Bibliography Hopping in Chapter 3 of "What Works"

“Bibliography Hopping”

In Chapter 3 from “What Works”

By Chiseri-Strater & Sunstein

When you find a good source on your subject – Check out the Bibliography!

“Explore Archives”

Information can be found in museums, historical societies, school districts, old newspapers or other teachers curriculum notes or journals.

Be sure to consider the Real World in your search, look outside your door you might be surprised.

Now shape your working Bibliography

Choose a format like MLA, APA, etc. If your not required to use a specific one choose the appropriate type for the type of paper your writing.

Then the book “What Works” advises you to ask yourself:

1.   Do you need more current articles or books?

2.   Can you eliminate some sources you initially thought were valuable or relevant?

3.   Have you included enough different types of materials (book chapters, articles, websites, curriculum units) in your bibliography? Or are they all part of the same genre?

4.   Where do you need to go next? What do you wish you’d found?

5.   Is this a time to revise or refine your research question? If so, what would it look like?

Wow! I always knew collecting the information was a big part of writing our paper!

Chapter 4, “Headwork: Assuming Self and Other”

We need to look at our subject from all sides and from all angles. Hey, that relates to my subject – 3-D. Anyway to explain further we need to –

Step in: Write your own ideas and views on the subject from your perspective.

Step Out: Now look at the subject taking the view of an outsider. For instance someone outside of school, in the business world, and their view of the curriculum.

These notes should be referred to often while working on the paper. Writing out our own opinion will give our paper our own “personal voice”.

Another helpful hint was to ask these three questions while exploring our stockpile of information.

1.   What surprised you?

2.   What intrigued you?

3.   What disturbed you?

Using Observational Research in the Classroom

Observing teachers and students can give insight to our research, depending on the subject. There are things we need to consider.

1.   You may need to get prior approval before conducting the study.

2.   Any possible risks need to be considered.

3.   All involved must be informed and in agreement.

A permission letter is needed and should explain how and where the information being gathered is going to be used. Respect for the individuals involved should always be considered. One way to do this is to write an ethics statement. A statement of our beliefs, goals, aims and respect for others as we gather information.

Wow! There is so much to consider. I’m glad I have the “What Works” book to refer to.

Janine Roper