The Assignment
Requirements for your research critique/annotated bibliography:
- Four resources published within the past 8 years:
- 2 professional magazine articles, websites, government reports etc.
- 2 scholarly articles or book chapters
- Each article critique should fit on one single-spaced page & include:
- citation/reference in APA
- introduction and summary
- analysis of author's intentions, key points and findings
- Conclude with personal reflections, applicability to question and relation/connection to other resources
Types of literature
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Types of Literature |
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Scholarly |
Grey literature |
Professional or trade journals |
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Scholarly journal articles:
Scholarly books and book chapters
authors are affiliated with a university or relevant organization |
Government reports and data
Blogs and newsletters |
Professional or trade journals:
Unlike scholarly journals, trade publications do not contain original research and are meant to be practical in nature. Their focus is on current practices and issues. |
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Search for these in library databases or Google Scholar |
Search for these in Google, Google Scholar or ERIC |
Search for these resources using Library databases or Google |
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Sample Search: |
Sample Search: |
Sample Search "teacher* assistant*" "English language learners" kindergarten |
Refining your Topic & Research Question
Narrow your topic:
- Start with a broad topic: Increasing motivation and engagement in the classroom
- Narrow to an age group: preschool, kindergarten, teenagers, elementary, secondary
- Narrow to one or several aspects of the topic: academic achievement, subject area
Focused topic:
Using guided play to increase motivation in kindergarten mathematics
Inquiry or Research Question
Clear: easily understood by your audience
Focused: narrow enough to allow you to address it in your assignment
Concise: expressed in the fewest possible words
Complex: Cannot be answered with yes or no. Is not a leading question
Open: open to research - should generate more questions
___________________________
Phrase your topic in the form of an inquiry question:
- Focused question: How does play impact motivation for learning mathematics in kindergarten?
Add your question to the Padlet
Use key words from your question to develop a search strategy
Search techniques
Things to remember when using Library Search:
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Use the filters on the right.
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When viewing an item, scroll down to the bottom - Get It or Full Text section to link to the full text or write down a call number.
Combine or omit different terms by telling the search engine exactly what you want:
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Use quotation marks to keep phrases together “white collar crime"
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Use an asterisk (wild card) to include all of the possible endings- eg. teach* = teacher, teachers, teaching etc.
LibrarySearch
Education Databases
Professional Journals and Grey Literature
ATA Magazine
sample report: Inclusive Education in Alberta
Phi Delta Kappan
sample search: SO phi delta kappan AND disabilit*
Education Digest
sample search: SO "Education Digest" AND learning disabilities
Canadian Education Association - EdCan Magazine
sample search: "learning disabilities"
ASCD - Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
sample search: language learning
APA citation resources
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Writing and Learning ServicesYou can make an appointment with Writing and Learning Services and they can help you with the citations for your assignments.
