GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

Brainstorming and Beginning Research Worksheet

Access and complete the “Brainstorming and Beginning Research Worksheet” assignment.

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To assist you with this assignment, review the “The Writing Process” media; this is a great resource for you to use as you create your essay throughout the course.

Access and complete the “Brainstorming and Beginning Research” worksheet. This assignment will walk you through the writing process steps of choosing a topic, brainstorming techniques, research strategies, and research.

Submit the completed assignment to the final assignment drop box by the end of Topic 1 (Sunday, by 11:59 pm, Arizona Time).

• Name:
• Course:
• Date:
• Instructor:
• Expository Essay: Brainstorming and Beginning Research

Before you begin any writing assignment, completing several “pre-writing” activities is often necessary for completing your expository essay, including selecting a topic, brainstorming, research strategies, and research. Follow the instructions to complete these pre-writing activities. Make sure you complete all sections of this worksheet.

Part 1: Select a Topic – Pick One

Below are lists of essay topics to use for the expository essay. Please highlight/bold your topic choice so your instructor will know your selection.

• Three services Veterans need to return to civilian life successfully
• Three characteristics of good leaders
• Three ways bullying can negatively impact children
• Three ways technology can impact communication
• Three issues found in a large classroom
• Three services the Christian church can provide the community

Part 2: Brainstorming Strategies

Read: Topic 1 Lecture.

Review: “Invention: Finding Your Ideas” section of “The Writing Process” media piece:

https://lc.gcumedia.com/unv104/the-writing-process/index.html

Complete: In box 1, use the brainstorming method of “Free Writing”.

Brainstorm Method: Free Writing:

Set a timer for 10 minutes and complete your free write brainstorm activity in this box to show your work.

Part 3: Research Strategies – Key Words & Phrases

Step 1: Pull keywords generated from your brainstorming activity in part 2. These keywords need to pertain to the topic selected from Part 1.

Step 2: Combine keywords to come up with Boolean search terms. Boolean Search Possibilities: Boolean search terms utilize AND phrases and are covered on page 15 of the course eBook.

An example table is provided below to demonstrate how you should complete this. Please do not use any part of the example as part of your table.

Example Tables

Keywords pulled from brainstorming Boolean: Phrases from Keywords

1. Online Learning 1. Online Learning AND Education

2. Student Success 2. Online Learning AND Student Success

Keywords pulled from brainstorming

Boolean: Phrases with Keywords – Boolean search terms utilize AND phrases. This is covered on page 15 of the course eBook.

Part 4: Define Sub-topics

State three potential sub-topics you want to write about based on your selected topic in Part 1. Subtopics are the main ideas you plan to use to explain your chosen topic.

• Sub-topic 1:
• Sub-topic 2:
• Sub-topic 3:

Part 5: Navigating the GCU Online Library

Overview: The GCU Library will be a vital resource for your academic career. The Library contains a wealth of resources to help you find, research, and broaden your understanding of any topic. Learning to use resources to support your writing correctly is essential to your academic success.

Before starting this section, review the short walk-through tutorial on the GCU Library. http://tutorials.gcumedia.com/mediaElement/library-walk-through-tutorial/library-walk-through-tutorial-v1.1.php

Step 1: How to Access the Library

There are many ways to access the library’s website; here is one path to reach the Library Research & Resources page:

Please click on the following link: http://library.gcu.edu/

Question 1: On the Library Research & Resources Page, list three ways to contact the library for assistance. If you find yourself searching for more than 15 minutes with no results: STOP and contact a librarian.

1.

2.

3.

Step 2: Finding Journal Articles

For this section, you will be searching using LopeSEARCH. LopeSEARCH is a federated search that allows you to search many databases across many subjects with one search. Follow the instructions below to access and begin searching in LopeSEARCH.

• On the Library Research & Resources page, click the link Find Journal Articles.
• Under the LopeSEARCH, type in your first Boolean Search Phrase. This should include your main topic and one of the subtopics you created in Part 4. Check the box beside Peer Reviewed and click SEARCH
• Sign in if prompted using your GCU Username and password.

Question 2: Provide the title of the first journal article listed in the results.

Step 3: Article Details

In addition to the full text of the article, the databases will provide valuable information about the article. You will see authors, sources, subject terms, and abstracts. The abstract is a summary of the article you found.

