STAGE III: Final Research Development and Presentation

Team Assignment: Teams of 4 students

Learning Goal:

To work as a team to synthesize, document, and present a coherent and well organized research  on the case study site using tools for research including:

1. A research outline with a clearly defined research question
2. An annotated bibliography
3. A multimedia presentation with audio narration and videos and images that coherently presents the research and a conclusion to the research question.

The final project makes use of the analysis and research of assignment #2 to finalize and document the research and present it in a research outline, annotated bibliography, and multi-media presentation.

Group Outline

An outline makes any research assignment easier because it helps you organize the ideas and concepts hierarchically and helps you keep track of large amounts of information. For group projects, the outline can help each member of the group understand what their individual contributions and responsibilities are so that everyone understands who is contributing to which part of the final assignment: researching and writing the script for the podcast.

The outline starts with the development of a clear and focused research question. Once your group’s research question is finalized, develop an outline that shows how you will research and present your topic in a format that advances your original thoughts with evidence from your research. Your outline forms a structure for your multimedia presentation and shows your audience how the evidence you find from your research, combined with your own analysis, takes the audience from your research question to your conclusions.

Your outline should restate your research question; no need to include the entire topic proposal. In the outline you may use short phrases rather than complete sentences to describe your arguments and supporting subdivisions. Each supporting section or subdivision should be distinct, yet related to the argument.

Your outline must be well organized and tell me how you plan to answer your research question with evidence from your research that supports your own arguments

You may indicate a source or multiple sources for each subdivision, as appropriate; this may help you remember which sources support which arguments when it comes time to write and revise the script.

You can use or adapt this template to organize your outline:
Include the names of all group members at the top of the document Introduction – ask the research question at the top of the document

a. Relevance

b. Background information and context
First argument with supporting evidence from your research

1. Subdivision one – one piece of evidence to support your argument with supporting details (Source)
2. Subdivision two – another piece of evidence to support your argument with supporting details (Source)
3. Repeat as needed

Second argument with supporting evidence from your research
a. Subdivision one – one piece of evidence to support your argument with supporting details (Source)
b. Subdivision two – another piece of evidence to support your argument with supporting details (Source) c. Repeat as needed

Third argument with supporting evidence from your research
a. Subdivision one – one piece of evidence to support your argument with supporting details (Source)
b. Subdivision two – another piece of evidence to support your argument with supporting details (Source) c. Repeat as needed

Conclusion

1. Answer to the research question; is there an answer?
2. Recommendations for further study

•  You may have more than three arguments with supporting evidence. Each argument should carry approximately equal weight in your analysis of the research question
• Each group should submit the outline as a Word doc, PDF, or in Google Docs and share a link in a new post on the OpenLab before the beginning of class on Thursday, April 18; use 12-point font and 1” margins
• Further guidance on writing outlines can be found here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html
• As always, please contact your professors with questions about this assignment Grading chart for your outline:

	Insufficient (0-4 points)	Developing (5-8 points)	Competent (9-12 points)	Excellent (13-15 points)
Relevance	The outline does not relate to the research proposal.	Most of the outline is not clearly related to the research proposal	The outline is related to the research proposal, but the research question is not clearly addressed	The outline is relevant to the research proposal.
Focus	The outline lacks a main topic and a research question or problem.	An appropriate topic has been selected; however, the outline does not include a research question or problem.	An appropriate topic has been selected and a research question or problem is included.	An appropriate topic has been selected, and a research question or problem is considered reflectively.
Structure	The structure of the outline is unclear and vague; points to support the main argument are missing or incomplete.	The structure of the outline is inconsistent or incomplete, but some points to support the research topic are present.	Much of the outline is clear, but a few parts are incomplete or undeveloped.	The structure of the outline is clear and points to support the research topic are presented logically.
Sources	None of the arguments are backed up by sources	Few of the arguments are backed up by sources	Some of the arguments are backed up by sources	Most or all of the arguments are backed up by sources
Assignment requirements	The outline is less than a half a page in length.	The outline is about half of one page in length.	The outline is nearly one page in length.	The outline is one page or more in length
Writing mechanics	All sentences & phrases are grammatically incorrect or have errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization.	Most sentences & phrases are grammatically incorrect or have errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization.	Some sentences & phrases are grammatically incorrect or have errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization.	All or almost all sentences & phrases are grammatically correct or are free of punctuation, spelling, or capitalization errors.

