Course: EDL 660
Summer 2008 – Watkins
Librarian: Sean Cordes
Email:
cs-cordes@wiu.edu
Phone: 298-2785
Office Hours: Mon 8-10, Tue 1-2, Wed 1-2
Off-Campus Access Library Internet Resources: If you are off-campus, you will need to enter your student id # or your ecom (email) username and password. If you have problems, call the reference desk at 309-298-2700 or 800-413-6544.
Education Databases - the main index to all WIU education DB's
ERIC - over one million citations to education articles, documents, and reports
Communication and Mass Media Complete -indexes over 300 communication and mass media journals; full text for over 200 titles
CQ Public Affairs Collection - full-text documents, reports, analysis
CQ Researcher Online -single-themed, 12,000-word reports (background, stats, assessment, biblio.)
Lexis Nexis-250 government periodicals, access to the congressional record
Opposing Viewpoints-6,600+ viewpoint articles; statistics; biographies; court cases; primary docs
What is a position paper?
A position paper creates an argument for an opinion that is logical and backed up with fact. The idea is to convince your readers or audience that your opinion is based on sound ideas and is worth listening to and considering. To write a strong position paper, topics must be carefully considered, arguments must be based on logical, and verfiable points, and the thoughts must be organized into a solid whole.
Your paper should address all sides of the issue in a way that can be clearly and easily userstood by the audience.
The goal is to adopt one side of the argument as your own and persuade your audience to agree with you using well presented logic, facts, and examples.
A good argument supports your position, and addresses any counter claims with evidence. This lets the author build a case for his or her position, disupte the claims of others, and ensure the audience the argument is based on a well rounded understanding of the issue.
Sample outline for a position paper:
Sample outline for a position paper:
1. Introduction
___a. Introduce the topic
___b. Provide history or background on the topic
___c. Describe your view of the issue (thesis)
2. Opposing Argument
___a. Briefly describe some of the counter arguments
___b. List some facts or details that support the counter claim
___c. Refute the opposing view using facts or details that support your side
3. Your Argument - 3 Points of Attack, try to make your points directly refute the counter argument points when possible.
___a. State the first point of your argument
_____1. Give your personal opinion about the point
_____2. Provide evidence, research, testimony, other detail that support your opinion
___b. State the second point of your argument
_____1. Give your personal opinion about the point
_____2. Provide evidence, research, testimony, other detail that support your opinion
___c. State the third point of your argument
_____1. Give your personal opinion about the point
_____2. Provide evidence, research, testimony, other detail that support your opinion
4. Conclusion
___a. Restate both sides of the argument
___b. Summarize your three argument points
___c. Provide a plan of action
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of stealing or using or passing off as someone elses words, phrases, ideas, writings, or creative work as your own, whether you mean to or not.
According to Diana Hacker, editor of The Bedford Handbook, reminds her readers that "[t]hree different acts are considered plagiarism: (1) failing to cite quotations and borrowed ideas, (2) failing to enclose borrowed language in quotation marks, and (3) failing to put summaries and paraphrases in your own words" (570).
Basically you have to give authors credit for the work they did. You can avoid plagiarism by always citing your sources, including any and all resources and information found on the Web, via the Internet, or other electronic sources. Citing your sources accomplishes a number of things.
1. It gives the creator of work credit where credit is due.
2. It lets your readers know where you got your information, so they can tell if your sources are reliable.
3. It gives readers ionformation about the resource so they can fint it if they want more information.
Citing Your Sources: Hard Copy, Internet and RefWorks
There are a number of style you can use to cite your work, ask your instructor which they prefer.
Here are some of the most common ones. Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual features three popular formats: MLA, APA, and Chicago. Of the three listed, APA is the style I recommend for science research papers. For special instructions on how to cite Internet sources, see Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual, Fourth Edition, pages 174-175. You can, of course, always consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition (APA Manual). We have APA Manuals at the Reference Desk. For Internet sources, see pages 268-281. The Reference Staff have created handouts on two of three popular styles, Chicago is currently under revision and is not available.
To manage your citations, you might consider learning how to use RefWorks.
It is citation management software that is compatible with most of the
University Libraries's databases. Contact a librarian to set up a personal
account and begin filling folders with citations. You will find RefWorks on the WIU Libraries list of databases.
Assesments
PISA Ranks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment
PISA Website
http://www.pisa.oecd.org/pages/0,2987,en_32252351_32235731_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
PISA, PIRLS, TIMMS article
Rindermann, Heiner (2007). The g-factor of international cognitive ability comparisons: the homogeneity of results in PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS and IQ-tests across nations. European Journal of Personality, 21, 667-706
PIRLS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIRLS
TIMMS and PIRLS Website
http://www.pirls.org/
TIMMS 2003 Summary
http://pirls.bc.edu/PDF/t03_download/T03_TR_AppE.pdf
TIMSS 2003 International Report
http://pirls.bc.edu/timss2003i/scienceD.html
PIRLS 2006 International Report
http://pirls.bc.edu/pirls2006/intl_rpt.html
ED.Gov
http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Textbooks and Technology
ERIC
Textbook Adoption
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=textbook+adoption+&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=ERICSearchResult&newSearch=true&rnd=1218715453612&searchtype=keyword
Technology Adoption
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=technology+adoption&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=ERICSearchResult&newSearch=true&rnd=1218715546770&searchtype=basic
Library Reference Service
If you need more help with the library tools
demonstrated today, visit the Library Reference Desk, located
on the main (second) floor of the library. The desk is open Mon-Thurs.
9-9, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 1-5, and Sun 1-5, 6-9.