EDUC 260: Week 9

1
EDUC 260 Week 9
2
Overview

• WebQuest Submission
• Position Paper
• Activity
• Lab Activity
• Work on Assignment 5
• Position Paper Consultation
• Pick up ONeill reading
• For next week

3
WebQuest Submission

• Upload your WebQuest
• Upload your WebQuest into your Blackcomb space.
• Check your "live" webpage carefully
• Correct any problems and re-upload
• Note the URL (web address of your WebQuest)
• Turnitin
• Copy and paste all of the text from your WebQuest
  into a file. Save it as a .doc or .rtf.
• Submit it via Turnitin. Ensure that the text is
  the same as the content in your final WebQuest
  web page(s).
• Email Stephanie (stephanie_at_sfu.ca) with
• Your name, the title of your WebQuest, the
  subject area, grade level and the URL (web
  address).

4
The Position Paper
5
Whats a Position Paper

• It is not
• A literature review
• (e.g. the history of cats as housepets)
• A how-to paper
• (e.g. how to keep cats as housepets)
• A pro and con paper
• (e.g. the advantages and disadvantages of cats as
  housepets)
• A copy and paste activity from a variety of
  sources

6
Defining the Position Paper

• It is an argumentative or persuasive essay
• A reasoned argument rather than an assertion of
  opinion
• Assertion X is true
• E.g. Computers are beneficial in schools
• Leaves people wondering
• WHY is this the case?
• HOW is this done?
• What evidence is there? (Is that really correct?)

7
A Reasoned Argument

• Assertion X is true
• Backs it up with any of the following
• There are persuasive reasons why X could be true
• There is plausible explanation of how X could
  occur.
• There is evidence which suggest that X is in fact
  true
• The strongest argument contains all three above

8
Set the Stage

• The first paragraph or two should introduce
• Your specific issue and the main perspectives on
  the issue
• Your position (thesis statement)
• Your arguments/areas your arguments will focus on
• Do not waste valuable space
• by starting with general statements
• providing a general context of how beneficial
  computers are for the future, etc. or
• a historical account unless it is specifically
  relevant to you argument
• E.g. Up to recently, literature has suggested
  that guinea pigs were the extent to which
  apartment dwellers could consider as pets,
  however cats are

9
What to keep in mind?

• Goal to persuade the reader (me) of your view.
  Think of it along the lines of a newspaper
  editorial.
• (e.g. cats are the ideal housepets for working
  apartment dwellers)
• Where you take a stance/position/specific view on
  a topic
• While "yes/no" issues are tempting (e.g. "should
  computers be used for mathematics instruction?"),
  they are often too broad
• Ideally a meaty issue with three or four possible
  positions that have been studied, such as
• "Why do so few women enter careers in high
  technology? Should schools try to change this,
  and if so how could it be done?"

10
Components

• Once you know your stance, make it clear
• Cats are ideal pets for working apartment
  dwellers
• Then find 3 or 4 arguments to support it
• (Broad) Due to their 1. need for little space, 2.
  cleanliness, and 3. independence
• (Narrower) From a psycho-social perspective. Cats
  1. provide rich interactions, 2. are independent
  when left alone, 3. do not require socialization
  with other cats, and 4. can remain indoors
  without psychological problems.
• For each argument look for supporting examples
  from articles

11
Strength in Citations

• Cats Need for little space
• Reference to support the argument Cats are
  suitable for smaller homes because their compact
  size enables to live in smaller spaces (Fuzzy,
  2002).
• References to provide evidence to support the
  argument
• Cats are suitable for smaller homes because their
  compact size enables them to live in smaller
  spaces. Morris (1999) investigated the
  relationship between housing size and longevity,
  health and temperament among 596 cats. He found
  no differences even when housing consisted of 250
  square feet. anticipate a dog argument A
  study by Rover (2000) however, suggests a
  negative relationship between temperament and
  housing size for dogs.

12
Logic and Arguments

• Ensure that your arguments are organized
  logically, related to each other and flow well
  from one to the other
• Try to anticipate counterarguments, present them
  and then refute them with referenced supporting
  material
• Avoid circular reasoning
• E.g. Media literacy education is needed to
  improve media literacy. Instead Media literacy
  is needed because it
• enables students to search the internet more
  efficiently (cite studies that have found this)

13
Summary

• Includes your position statement
• Includes each of your arguments
• May have some additional ideas/suggestions
• Ties your paper together in a nice package to try
  to sell me on your idea (in an academic way)

14
Position Paper Grading

• 20 - Description of the issue and the various
  perspectives held
• 25 - Presentation of your own position on the
  issue
• 30 - Effective argument for your position (using
  references)
• 10 - Closing summary of your argument
• 15 - Overall clarity of presentation, effective
  use of English and format requirements met

15
Quoting and Paraphrasing

• Ask yourself, Are the exact words of the author
  important?
• If yes, quote selectively. Use to reduce
  spaces, but not excessively
• If no, then paraphrase (write the idea in your
  own words) and cite the author(s)
• Paraphrasing
• Can help you to better understand what is being
  said by the author because you have to process it
  before writing about it
• Enables you to focus portions of the authors
  ideas specifically to support your arguments to
  tie things together more tightly
• Shows me that you understand what the author is
  saying and how you can use it to support your own
  ideas

16
What is plagarism?

• Some ideas
• Using words or ideas that arent yours
• A very serious offence that does occur in
  universities
• Examples
• Not citing within a paper
• Straight copying from a text (without quoting or
  citing)
• Fake references (citing someone as saying
  something when he or she hasnt)
• Copying your classmates paper

17
For Next Week

• Bring 2 copies of a 1-page outline of your
  position paper (or a draft)
• Be prepared to provide and receive critical
  feedback from a peer