Research Question (post 2)

Your investigation topic broadly states your area of interest; it is the point of entry into your project. Your research question (or questions) should be more clearly defined than your general topic; it (or they) will guide your investigation from this point forward. A clearly defined research question is

• deeply interesting to you
• neither too broad nor too narrow
• researchable

*In this post, you should simply state your research question or questions.

Writing

The writing in a research question should be academic and formal. No personal pronouns!

For examples of research questions, please see: http://thatshowitalk.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-research-questions.html.

For more information about developing research questions, please see:
http://www.esc.edu/ESConline/Across_ESC/WritersComplex.nsf/3cc42a422514347a8525671d0049f395/f87fd7182f0ff21c852569c2005a47b7?OpenDocument.

Investigation Topic and Goals (post 1)

This post is an introduction to your investigation. Use this space to describe:
1. the topic of your investigation;
2. why you chose this topic;
3. what you already know and/or believe about the topic; and
4. what you hope to learn through your investigation.

This post works with your description to let your reader know what to expect from this blog.

Writing

Because your choice of a topic is fairly personal, this post may be written informally and may include the personal pronoun "I."

Blogs to Browse (not a post you need to have on your investigation blog)

Check out these blogs. What is their purpose and audience? Is the language formal or informal? How do you know? How does the style of the posts (including the language) match the purpose and audience?

1. http://thatshowitalk.blogspot.com/ - created by me last year for the language investigation project. Notice the links to student blogs on the left.

2. http://www.thisblogrules.com/ - strange news and unusual sights, including some interesting art.

3. http://phoebedearone.blogspot.com/ - created by me about my daughter.

4. http://teenadvice.about.com/b/ - teen advice.

5. http://agreencitygirl.com/ - created by a friend of Ms. Shakir's.

6. http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/ - music reviews.

7. http://halfshellvenus.blogspot.com/ - Molly's independent reading blog for AP Language.

8. http://music.msn.com/superfans/heavy-metal/blog/ - heavy metal fan blog.

9. http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/blog/ - CNN news blog.

10. http://purehip-hop.blogspot.com/ - hip-hop blog.

11. http://www.youthradio.org/in-other-words - Youth Radio blog with multiple authors.

12. http://advancedtheory.blogspot.com/ - created by a friend of mine about a music theory he and my husband devised when they were in college.

Are there any blogs that you read or have read? Are there any blogs on your investigation topic?