Kleine

Summary

In Michael Kleine's article "What Is It We Do When We Write Articles Like This One-and How Can We Get Students to Join Us?" Kleine addresses the topic of writing a research article. With students as his audience, he tells us how he is displeased with the way students are doing research. Kleine tells us how he conducted an experiment which included interviewing 8 colleague researchers about their own methods of researching. He discusses the idea of researchers as being either "hunters" or "gatherers". Kleine then split his process into 4 stages; "collecting", "Rhetorical Sifting", "Pattern Seeking" and "Translating". Kleine discovered that when researching, people can be both "sloppy and rich" (pg. 27) 

Synthesis

When comparing Kleine's article with Greene's article, I found that both articles discuss student's researching habits and ways. I liked Greene's article because it gave the reader clear steps for researching before you dive into an argument. While Kleine's article was still very informative about the research method, It did not give instructions on how to properly research a topic. I also enjoyed Kleine's  article because it talked about the habits of high school and college researchers. 

Questions for Discussion 

1. The subject in Kleine's article is somewhat similar to my one personal experience. In the article, Kleine talk about how high school student simply copy material that they find and call it research. Kleine's theory of they way students do research is describing the way that I research only on some occasions. I believe that when I research, I don't just copy it down, but use all of my resources to find the most accurate and subject appropriate material. Sometimes I may find myself in that "high school" way of researching, but for the most part I believe that I am a good researcher. 

3. When Kleine interviewed the professionals, the sources that the professionals used did not play a big part in the interview. Kleine was more focused on the process of how the professionals found and got to the sources. Also, Kleine wanted to focus on what the professionals did with the information that they got from the sources. In my past research efforts, sources have been a big part of my researching. I always focus on getting the correct information was valuable and good sources. This is different because in Kleine's study, he only wanted to focus on how the professionals found their sources and what they did with them. 

4. If I did what Kleine's article tells the readers to do, my researching methods would be changed. Instead of trying to write and research at the same time, I would take my time and understand my topic at hand before I started anything. I would get all of my information, thoroughly read through it and make sure that I understand everything before I begin my project. In the future, I will try to use Kleine's method of researching.

Thoughts

After reading Kleine's article, I am interested to try his new found way of researching. I found this article very interesting, especially when Kleine talked about those who hunt and those who gather research. I found that I can sometimes both be a hunter and a gatherer. I believe that I am an average researcher, but hopefully after reading and understanding this article I will become a better researcher. 

Swales and Greene

Getting Ready to Read

When thinking about the word argument, I think of when one person is having a disagreement or issue with one or more other people. An argument can be when people dispute over a certain matter or topic. In an argument, people from both parties usually speak about what they believe or how they feel and why. In everyday conversation, the word argument is used when people want to express their beliefs of feelings on a matter. An argument usually comes up in an everyday conversation once someone challenges someone else’s beliefs or opinions and an argument can be created. When it comes to arguing in an academic setting, arguments are usually handled in a more civil and polite manner. If there is an argument in an academic setting, it is usually a positive argument that challenges students to think about their opinions and knowledge on the topic at hand. The argument is also probably being used to teach the students why or why not something is right or wrong. This type of argument is different from the everyday conversation argument because an everyday conversation argument is usually not for learning purposes and can often be used for negative things instead of positive. Also, the environments are also very different. An academic argument is done in a controlled setting and an every day conversation argument can easily turn into a fight and get out of hand.  

Summary

In John Swales article, “Create a Research Space” Model of Research Introductions, Swales is trying to show readers the three important steps of reading and writing research articles. Swales encourages readers to get appropriate background on their topic, find out exactly what needs to be researched, and finally create or find the right research project. Swales states that by completing these steps, the reader can successfully read or write a research project.

Summary

In Stuart Greene’s article, “Argument as Conversation: The Role of Inquiry in Writing a Researched Argument”, Green shows readers how to successfully be in and assess an argument, and how to make a researched argument. Greene states that to be successful at this, you must find the issue and situation, come up with questions that are clear and can be answered, and to find a strategy for your research. Following these steps will help the reader when creating a researched argument.  

Synthesis

These two articles are very similar because they are both about helping readers create good research and writing habits. They both give steps and guidelines on how to do these things. They also both use examples to help the reader understand. 

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

2. I believe that Greene uses this quote to give the reader a good example of how you should enter and participate in an argument. This quote shows us that when in an argument, you must carefully listen to the others in the argument as well as clearly expressing your own opinion on the matter. The metaphor that Burke uses shows us that you should not be afraid to express your own opinions when faced with an argument. It presents writing in a way that lets us know that we should be strong and persistent when sharing our opinion and knowledge with others.

3. Framing can help a writer express their opinions and thoughts when in an argument. It helps the writer decide exactly what he or she wants to say. Framing is a metephore for describing the perspective that the writer is coming from. This concept is important for Greene because he uses it when forming an argument. Framing allows the writer to narrow down what they want to say an how they want to go about expressing themselves. 

                                                      Applying and Exploring Ideas 

2. Greene's article expresses a conversation with himself and the reader. He is teaching the reader the steps and processes that he uses when forming and researching arguments. He frames his argument by telling the reader how to be successful at forming an argument. I believe that Greene does practice what he preaches because he gives the reader lots of advice and tools for successfully using argument as conversation. 

Thoughts

I thought that these readings were very interesting because they gave me lots of tips and advice about forming good research and being in a good argument. I will use the material that I learned from these articles in my future when i am wringing a research paper of entering an argument of my interest.