Week 3

Discussion: Line of Reasoning Due Oct 30

· Here is the link for the Article https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2011.566588

Purpose  

This assignment is intended to help you learn to identify the line of reasoning of a literature review. 

Overview 

Examine a sample literature review 

In this assignment, we will examine a published literature review to identify its  line of reasoning, or a logical progression of ideas and evidence that support a central claim or thesis of a scholarly writing. In Chapter 9, Galvan & Galvan (2017) refer to line of reasoning as  line of argument. 

Review Sample Literature Review 5 in Appendix B of Galvan & Galvin (2017): 

· Kosko, K.W., & Miyazaki, Y. (2012). The effect of student discussion frequency on fifth-grade students’ mathematics achievement in U.S. Schools.  The Journal of Experimental Education, 80(2), 173-195. 

Create an outline 

To identify the line of reasoning, you will first create an outline of the literature review. You can review the example outlines in Chapter 9 of Galvan & Galvan (2017) for guidance. 

Draft your outline to account for all the material in the review, including the introduction, body, and final sections. Your outline should help you to identify the logical progression of ideas in the literature review. 

You will include this outline in your discussion post. 

Identify the line of reasoning 

To get to the line of reasoning, you might ask yourself, "What choices do the authors make in the beginning, middle, or end?" "How do the various sections of the work together to support the thesis or central claim?"

In your discussion post, respond to these two prompts: 

· Describe the central claim or questions that the review centers on.

· Explain how the writers support this claim or explore this question.

Writer's Journal: Identifying Central Claims & Lines of Reasoning Due Nov 2

Purpose  

This assignment is intended to help you learn to do identify the line of reasoning of a literature review. 

Overview 

In this entry in your Writer’s Journal, you will analyze your own line of reasoning. Return to your Research Area Primer and analyze the following: 

· What are your central claims?

· How have you structured your line of reasoning?

· What sources will you select from your primer to build your literature review?

· How do these sources support your logical progression of ideas, or line of reasoning? 

If your central claims or line of reasoning is unclear, note that in your Writer’s Journal entry and describe what you need to do to clarify these elements. 

Revise your Research Area Primer accordingly. Acknowledging and addressing these missing elements is critical to moving forward.