Length: 2-3 pages (if it is a little less than 3 pages that is okay) as long as material is covered adequately). Typed double-spaced, 12 point print
What is the purpose of this Assignment?
The objective of having you write this paper is twofold:
You will be reading and learning from a scholarly journal article relative to the course content. You will be writing about the journal article and will also be applying information you learned from reading your textbook, handouts, videos and writing your other papers.
As you read, think about this: We have been looking at the teacher’s role regarding inclusion. This article asks you to think about the principal’s role in inclusion.
Read The Following Article Available on Blackboard
Attitudes of Elementary School Principals Toward the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities Author: Cindy L. Praisner
Read all of the information below before proceeding.
Read the journal article listed above. Then, read all of the guidelines below to see what you must write about and then read the article again,- this time, taking some notes along the way or highlighting it if you choose to print it out. If you think it is difficult to read, you are correct. Will you understand every single thing written? Maybe not, however have your dictionary ready and you will be surprised at how much you will understand. This is college level reading of which you are capable of accomplishing. Take your time and look up words you may not understand. You may have to read it a third time. Then begin to organize your paper in the format below:
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR PAPER Label each section of your paper.
Title: PSY 2400 Research Paper /Attitudes of Elementary School Principals Toward the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
INTRODUCTION
The first section on your research paper the introduction, should include the objective. In other words what is it specifically you are going to discuss? This also consists of paragraphs which clearly state the topic you are covering. It should also include the questions you are investigating and “the various points of view or differing explanations proposed in the journal article on which you are basing your paper.You may also want to mention something about inclusion from the textbook in this paragraph
RESEARCH SECTION: This is the central portion of your paper. This is where the scientific evidence is presented and discussed. Label it Research Section and then under that use the following sub labels
Scientific Evidence-
What did the researcher want to find out? What population was studied, where, how (methodology – how did the researcher gather information?)
What are the critical points made in the article? If there are different points of view in the article , what are they? What are the findings? You can add anything else you think might be important.
RELEVANCE OF FINDINGS Findings:
What is the relevance (importance) to students? What is the relevance to Education, teachers, administrators? What is the relevance to society as a whole? Other stakeholders??
OPINION:
Your opinion should be presented, however it MUST be supported in this section by the scientific evidence presented from your source(s) – the journal article, your textbook, handouts and videos- citations
You must use references/citations in this section to support your opinion. You should indicate if you agree or disagree with the findings in the article and why you agree or disagree with the author’s perspective. Are there some specific findings that you would like to see studied further? If so how and why should they be studied further? How do you think it should be studied – what method?
You may use your personal experience in this section also – be careful, if you do, you must support it with evidence.
Avoid phrases such as “I love” “I like” “It’s the greatest, the best, amazing” Do not use “kids” – use children, students, pupils.
To support your position /opinion you should also use material from your textbook and any of the readings, handouts, videos in the course (again, be sure to use citation(s). In other words, show what you learned from your readings, and videos to help to support your position/ opinion.
SUMMATION:
In this section you should bring your paper to a close by briefly (1 paragraph ) summarizing.
REFERENCES: The Journal article should be listed on a reference or Works Cited section which should appear at the end of your paper, as well as all other sources you used such as the journal article, textbook, handouts, videos if you choose to use those sources.DO NOT USE SOURCES OTHER THAN THOSE USED IN THIS COURSE AND THAT ARE ON BLACKBOARD. If there is no author or organization associated with a handout, just use the title of the handout- these should be your main sources. Of course the Journal Article would be the primary source along with the textbook should be where your citations are coming from.