Group Annotated Bibliography

Each group member selects a minimum of 3 (more than 3 per person is okay!) different sources of relevant information on the topic of your team research assignment, including:

1. at least 1 text-based primary source (historical newspaper article, letter, diary, data set)
2. at least 1 image-based primary source (photograph, film/video, painting/drawing)
3. at least 1 scholarly or academic source (interprets or analyzes historic or current conditions; a secondary source) If you are unsure whether a source you’d like to use meets one of these criteria, please ask your professors.
4. At the top of the document, write a single sentence that summarizes the research question for your research group. Each group submits one annotated bibliography of unique sources. Include the full names of each member of the group. Begin each annotation with the citation for each source, formatted using MLA Style. For citation help, use ZoteroBib https://zbib.org/ and/or the MLA Works Cited page of the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
5. Underneath each citation, write an annotation for the source. Each annotation must be at least 100 words, though it may be longer.
6. Accomplish all of the following in each annotation:
   1. Summarize – no more than 1-2 sentences; avoid quoting from the source
   2. Evaluate – how, and how well, does this source contribute to knowledge on your topic?

• Reflect – how does the source fit into your research? How does it help you answer your research question?

• Please write in a formal academic style; avoid first person (“I”) statements. Avoid excessive jargon.
• Please proofread all written work for typographic and spelling errors and correct use of capitalization, grammar, and punctuation.
• For help and an annotated bibliography example, consult this guide from the OWL :https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/index.html
• Please type up your annotated bibliography in a word processing program and post it to the course site as a reduced file size PDF. Use a standard 12 point font with 1 inch margins. Annotations can be single-spaced.
• We will spend some time in class during discussing and drafting the Annotated Bibliography.

Grading chart for your annotated bibliography:

	Insufficient (0-5 points)	Developing (6-10 points)	Competent (11-15 points)	Excellent (16-20 points)
Research	None of the sources are relevant to the topic.	Some sources are not relevant to the topic.	Most sources are relevant to the topic.	All sources are relevant to the topic.
Research	All or almost all sources used are not appropriate for the assignment, and contain inaccurate, biased, or outdated information from inexpert authors.	Most sources used are not appropriate for the assignment, and contain inaccurate, biased, or outdated information from inexpert authors.	Some sources used are not appropriate for the assignment, and contain inaccurate, biased, or outdated information from inexpert authors.	All sources used are appropriate for the assignment. They are credible sources, and are accurate, authoritative, objective, and current.
Content development	None or almost none of the annotations include a summary of the source.	Some annotations include a summary of the source.	Most annotations include a summary of the source.	All annotations include a summary of the source.
Content development	None or almost none of the annotations analyze the relationship of the source to the topic.	Some annotations analyze the relationship of the source to the topic.	Most annotations analyze the relationship of the source to the topic.	All annotations analyze the relationship of the source to the topic.
Writing style	All or almost all annotations are unfocused and unclear.	Most annotations are unfocused and unclear.	Some annotations are somewhat unfocused and unclear.	All annotations are clearly presented and fully focused.
Assignment requirements	All annotations are less than 100 words in length.	Some annotations are less than 100 words in length.	Most annotations are at least 100 words in length.	All annotations are at least 100 words in length.
Assignment requirements	One or 2 sources are annotated	Three sources are annotated	Four sources are annotated	At least 5 sources are annotated
Writing mechanics	Most sentences are grammatically incorrect.	Most sentences are grammatically incorrect.	Some sentences are grammatically incorrect.	All or almost all sentences are grammatically correct.
Writing mechanics	All sentences have errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization.	Most sentences have errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization.	Some sentences have errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization.	All or almost all sentences are free of punctuation, spelling, or capitalization errors.

Multi-media Presentation Guidelines

Your multi-media presentation is the final project for the semester. This presentation is to present the research question identified in the group outline, follow the structure of the outline with arguments and a conclusion, and strategically incorporate or reference at least three relevant information sources from the annotated bibliography.

This activity will be completed in 4 stages:

1. planning and prewriting
2. research and script development
3. technical production
4. viewing & reflection

Grading criteria

• Successful attempt to answer research question
• Inclusion or references made to at least three relevant information sources (articles, books, maps, films, etc.)
• Quality of content analysis and synthesis of sources relevant to the research question.
• Equal participation of group members in multimedia audio recording
• Good effort made to successfully record, produce, and edit
• All required content appears on OpenLab site
• Presentation is successfully uploaded to Soundcloud with images and metadata
• Presentation is between 15-20 minutes long
• All content is cited in the bibliography, including images and music
• Selection of an appropriate Creative Commons license

Resources for recording
The Multimedia Resources Center in the City Tech library lends out USB headsets with microphones. Use your college ID to borrow a headset/mic. Headsets must be used in the library. You can borrow an iPad Mini or laptop for up to 3 days from Multimedia with your college ID.

If you need a quiet place to record, reserve a library study room. During class time, with permission, you may use the library projection room or the eclassroom. Bring a laptop with Audacity or other recording software already installed. You can record with your phone using the voice memo app or Anchor for iOS or Android.

Regarding music for the presentation: Start your search for CC-licensed music that you can legally use at CCMixter, Jamendo, or one of the other sites listed here.

See the step-by-step podcast instructions from Prof. Almeida for technical assistance with recording and editing.