Research Journal Annotation/Synthesis

PURPOSE
Together, we will create a synthesis of 21st century research on secondary
literacy/writing; to do this, you will review/evaluate published articles in a research
journal, and synthesize the relevant articles answers to key questions about
literacy/writing research. In your future career, you will review, evaluate, and synthesize
previous research in order to situate your own work each time you write an article. You
will also need to know the character of those research journals in which you might
publish your work.
AUDIENCE
The audience for this work is our class: since this is an authentic opportunity for
publication, you should also write for journal reviewers and readers.
PROCESS
Each of us will choose one of the major research journals in which secondary
literacy/writing research has been published during the last 16 years. You will then
review the published articles in your journal, selecting those that focus on secondary
literacy/writing. For each article, you will compose an annotation (a summary/
evaluation), adding that article to our collaborative library. You will also contribute what
you learn from that article to a synthesis of answers to key questions.
Questions
What is literacy?
How do people become literate?
How is literacy taught?
How are literacy teachers
prepared?
What are recommendations for
future research?

Journals
Research in the Teaching of English
English Education
College English
College Composition and
Communication
Journal of Literacy Research
Journal of Adolescent and Adult
Literacy

RUBRIC
Criteria/Score
Focus
Approach
Methodology
Findings/Contributions

Focus
0% of Project Annotation/Synthesis Grade
4
The annotation clearly identifies the problem for study and thoroughly relates it to key synthesis
questions
3
The annotation clearly identifies the problem for study and relates it to key synthesis questions
2
The annotation identifies the problem for study and relates it to key synthesis questions
1
The annotation identifies the problem for study or relates it to key synthesis questions
0
The annotation does not identify the problem for study or relate it to key synthesis questions
Approach
0% of Project Annotation/Synthesis Grade
4
The annotation clearly identifies the theoretical approach and thoroughly relates it to key synthesis
questions
3
The annotation clearly identifies the theoretical approach and relates it to key synthesis questions
Michael B. Sherry
mbsherry@usf.edu

LAE 7735/791016
Page 1/2

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1
0

The annotation identifies the theoretical approach and relates it to key synthesis questions
The annotation identifies the theoretical approach or relates it to key synthesis questions
The annotation does not identify the theoretical approach or relate it to key synthesis questions

Methodology
0% of Project Annotation/Synthesis Grade
4
The annotation clearly identifies the methodology and thoroughly evaluates its appropriateness for
the problem/approach
3
The annotation clearly identifies the methodology and evaluates its appropriateness for the
problem/approach
2
The annotation identifies the methodology and evaluates its appropriateness for the
problem/approach
1
The annotation identifies the methodology or evaluates its appropriateness for the
problem/approach
0
The annotation does not identify the methodology or evaluate its appropriateness for the
problem/approach
Findings/Contributions
0% of Project Annotation/Synthesis Grade
4
The annotation concisely summarizes the findings/contributions, thoroughly evaluates
evidence/claim connections, and relates these contributions to key synthesis questions
3
The annotation concisely summarizes the findings/contributions, evaluates evidence/claim
connections, and relates these contributions to key synthesis questions
2
The annotation summarizes the findings/contributions, evaluates evidence/claim connections, and
relates these contributions to key synthesis questions
1
The annotation summarizes the findings/contributions, evaluates evidence/claim connections, or
relates these contributions to key synthesis questions
0
The annotation does not summarize the findings/contributions, evaluate evidence/claim
connections, or relate these contributions to key synthesis questions

Michael B. Sherry
mbsherry@usf.edu

LAE 7735/791016
Page 2/2