Forget the Database,What’s the Argument?

Revitalizing a For-Credit Course by Teaching

Rhetoric, Critical Thinking and Research as

Conversation

Savannah Kelly, Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA

Sigh…

“Academic Research is a process of inquiry, problem-solving, and argument, not merely an information-gathering process.”

Robert Schwegler & Linda Shamoon“The Aims and Process of the Research Paper”

College English 44 (Dec. 1982)

Students will• Understand that research is a complex

process which requires patience, determination, and critical thinking

• Understand that research is more than locating sources—it includes asking good questions and acknowledging other points of view while supporting your own claim

• Understand that publications are dynamic because they represent ongoing conversations between authors and their audiences

• Understand that research is often reiterative rather than linear

• Understand that methodologies reflect disciplinary lenses and that researchers across disciplines will approach the same topic differently

Research Across the Disciplines

Research is a Conversation

• Audience Analysis

• Article Critique

• Peer Review Interview

Example WritingAssignments

“It is so cool when you're reading a text and you realize, ‘Hey there's a debate going on here!”

“This class was SO incredibly helpful! I wish I'd taken it earlier. DEFINITELY worth it!”

“I gained skills not only in research but also in crafting an argument and reading

critically and closely”

“Everyone, no matter what their major is,

should take this class."

“This course was so helpful for knowing how to really write. A lot of professors assume you know what you're

doing or at least that you know where to start.”

Image Credits from Flickr’s Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License

Slide 1: “What John Ng wants to look like when he's studying” by dp.hotographyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/davidpark/3127843272/

Slide 2: “Retro Poster-Books are Arranged…” by Enoksonhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/vblibrary/4479445497/

Slide 4: “Shopping mall questions” by wokhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mworrell/266913194/

Slide 6: “Who am I?” by Znetstarhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/znetstar/7040750007/

Slide 7: “Kevin in real life” by thekevinchanghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/thekevinchang/3137572556/

Slide 8: “16/366: What's a month of #red…” by vintspirationhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ikonic/6709247173/

Slide 9: “#Roundseries - #road #sign #roundabout / #rotatoria” by Marcelo Navahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelonava/6881076689/

Slide 10: “Curves 02” by Horizon2035http://www.flickr.com/photos/30701306@N06/6906662984/

Slide 11: “CIFOR scientist on the field” by CIFORhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/cifor/5594796752/

Slide 12: “Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility…” by Los Alamos National Laboratory

http://www.flickr.com/photos/losalamosnatlab/6848254477/

Slide 13: “Pixelspaces Panel 4 - Johannes Birringer” by Ars Electronicahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/6115097029/

Slide 14: “Multnomah Falls Bridge” by Mile23http://www.flickr.com/photos/mile23/299855633/

Slide 16: “Art and doorway” by anjan58http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjan58/2856123304/

Slide 17: ‘’ Graphic Conversation’’ by Marc Wathieuhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2979572825/

Slide 18: ‘’Cathedral Tomes’’ by Sean Rogers 1http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogerss1/6913064748/

Slide 19: ‘’ IMG_5180’’ by jessabeanhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jessabean/2362156008/

Slide 20: ”Don't Interrupt” by jndevereuxhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jndevereux/355354456/

Slide 21: ‘’Encyclopedia Americana’’ by DanielCKhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/telep/456865086/

Slide 22: ”048” by iKenny81 http://flickr.com/photos/ikenny81/3446383906/

Slide 23: ‘’ ::.. crowd ..::’’ by ausnahmezustandhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ausnahmezustand/4752989186/

Slide 24: ‘’ Integration By Parts’’ by dp.hotographyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/davidpark/3127837976/in/photostream/

Slide 25: ‘’Field work’’ by whl http://www.flickr.com/photos/whl/2269587379/in/photostream/

Slide 26: “Hurricane Katrina MS16” by News Musehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/newsmuse/58221393/in/photostream/

Slide 27: “Survey question” by robobbyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/9625780/

Slide 29: ”Skye - Directions at Duntulm” by arjecahnhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/arje/113015095/

Slide 30: ”276/365 Tools” by Theophilus Photographyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/theophilusphotography/6209224607/

Slide 31: ‘’Cliff Edge’’ by su-linhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/su-lin/452877241/

Slide 32: ”Squirrels in the Spring’’ by Peter G Trimminghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/peter-trimming/7033142721/

Slide 33: ‘’Bridge Troll’’ by akahodaghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/akahodag/818619143/

Slide 34: ‘’Untitled’’ by Paul Muirhead Photographyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmuirhead/6874517086/in/photostream

Slide 35: ‘’Fields of Gold’’ by Peter Nijenhuishttp://www.flickr.com/photos/peternijenhuis/5876826844/

Slide 36: “Sunrise on Little Giant Pass” by rwike77http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwike77/246622357