• Click on the title of the first article you found in Step 2.
• Scroll down this page and find the Article Abstract.

Question 3: Copy and paste the abstract from the article you have found in the space below AND explain how an abstract is valuable to your research process and how it will save you time.

Step 4: Permanent and Persistent Links

Databases are designed as powerful search tools; unfortunately, the website link at the top of any database page is temporary and based on your search at the time. Should you try to save that link as a bookmark or copy and paste it to use at a later time, it will not work.

However, the databases have links tied directly to the articles you find. Follow the steps below to find the permalink (persistent, durable link, or document URL) to the article you accessed in Step 2.

• Look to the right for the Tools column on the same page where you found the abstract.
• Click on the link that says Permalink.
• A box will pop up above the article title with a permanent link.

Question 4: Copy and paste the permalink to the article you have found in the space below AND explain why a permalink could be an important item to copy.

Step 5: Using Library Databases to Cite Articles

Another important option under the toolbar is the Cite button. In academic writing, citing your sources is very important. It will tell your reader that the information you are using is someone else’s property. It will also show your reader exactly where you found this information and how to access it again. This is a necessary step in avoiding academic dishonesty issues like plagiarism.

Note: Remember, GCU Style required for your undergraduate coursework is a simplified version of APA. It is possible for there to be errors in the reference citations available in the GCU Library database, so check the GCU style manual located in the Student Success Center: The Writing Center to ensure your reference is properly formatted.

• Look to the right for the Tools column on the same page where you found the abstract.
• Click on the link that says Cite.
• A box will pop up above the article title with different citation styles.

Question 5: Copy and paste the APA reference from the article in the space below. According to the GCU Style Guide, where should you include this information in your essay?

Part 6: Gather Resources

Step 1: Go to the GCU Library website and start a search for peer-reviewed journal articles.

• On the Library Research & Resources page, click the link Find Journal Articles.
• Under the LopeSEARCH, type in your first Boolean Search Phrase. This should include your main topic and one of the subtopics you created in Part 4. Check the box beside Peer Reviewed and click SEARCH
• Sign in if prompted using your GCU Username and password.

Step 2: Complete the table below using the 3 most relevant peer-reviewed journal articles you found on the topic chosen from Part 1.

An example table below demonstrates how you should complete this portion. Please do not use any part of the example as part of your table.

Example

Peer-reviewed article 1 Title of Resource: Factors influencing adult learners’ decision to drop out or Persist in online learning. Boolean terms/ Keywords Used: Online Learning AND Student Success

Permalink http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44785109&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Abstract

The number of adult learners participating in online learning has rapidly grown in the last two decades due to online learning’s many advantages. Despite the growth, the high dropout rate in online learning has concerned many higher education institutions and organizations.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether persistent learners and dropouts are different in individual characteristics (i.e., age, gender, and educational level), external factors (i.e., family and organizational supports), and internal factors (i.e., satisfaction and relevance as sub-dimensions of motivation).

Quantitative data were collected from 147 learners who had dropped out of or finished one of the online courses offered by a large Midwestern university. Dropouts and persistent learners showed statistical differences in perceptions of family and organizational support, satisfaction, and relevance.

It was also shown that the theoretical framework, which includes family support, organizational support, satisfaction, and relevance, in addition to individual characteristics, can predict learners’ decision to drop out or persist. Organizational support and relevance were shown to be particularly predictive.

The results imply that lower dropout rates can be achieved if online program developers or instructors find ways to enhance the relevance of the course. It also implies that adult learners need to be supported by their organizations to finish the online courses they register for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• APA Reference Park, J., & Hee Jun, C. (2009). Factors influencing adult learners’ decision to drop out or persist in online learning. Journal Of Educational Technology & Society, 12(4), 207-217.

Peer-reviewed Article 1

• Title of Resource: Boolean terms/ Keywords Used:
• Permalink
• Abstract
• APA Reference

Peer-reviewed Article 2

• Title of Resource:
• Boolean terms/ Keywords Used:
• Permalink
• Abstract
• APA Reference

Peer-reviewed Article 3

• Title of Resource:
• Boolean terms/ Keywords Used:
• Permalink
• Abstract
• APA Reference