Using a journal for

research & writing

Dannelle D. Stevens, Ph.D. stevensd@pdx.eduPortland State University

Presentation for POWER faculty at Texas A & MOctober 13, 2012

A journal

Objectives

To learn the rationale for journal use

To know how journal keeping boosts research and writing productivity

To practice several journal writing strategies

Synergistic Combination

Increase insight, organization &

productivity

Academic

writing

Research Journal

Keeping

Key elements in research

Organization: Data, meetings, readings, conferences

Insight: Connecting ideas

Creativity: Thinking of new ways to address problems

Focus: Narrowing interests

Knowledge: Keeping track of current thought

Key elements in writing

Persistance, organization

Production

Surprise

Creativity

Perspective-taking, metacognitive awareness

Practice, practice, practice

Reflection!

Why a journal 1?

• Draw, write, relate

Written

• Log, track, find

Dated

• Relax, Explore, Tinker

Informal

• Create, Dig deeper, surprise

Flexible

• No limits, worries

Private

• Save, reflect

Archival

Why a journal 2?

DOORWAY TO

ORGANIZING: data, ideas, inputs

PLANNING: “to do” lists

CREATING

WRITING

SELF-ASSESSMENT

DOORWAYS TO INSIGHT!

How to use a journal I

BOUNDConnotes a book

Number pages Able to find things

Gridded Write, draw, diagram

Table of contents Organize; Look for patterns and linkages; Reflect on time usage; Find events quickly.

How to use a journal II

Column 1 (small)

Date ALWAYS

Event

People

“To do” Lists

Insights

Questions

The BANK of a River

Column 2 (large)

Minutes of the meeting

Notes from a conference presentation

Diagrams of ideas, flow charts of work

Freewrites, Dialogues, Focused Freewrites

The RIVER of experience

Where to use

Meetings

Conferences

Airplanes

In class

At home

At coffee shops…. Portable, personal

Where else??

Let’s practice

Writing blocks, Robert Boice

Work apprehension

Procrastination Writing

apprehension Impatience Perfectionism Rules

Activity 1: Dialogue

With whom can you dialogue?

With what can you dialogue?

Anything else?

D: Hello, procrastination, how are you?

Pr: Well, let me tell you about my day…

D:

PR:

Let us write one.

10 minutes

Activity 2: Focused Freewrite

THINK OF A PROJECT YOU ARE WORKING ON Why do you care about this project? Why should others care? What do you know about it? What do you want to know about it? What are the key words associated with it? What would a map of it look like? What do you have to do to get it done? What obstacles will be in your way? What things, people will help you? What will you do tomorrow? Next week? AND, any other question that comes to mind

7 MINUTES, GO FOR IT!

ACTIVITY 3: Post-it Outline

Get a stack of at least 15 stickies.

Reread your focused freewrite.

Write one idea about the content of your project per stickie.

Do it fast!

12 minutes

Read ideas on stickies.

Sort stickies into groups that work together.

Get a new color stickie, write a phrase or sentence under each group.

Put the stacks in some order.

Turn to neighbor and walk them through your map.

Templates I

Nature of academic writing: A tribal language

In discussions of X, one controversial issue has been____. On one hand, ______ argues _____. On the other hand, _____ contends ______. Others even maintain _______. My own view is ________.

In discussions about educational equity in Oregon, one controversial issue has been how to successfully educate all children . On one hand, we want to recognize the challenge of educating all children as educational budgets continue to dwindle. On the other hand, when we successfully educate all children, we save future social service costs including the cost of prison, crime and welfare while also benefitting from their future gainful employment. Brown & Peterson, OpED Oregonian, Sept. 19

ACTIVITY 4: Templates

In discussions of X, one controversial issue has been____.

On one hand, ______ argues _____. On the other hand, _____

contends ______. Others even maintain _______.

My own view is ________.

*****************************************************

When it comes to the topic of _____________,

Most of us would readily agree that ___________.

Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of __________.

Whereas some are convinced that ________, others maintain ________. My own position is _________.

Metaphors: A JOURNAL IS

Sketch book

River and bank

Art gallery

Mirror

GOLD MINE

Not a cold start!

Thank you….

USES OF A JOURNAL:

Capture experience

Mull over experience

Mine experience

UNIQUELY YOURS!

One place!