The Dialogue Essay (8 Points)

(Fulfills Scripted Interview Requirement for ENG101 at John Jay College)

The scripted interview requirement of ENG101 expects students to engage other academic researchers and
scholars in conversation. We are going to take this requirement one step further as an honors cohort and use the
research that we have read to create an interview-based original study. At this point in the course, as a
collective, we have read at least 30 different researchers and scholars discussing a range of issues about digital
cultures in the 21
st
century. Together, we have done the work of what is called a literature review (reading
and presenting the extant sources on a topic). We are more than ready to move forward with a study now.

During class, you will take your interview questions and run your own focus group among your peers. You
will treat what you hear in your focus groups (you will take notes on this) as your DATA and write your own
original study. Please be sure to follow all of the guidelines for the focus group that are offered during class (if
you are not in class on that day, please look at the agenda for class to see what you need to do).

After you have collected your data, you will essentially be writing a paper--- a research study. Notice how
writing happens in this kind of research. The topics and processes have been chosen for you this time, but the
practices will look similar when you design your own study at the end of the semester. Heres the process in its
most simple, skeletal form. You start with background reading about a topic or issue that you have chosen. Then
you collect data using a specific methodology that best matches your study. You adhere to all guidelines of
research with human subjects and ethical research practices. You write up your study. Then you publish it.
Notice that you do not start with an argument and then simply collect sources at the library to back up your
position. That may be how research starts, but it is not how it ends.

With the data that you collect in class, you will write up your study in, at least, four parts:
1. An Introduction: You have a few options for how you might write your opening. Think about what you
want to say about your data and about what you want your own writing/style to do. Here are strategies:
Straight, no-chaser: You give an overview of the issues and polemics at stake. You describe the different
aspects of your study and then offer something that works almost like the traditional thesis statement as
the last sentence of a 1-2 paragraph introduction.
Anecdotal: You open with a current event or some other anecdote directly related to the topic of your
study. You describe the anecdote in a provocative way. Then you explain how your study will
illuminate that phenomenon/event.
Narrative: You open with a personal story directly related to your study. You describe your personal
story in a provocative way. Then you explain how your study will illuminate that phenomenon/event
in your life.

2. A Literature Review + Methods Section: In this section, you will discuss your article (use your homework
writing from reading response #1) in a way that shows you have command and knowledge of this topic.
Then you will discuss how you conducted your study. Please see Carmens example at the website for a
crash course in research language and anonymity (look under the days agenda for this).

3. A Findings Section: This is where you will tell exactly what you learned from your data. You need to write
this as a story, not as a list. You cannot state your interview question(s) and then just list what everyone
said. This is a not a recipe; it is data analysis. The easiest way to do this is to design themes or categories
and discuss the data that way. We will discuss this in class using Carmens example.

4. A Discussion Section: This is where you talk about your perspectives and bring everything together. What
course of action should be taken next? What should readers learn, think, and take away from this research?
What is the big take-away? What is the change or new thinking that you want to effect? Why?

You do not need a title for the introduction section but you need titles for the other subsections. In class next
week, we will work on abstracts together. Your homework asks you to look at sample research studies for ideas
on how to write up your study. See the section of the course website called: Qualitative Research: Local
Contexts.

This project gives you the opportunity to engage original research. As a team, you could collectively publish your essay as
one, combined research study. You may not choose to do so, but you should all begin seriously considering publishing in
undergraduate journals. Annual, national, peer-reviewed journals dedicated to the publication of undergraduate student
research have become more prevalent. The increased opportunities for undergraduates to publish in national venues are
now part of the overall educational experience and the process of self-discovery through research. Creative venues have
often existed for undergraduate publications; the new trend in undergraduate publishing, however, also opens
opportunities for research publication.

Please remember: you are not competing with one another here. You are competing as a cohort with your peers across the
country and showing what JJay Honors students can REALLY do!

Your Point-Spread (8 Points)
1) I gave my overall study and each subsection an interesting title.
2) My introduction matches the overall style and feel of my essay and works well to give a peek into
my study.

3) I discuss at least two reading assignments in a way that shows I have command and knowledge of
this topic.

4) I formally discuss my focus group methodology.
5) I use clear themes or categories to discuss my data, rather than just simply list what my research
participants said.

6) I have made a sincere attempt to write my findings section in a way that is immediate, inspirational,
and transformative. I am moving in the direction where research and social justice work together.

7) I used APA citations to cite my articles and I edited my work for surface correctness.
8) I did not cause anyone in my focus group to lose the will to live with my crazy questions or
generally foul disposition. I was a worthy collaborator, listener, AND researcher.

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