USF Increase in Florida Bright Futures SAT Score Requirements Essay
Question Description
In the final paper, you will analyze a recent educational reform controversy in the Tampa Bay community from the concepts and perspectives of the course. You have a choice of topic among the following: education of bilingual learners, sexuality and education, school choice, or standardized testing. In this paper, you will identify how the controversy reflects historic debates about the purposes of schooling and the role of the teacher and analyze whether the reform promotes or undermines social and educational equality with respect to race, class, gender, language, culture or disability. In other words, how does this topic intersect with the themes of this course? Please do not submit a paper that simply retells the story. You must support your arguments with independent research. Review grading rubric here
.
You will be evaluated on your demonstration of the following (each on a 1-5 scale):
- Understanding and analyzing debates over the purposes of schooling with insight into how your chosen current controversy reflects the historical debates over the purpose of schooling.
- Understanding and analyzing debates over the role of teachers with insight into how your chosen current controversy reflects the historical debates over the purpose of schooling.
- Identifying and applying course concepts and theories about diversity and social and educational inequality.
- Using clearly relevant evidence from course materials, as well as scientific and current event independent research in support of your thesis (i.e., your argument about the current reform). In addition to citing your textbook and course materials, you are required to use at least two scholarly peer-reviewed research articles published in academic journals, including (but not restricted to) the American Educational Research Journal, Sociology of Education, Anthropology of Education Quarterly, American Journal of Education, and Teachers College Record. You are also required to cite at least two Tampa Bay community news or opinion articles in metropolitan newspapers or online blog posts. If you have questions about what counts as a professional research or community news source, please consult with your instructor WELL BEFORE the paper is due.
- Communicating effectively with appropriate writing skill, style, level of abstraction, and APA citation mechanics (refer to course APA final paper formatting template).
To help expedite grading, please do not upload multiple drafts/copies of this assignment. Submit your final .doc or .docx file using the file name “EDF3604_ReformPaper_LastName.doc”
Length: 1600 words, not including title page and references.
How do I select and use quality peer reviewed journal sources for my papers?
This course will require you to demonstrate the effective use of peer reviewed research publications when submitting your written assignments. Accordingly, your instructor will expect you to use references from scholarly research articles published in academic journals, including (but not restricted to) the American Educational Research Journal, Sociology of Education, Anthropology of Education Quarterly, American Journal of Education, and Teachers College Record.
The following sources DO NOT COUNT as peer reviewed sources: newspaper and magazine articles, including Education Week, encyclopedia entries (print or online), web blogs and governmental or non-governmental internet sites.
Students need to know how to identify and critique material published in peer reviewed journals. These articles can offer the best research to either support or oppose issues related to your paper topics.
Use the following sources for your research. Scholarly Ed Journals.pdf
