Professional Documents
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Writingchapter 1
Writingchapter 1
Introduction
This provides general information about the topic chosen, its role or importance in society; it also
discusses the reason why the researcher became interested in the study. For example, if the study is about
English language learning, a discussion on the importance of English education in the Philippines today will be
an appropriate introduction.
Sample Introduction (Title: “Blended Learning at Centro Escolar University” by Opina, et.al)
CHAPTER 1
Internet has become impossible to ignore and even people who do not own a computer have seen or
heard about its uses. Education becomes accessible even outside the formal schools. Anyone can acquire
information, knowledge with the use of virtual technology anytime even at wee hours. As Paul West (2010)
puts it, the Internet is being attributed with the power to mesmerize and seduce the youth as was the
Blended or hybrid learning combines online with face-to-face learning formats. It is gaining
acceptance as a supplement to the traditional classroom setting. However, since it is a relatively new means
of getting knowledge, research on its effectiveness is still in its infancy. This means that questions that have
been thoroughly studied for traditional classrooms may need to be revisited for Blended instruction.
In the Philippines, most computers are placed in computer laboratories where students are sent for
self-paced tutorials. But Barrett (2008) believes that this is not education and that technology "should
support the complex private and social activities that make up the learning process"(201). Some schools
now have created a fully distributed computing environment to support the learners though the provision of
electronic mail, access to software, personal file storage and other communications utilities. In this way
With this in mind, the researchers decided to create online quizzes, and games to supplement the
lessons in Communication Skills 1 so they could come up with insights applicable to the students of CEU
In undergraduate research, this is sometimes incorporated in the introduction of the study. It provides the
history of the topic, subjects of the study, and other strategies compared or tested, chemical substance analyzed,
etc.
Sample Background of the Study: (from “Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) and Teaching Performance of
Education and Non-Education Graduates in the Philippines” by Dr. Brenda B. Corpuz and Dr. Nenita V. Quinon.
In accordance with R.A. 7836, the licensure Examination for Teachers is open to
Through the years, it has been observed that most of the top performers in the LET come
from the group on non-education graduates. In the field, however, a common comment
from the school heads is that the non-education graduates are good in content but not so
good in teaching methods and techniques. In contrast, it is said that most education
graduates are said to be inadequate in content but good on teaching methods and
techniques.
for the LET, as provided for in R.A. 9293 is raised by education stakeholders.
It specially gives information regarding the location of the study, for example, the history of the private
university where the students are enrolled in, the town or city where the respondents live, etc. It is usually
accompanied by a map of the pertinent place/s.
Sample Setting of the Study (taken from “The Relationship of The Online English Teachers’ Competencies to Selected
Variables: Implications to Online English Teaching” by Ivan Perry Mercado.
Setting of the Study
This study will be conducted in Metro Manila, Philippines (Figure 1). The
Philippines is a tropical country consisting of 7,107 islands between 4.23N and 21.25N
and between 116E and 127E longitude. Figure 2 shows the islands that are geographically
divided into three main areas, namely Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Only 2,000
There are 111 linguistic, cultural and racial groups, of which over 36 are more
ethnic groups scattered throughout the archipelago. The relative isolation provided by the
islands has made ethnic regionalism evident to this day. The national language is Tagalog,
although another 70 languages and dialects of Malayo-Polynesian origin are also currently
spoken.
taught in English and the rest in the national language that is Filipino. Throughout the
Roman Catholic country (82%) and is the only Christian nation in Asia.
Meanwhile, the five selected online English education companies in the Metro
English Institution having specialized in English Education for a long time. The company
conversational English.
It presents the theoretical basis of the study, which may be an established learning principle or theory. A
study on children’s learning acquisition may include Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory; a research on
teaching methodologies may use Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, etc. An inclusion of an illustration
of the theory in the study is suggested to clearly show how the theory serves as the framework of the study.
Figure 3
Theoretical Framework
SECOND HIERARCHICAL
LEVEL
THIRD HIERARCHICAL LEVEL
Figure 4
Stephen Krashen’s Model in English Language Learning
Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework illustrates the process undertaken by the researcher in conducting the study:
from identifying the data used, the methodology applied, to the outcome of the investigation. The most
commonly used paradigm is the System’s or the Input-Process-Output (IPO) Approach. The Input includes the
variables of the study, the Process identifies the methods of investigation used, and the Output shows the results
derived from the investigation done.
