In order to practice some of research strategies we will be studying, a series of assignments will be given. All these assignments (excepting the first assignment) are required to be completed in groups. The comprehension assignments are worth 25 percent of the final grade.

1. Statement of a general research topic. Write a one-page statement (typed, Times New Roman 12 point font and 1.5 line spaced) about a general educational topic that you are interested in from a personal or particularistic perspective.  The topic of your choice could be about any educational setting, practice, a person that you would like to understand better, or some issue that you wish to discuss. Describe how this topic caught your attention and why it is important to you and why it may be important to others as well.

Due: September 18^th.

2. Research questions. Using your general topic, develop at least five specific questions on this topic. These questions should be relevant to practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and/or the general public. Your questions could cover a range of dimensions of your research topic. They can be “what, how, why, or what if” questions. State these questions clearly in a brief document, and write a 1-2 sentence description that explains what you are trying to get at with each question and why it is a significant question.

It is likely that some of your questions can be addressed through a careful review of the existing knowledge base, and when you begin digging into the published research literature, you will find that the question has already been answered!  For this assignment, that’s just fine.  But do include questions that meet the criterion of good research questions.

Due: October 9^th..