sections at home. Refine the methodology 19 -23 August: What is a literature review? Task: Components of a good
LR and Steps to take before beginning to write the draft (ppt.
presentation by Dr Manik and class discussion) Task: Individual consultation with Dr
Manik and preparation of draft Task: Oral presentation of methodology 26-30
August: Researching for a literature review. Key ideas + collecting sources for a LR: ppt. by
Dr Manik Task: students begin to
arrange their literature into a coherent argument individually. Consultations
with Dr Manik Task: Oral presentation of methodology Homework: add 3 more sources of
literature. 02
-06 September: Organisation of your Proposal in a template form Arranging the proposal for coherence: ppt + example of a LR and methodology section
(by Dr Manik). Task: students to refine
their methodology section and LR. 09-13
September: students to construct the final draft of
the Proposal ppt
by Dr Manik Task: Integrating the
summaries to create flow, emphasize topic sentence to introduce each section. Individual writing and then consultations
with Dr Manik on the methodology and literature review 14-
24 September: MID TERM BREAK 25-27
Sept: Individual consultations continue 30
Sept-4 Oct: Drafts and Revisions commence How to peer review a proposal and IT
lesson on reviewing a document: use of track changes ( Explanation and
demonstration by Dr Manik) class task: commence peer
review of proposal using track changes 07-15
October: referencing – keep to APA 6th
style- check the library for details class task: Individual scan
of each student’s efforts and suggestions. Individual consult with lecturer on
how to improve the quality of the submission lectures End on 16 October
2019: full
submission of Proposal for assessment feedback to class and individual
consultations with all students and those who have failed have an opportunity
to re-work and to re-submit . 22-29
October: additional feedback to selected students
to strengthen proposal then submissions Consultations:
refer to my office door (CF 102) or email me. ASSESSMENT:
Construct a Research proposal: (100%) on any ONE of the following topics: 1. The
Reasons for International Teacher Migration: Developing contexts/ developed
contexts 2. Gender
Based Violence in Schools: Township/urban/rural 3. Poverty
and Food (In)Security in Schools: Township/urban/rural 4. Racial
Integration in Schools
- Teacher: Christopher Tarisayi Chikandiwa
- Teacher: Sadhana Manik
- Teacher: Kudzayi Savious Tarisayi
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