Mills Chapter 08

8-1MillsAction Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 5e © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Action Research

Geoffrey E. Mills

Fifth Edition

© 2014, 2011, 2007, 2003, 2000Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Guide for the Teacher Researcher


Chapter 8

Writing Up Action Research


Why?

Clarification: Writing helps us better understand the story

Validation as educator Empowerment as agent of change Generativity: A permanent,

accessible record Accomplishment


Format and Style

Format: general pattern of organization and arrangement

Style: rules of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and word processing


APA Style Manual

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association most widely accepted by colleges,

universities, journals


Writing Rituals

May be irrational or magical writing can only occur between

7am and 12pm writing can only be done longhand

using a blue pen and white legal pad

the house must be clean before writing can start

everything must be in order before writing can start


Establish a Writing Routine

Make writing part of your professional life and responsibility.


Tips for Avoiding Writing


Tips to Help Write

Write at the same time every day. Write your story as though you are

sending an email to a friend. Tell a story as you write. Write the way you talk. Organize your thoughts using an

outline. Don’t worry about grammatical

errors in the early stages.


Tips to Help Write

Write whatever comes to mind. Write boldly, then say it again—better. Write, edit, rewrite, re-edit. Remember that nobody knows your

work better than you do. Edit after you have all your thoughts on

paper. Accept that your first draft is not your

last draft.


Outline, Action Research Report

Area-of-focus statement Related literature Definition of variables Research questions Description of intervention or innovation


Outline, Action Research Report

Data collection Data considerations Data analysis and interpretation Action plan


Other Structures

Journals include “Notes for Contributors”

Requirements differ depending on journal


Action Research Journals


General Guidelines for Submissions to Journals

Attend to the context of your study.

Use a clear, reader-friendly style. Attend to structure and style of

published research. Include a brief description of what

you did. Write in an honest, open manner.


General Guidelines for Submissions to Journals

Keep readers’ attention. Follow professional format and

style — but also Use the structure and writing style

for the specific journal.


Digital Research Tools for the 21st century

Managing Citations RefWorks Zotero Endnote


Self-Assessment

Organization and use of conventions

Area of focus Data collection Review of literature Context Writing style Action plan


Integrating Teaching, Research, Writing

Journal-writing time “Down time” in school Professional development days Vacation Time dedicated to grant writing


“How long?”

For submission to journal 2,500 to 3,500 words

For distribution to local colleagues brief summary


Seeking Feedback Questions to promote feedback from

friends and colleagues: Does the write-up provide a complete

picture of the research? Is the write-up reader-friendly? Is the write-up engaging? Will someone (besides loved ones) want

to read it? Do not expect your friends and

colleagues to do your editing for you.


The Title

Make it memorable. Use it to provide a focus for your

writing.


Concluding Thoughts

Polish your text. Do not hurry.

Mills Chapter 08

Education

millsaction

general guidelines

teacher researcher

rights reserved

research

writing

style

story