Module 04 Reflection Journal (Module 3 and 4)

Writing a Research Paper
This Course Activity will help you meet these educational goals:
21st Century Skills—You will use critical thinking and problem solving skills and communicate effectively.

Introduction
This course activity is your opportunity to assess and evaluate the experience you have had with the writing process and applying it to writing a research paper.

Please save this document before you begin working on the assignment. Type your answers directly in the document. When you have finished, submit your work to your teacher.
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Directions and Analysis

Task 1: Writing and Research Process
Reflect on the journey you took to complete your research paper.

a. Jot down how you performed the specific steps listed below when you composed your research paper. Include in your response why you did or didn’t take part in certain steps, in what order you performed each one, and which were beneficial to your process.

Type your response in the table:
Step
Your Success Goals or Issues with this Step brainstorming (topics, thesis, essay content, etc.)
When I brainstorm I write down three topics I could write about then I eliminate the two I don’t really want to write about. deciding on a thesis
For a thesis I write down ideas and eliminate them. researching When I research I use books, websites, blogs, books, magazines, journals ect. taking notes on sources and evidence When I do this I colour code the topic, write down things, ask experts questions, books, note cards ect. prewriting When I prewrite I look up information about what I’m writing prewriting is basically a draft outlining I write an outline according to my sorted cards. I may find that some cards fit with different colours so I re-arrange them. My paper is becoming a logical argument or position statement. aligning evidence to an outline
My issues with this I don’t really understand it revising When I revise I check for errors that I’ve made editing and proofreading
When I do this I make sure there are no spelling, grammar, or typo errors. creating a bibliography or works-cited page
My success with this is that I’m getting better at it

b. Organize your thoughts about the writing process by answering the questions below.

1. Which part of the research paper process seemed to come most easily or went best for you? Which part was the most difficult?

Type your response here: The part of the research paper process that was the easiest for me was when it was asking me about my learning style, I enjoyed answering that question. The part that was the most difficult was when it asked me how my definition of “Success” changed has.

2. What kinds of obstacles did you face when constructing your paper? Was it researching? Was it writing in general? Describe in detail what problems you encountered and how you overcame them.

Type your response here: The kind of obstacles I faced when constructing my paper was answering some of the question. It was just writing in general I wasn’t sure on how to answer them. I had to just sit and think and when I did that I was able to answer them.

3. How did the research paper process change your view of writing, both in school and your personal life? Include in your response whether the writing process seems easier or less intimidating since composing a research paper, as well as whether you believe the process will be easier for you in the future.

Type your response here: The research paper process change my view of writing because it made it easy for me to understand what I’m doing. They break the process down into smaller pieces so you’ll be able to understand. I think in the future the process will be easier for me because when you keep doing something for a long time it starts to become easy and you get use to doing it.

4. Reflect on the overall writing process of your research paper. Describe in as much detail as you can what you learned from breaking the process into smaller steps and how, if at all, this approach affected the outcome of your paper.

Type your response here: What I learned from breaking the process into smaller pieces is that it makes you understand the topic better. You learn about a topic and write down what you’ve learned in a readable fashion. A research paper is one of the simplest things to me.

5. Describe any steps you still need to take before you can submit your paper to your instructor.

Type your response here: Steps I need to take before submitting my paper is to revise my work and check for errors.

Task 2: Submitting Your Paper
Now that you’ve completed your research paper, review it for any missing pieces and then submit it to your instructor.

Check that you’ve done everything you can to finalize your research paper and then attach it to this Course Activity. Include your bibliography or works-cited page, along with anything else your instructor asked you to submit.

Evaluation
Your teacher will use this rubric to evaluate the completeness of your work as well as the clarity of your thinking.

Task 1: Writing and Research Process

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points)
Thoughts expressed about the writing and research process are detailed and show evidence of some deep reflection.
Answers present a coherent picture of the student’s view of writing at this point, including obstacles.

Proficient
(3 points)
Thoughts expressed about the writing and research process are adequately detailed and show evidence of some reflection.
Answers present a coherent picture of the student’s view of writing at this point, with some mention of obstacles.

Developing
(2 points)
Thoughts expressed about the writing and research process are moderately detailed and show little evidence of reflection.
Answers present a comprehensible picture of the student’s view of writing at this point but may not be well organized.

Beginning
(1 point)
Thoughts expressed about the writing and research process are disjointed and don’t show evidence of reflection.
Answers present an incoherent picture of the student’s view of writing at this point.

Task 2: Submitting Your Paper

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points)
The paper contains a clear thesis statement and convincingly expresses the writer’s position on the topic in the opening paragraph.
The paper presents information from several credible sources that are noted through the use of direct quotations with proper in-text citations and effective paraphrasing of text sources.
The paper contains well-developed paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details throughout each of the required components (introduction, body, and conclusion).
Well-developed versions of the student checklist, outline or cluster, notes, and first draft were submitted.
Proficient
(3 points)
The paper contains a fairly clear thesis statement and effectively expresses the writer’s position on the topic in the opening paragraph.
The paper presents information from a number of credible sources that are noted through the use of direct quotations with in-text citations and mostly effective paraphrasing of text sources.
The paper contains mostly well-developed paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details throughout each of the required components (introduction, body, and conclusion).
Complete versions of the student checklist, outline or cluster, notes, and first draft were submitted.
Developing
(2 points)
The paper contains a weak thesis statement that only somewhat expresses the writer’s position on the topic in the opening paragraph.
The paper presents information from a few credible sources and includes a few direct quotations with in-text citations and adequate paraphrasing of text sources.
The paper contains only a few well-developed paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details throughout most of the required components (introduction, body, and conclusion).
Incomplete versions of a student checklist, outline or cluster, notes, and first draft were submitted.
Beginning
(1 point)
The paper does not contain a developed thesis statement in the opening paragraph and fails to adequately express the writer’s position on the topic.
The paper presents information with incomplete or missing sourcing.
The paper contains paragraphs with minimally developed topic sentences and few supporting details. Many of the required components (introduction, body, and conclusion) are incomplete or missing.
The student checklist, outline or cluster, notes, and a first draft are incomplete or missing.