Topic
philosophical Issue in Education
Over the course of this semester, you will develop an essay focusing on a particular educational issue – philosophical Issue in Education– in its historical context that we explored in the text(s) we read and in class discussions. The issue should be one that can be found in the peer-reviewed literature and can somehow be connected to the material and/or class conversations in EDUC 2110. This writing product will be submitted to the professor via D2L.
Format: This paper should have a title, be anywhere from 1500-3000 words (6-12 pages, not counting the cover page and reference pages), typed, doubled spaced, written in 12-point font, and with one-inch margins. Don’t forget to proofread for grammatical mistakes! If there are too many mistakes, this makes your paper difficult to read and will result in a lower grade.
Questions to be Answerd over topic
Introduction
Introduce your topic. Describe it in detail. Who is it important to (teachers, administrators, parents, policymakers, a particular community, the mass public)? What can the reader expect from your treatment of the topic in the rest of the paper?
Historical Overview
How long has this topic been significant to the field of education? Does this topic have a history beyond Georgia or the U.S.? How has this topic changed over time? Who has traditionally had the power to affect what the topic looks like? Who has traditionally been affected by the topic (or the people affecting the topic)? How has the topic affected education overall historically? Make sure you back up your overview with peer-reviewed sources.
Contemporary Situation
What does the topic look like today and why does it look this way, given its history that you just described? Does it look different depending on where it appears geographically? How does the topic affect current educational practices, if at all? Is it currently helping or hindering students from achieving critical skills, including those that are intellectual, emotional, moral, and civic in nature? How does it affect other people, such as teachers, administrators, parents, policymakers, a particular community, and/or the mass public? Again, when in doubt, reference your literature when making claims, and if you’re referencing anecdotes or personal experiences, indicate that this is what you are using. Remember that while personal experiences are significant, grand claims or generalizations cannot be made on the basis of a handful of experiences.
Recommendations
Now we come to answering the question, “So what?” What does this mean for the big picture, namely making recommendations that change the topic in question, so that those changes start impacting education, and so that education starts helping to build the kind of society to which you want us to get closer? Why are you making these recommendations as opposed to other types of recommendations that differ in type, size, and ideology? How feasible are the recommendations you are proposing? If your recommendations are put into practice, how will the topic change in the future, and why will it change this way as opposed to other ways that might not go as planned? Consider other reforms that were tried elsewhere and how they worked to help you answer these questions.
Rationale/Personal Connection
Why are you writing about this topic as opposed to writing about something else? What’s special about it? What does it mean to you? Note: this is the only section where you can/should use the pronoun “I.”
You must use a minimum of five (5) peer-reviewed sources such as scholarly journal articles, books from academic presses, and/or website material produced by bona fide experts (such as academics or respected professionals).