In some undergraduate theses, the theoretical and conceptual are combined as in:
Sample Theoretical / Conceptual Framework
Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
This study will be guided by the social learning theory of Bandura (2008) emphasizing the
importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. Bandura
states: “Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on
their effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behaviors are learned
observationally through modeling and from observing others. One forms an idea of how new behaviors are
performed and on later occasions, this added information serves as a guide for action” (209). The
component processes underlying observational learning are: (1)Attention, including modeled events
(distinctive-value) and other characteristics (sensory capacities, arousal levels, perceptual set, past
reinforcement), (2)retorting including symbolic coding, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor
accuracy of feedback, and (4)Motivation, including external, vicarious and self reinforcement.
In relation to that concept, Modes of Learning Theory of David Rumelhart and Donald Norman
(2004) proposed that there are three modes of learning: accretion, structuring and tuning. Accretion is the
addition of new knowledge to existing memory. Structuring involves the formation of new conceptual
structures or schema. Tuning is the adjustment of knowledge to a specific task usually through practice.
Accretion is the most common form of learning; structuring occurs much less frequently and requires
considerable effort; tuning is the slowest form of learning and accounts for expert performance.
Figure 5
Online English teachers will determine their level of competencies. Using the system
model, the input includes the competencies of the online English teachers in the
communication. Meanwhile, the process includes the assessment by the administrators and
the teachers on their competencies and the teachers’ assessment of their students’
performance in oral communication. Lastly, the output will be the proposed enhancement
Statement of the Problem (Note: Use past tense verb if the research has already been conducted.)
This study will determine the relationship of the online English teachers’
competencies to selected variables and its implications to online English teaching.
Specifically, it will seek to answer the following questions:
1.2 Students
1.2.1 gender,
1.2.2 age,
1.2.3 civil status,
1.2.4 occupation, and
1.2.5 diagnostic and evaluation results?
(Note: If profile is not part of the analysis of the study, it may be omitted in the
statement of the problem. It may, however, be described under
Subjects/Respondents of the Study in Chapter 3.)
2. What are the levels of competencies of the selected online English teachers in four areas
as perceived by:
2.1 the teachers:
2.1.1 technology knowledge and abilities,
2.1.2 communication,
2.1.3 online education, and
2.1.4 content knowledge?
2.2 their administrators:
2.2.1 technology knowledge and abilities,
2.2.2 communication,
2.2.3 online education, and
2.2.4 content knowledge?
3. How do the perceptions of the administrators and of the teachers themselves compare as
regards the aforementioned four areas?
4. How does the teachers’ level of competencies relate with their aforementioned
characteristics?
5. How do the students’ diagnostic results and evaluation results compare?
6. How does the teachers’ level of competencies relate with their students’ performance?
7. What are the implications of the findings to online English teaching?
Some unrelated factors in the study are beyond the control of the researcher. He/She can only assume
that his/her study was conducted under certain required conditions. For example, the researcher has to assume
that the questionnaires will be answered honestly and objectively, and that the records provided by certain
offices are true and accurate.
Sample Assumptions of the Study
The research study is anchored on the assumption that the respondents are honest
English teachers that will be used as the basis for the proposed enhancement measures.
Moreover, the students’ scores in the pre and post assessment are reliable bases in
Hypotheses
These are statements drawn regarding the outcome of the study before the conclusion is reached. This
part is necessary in studies where comparisons or correlations are being tested. The hypotheses are commonly
in null or in negative form.
Sample Hypotheses
Hypotheses
2. Students’ attitude towards their English subjects and teachers does not relate
You should be able to justify your choice of problem by showing its practical importance especially to
the intended readers of your study. What benefit, for example, will the students, teachers, and administrators
derive from a study determining the causes of failures in a subject?
Sample Significance of the Study
The study will give administrators, teachers of English in all levels, and students
of English a clear idea on the possible causes of failing grades in general English.
Knowledge of this will greatly help those responsible to adopt remedies to decrease
failing grades in the subjects, thereby reducing failing grades in higher English. Success
in English may also help improve the students’ grades in other subjects, especially those
learning materials.
The significance may be discussed as a whole or specifically addressed to the recipients, in which case
the discussions should be separate and labeled distinctly, like To the students, To the English teachers, To the
administrators.
Scope and delimitation state what the study covers and fix its parameters. Limitations specify certain
constraints in the study which are essential, but which the researcher has no control of.
This study will be concerned with determining the causes of failures in general
English subjects (scope) among freshman college students in selected private universities
in the Philippines during the school year 2011-2012 (delimitation). It will investigate
Definition of Terms
It is necessary to clarify terms used in the study by defining them contextually and operationally. This
section of the research paper may also include newly invented or coined words, technical terms and words with
special meaning.
Sample Definition of Terms
Definition of Terms
The following terms are defined according to the context in which they will be
Communication Skills 1. It is the first English in first year taken in the first
semester. In this University ,it is a subject focusing on the mastery of English grammar
Communication Skills 2. It is the second English in first year taken in the second
semester. It focuses on academic skills necessary to help students cope with their other