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Walden

Inquiry Project Part I:

Primary Research & Inquiry Planning

Key Vocabulary
Primary Research:
Research that you personally
collect. This could be
collected through means of
observation, surveys,
interviews, and/or
experimentation (Brizee &
Driscoll, 2010).
Its that time: PICK a topic of interest that you truly enjoy. Select
something that has value to you, an activity, or film series which you
cant seem to get enough ofand this will serve the basis of your
first part of your extended, semester-long inquiry project. As a part
of this process, you will be conducting interviews (primary
research), and you will be tentatively planning an area for extended
inquiry/research (secondary research). You will summarize,
interview, analyze, chart, and propose an area for extended
observation & inquiry. The result will look more like extended
note-taking & planning rather than a traditional paper.

Secondary Research:
This type of research involves
collation, summary, and/or
synthesis of existing research
studies/work; in other words,
you are taking someone elses
primary research and
summarizing, synthesizing,
and integrating their findings
to a particular study/research
work of your own (Baker &
Brizee, 2013).
REL
AX!

&
I. Summarize/Give Background: Select a particular area of
interest that you would like to do a semester-long project on
(this may be a movie series, TV series, game, etc.)

A. Write at least a 500 word summary which describes

relevant background information on your site in such a
way someone unfamiliar with your topic can get a sense
of what you are talking about
WRITE B. Questions you may address include:
What is the site? Film? Show? Game?
Who are the significant players/people/staff within
ON! the site?
Significant background on the evolution of the site
General facts/trivia
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II. Develop a Synthesis Chart: Take your general topic area and begin to search
for at least 8 reputable sources via Google Scholar, NPR, the UNCC Library FORMATTING CONCERNS
Databases, and/or TED Talks.
12 pt, Times New Roman
a) After having read/viewed/listened to all of your sources, list Font, Single-Spaced, Saved
several main points in the Major Themes column (2 points and Uploaded in a Microsoft
minimum; 4 points maximum). Word Document
b) List the authors last name for each source; one source per Works Cited or Reference
column. page included with your 2
c) Fill in 3-4 main points for each source, and list the page number, interviews cited, and 8
paragraph number, or minute where the information appears. Be secondary sources, meaning
sure to note the points of information in the row that corresponds you will have a total of 10
with the appropriate main point. entries on your works cited/
d) After completing your synthesis chart, draft a cohesive literature reference page
review. REMEMBER: You need to cite the source material Cite your materials in
according to the citation style for your intended major. whatever citation style is
appropriate for your intended
III. Write a Literature Review: Write a cohesive, theme-organized literature major (IEEE, MLA, APA,
review which briefly summarizes the conversation so far on your selected Chicago-Turabian, etc.)
topic.
a) Use your synthesis chart to help you write your literature review.
b) Summarize the main thesis of the source as it relates to your
research. In other words, only include summary information
about your source as it specifically relates to your topic; DO NOT TO FIND SOURCES:
summarize the article in its entirety.
c) ONLY 2 direct quotations allowed; the rest of the source material NPR
MUST BE PARAPHRASED TED Talks
d) Use credible sources such as peer-reviewed journals, public radio UNCC Library Databases
segments, & TED Talk presentations. Google Scholar
e) Parenthetical or footnoted citations should be throughout this
section depending on the citation style.
f) Save all your sources (PDF files, links, etc.) to a Google folder
and include the link in your write up.

IV. Conduct 2 Interviews: After establishing the content for your literature DUE DATES
review, select 2 people to interview that have some knowledge or familiarity
with your selected figured world. Inquiry Drafts are ALWAYS
DUE prior to 11PM,
A. Conduct at least TWO interviews with people who have familiarity with Saturdays.
your selected site. If you select a TV show, a good interviewee would be a
fan or a real life counterpart (e.g. If I were interviewing someone about
Sherlock, I could interview an actual detective). This interview can be DRAFT COMPONENTS:
recorded as a part of your observation notes; it does not need to be a
completely separate document. 1. Draft for In Class Peer
B. Prior to the interviews, you need to develop your questions and clear them Workshop 9/27
with me. 2. Draft w/ Peer Commentary
C. Cite the interviews on the works cited or reference page. 9/29
V. Write a proposal: In 100-200 words, propose an area for research and inquiry 3. 2nd Revised Draft 10/7
based on what you have observed and the 8 sources you have found. Explain
what you are you are interested in, give a bit of background information, and
state what you intend to research. Due dates are also listed on
the Canvas calendar,
VI. Works Cited/Reference Page: Create a works cited/reference page with all assignments, & assignment
the sources you have summarized for the project. Follow the formatting submission links.
guidelines of APA, MLA, IEEE, Chicago, etc. as appropriate for your intended
major.