RESEARCH PROPOSAL ASSIGNMENT DUE: 12/03/2018 5PM SUBMIT ON BLACKBOARD For this assignment, you will draw on your lessons from the topic development and data collection you did in the course to write a 10-13 page (double-spaced) proposal outlining details that you propose for a 4-month study. In this proposal, you will be expected to include the following: I. Introduction and research question: Offer a brief context for your topic. This can include some interesting current event that is connected to your topic, relevant brief historical details, and/or the setting up of the broader theoretical, political or social issues or conversation your question is attempting to address. This introduction should then clearly lead into your research question. In other words, your articulation of your research question should naturally flow from the introductory context you set up. State the research question clearly. You must include citations for any claims you make! II. Rationale/Significance: Explain to us the significance of your project. Some ways you can think about this question; you don’t have to answer all of these: a. Why is your study original? b. Why is it important to ask this question you are posing? What would it help us understand better? c. Why is doing it qualitatively a valuable contribution? d. Are the participants or site something other scholars haven’t considered but should? Why? III. Literature Review: Provide a brief overview of the bodies of literature that will be informing your project. This is an outline of your literature review so remember, this should only be references to secondary and scholarly sources (e.g.—NOT newspapers). Cite some examples (5-7) of the scholarship you would use. Answer the following: a. Which areas of scholarship (disciplines, sub-disciplines, schools of thought, areas of study, etc.) will you be drawing from? b. Why are you drawing from these? How does it help inform your work? c. What are the broader discussions, debates, conversations, etc. that these bodies of literature are having about your topic? d. What will be your study’s contribution to this discussion? In other words, what do you think is missing in their scholarly conversation? What haven’t they tackled (or adequately tackled) yet? IV. Methods: In this section, provide full details about your methodological approach to this study [JUSTIFY EVERYTHING].Answer the following: a. What will be the fieldsite for your study? A center? A government agency? A building? Some meeting? Explain briefly why this would be appropriate for your study. b. Who will be the participants in your study? Whom will you observe? Whom will you interview? Provide number of individuals, positions, etc. Explain why you are making these decisions. c. Which methods will you be using? Why? Provide details. How many hours/days will you spend doing participant-observation? How many semi-structured interviews? If relevant, what kind of material culture data do.

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL ASSIGNMENT
DUE: 12/03/2018 5PM
SUBMIT ON BLACKBOARD
For this assignment, you will draw on your lessons from the
topic development and data collection you did in the course to
write a 10-13 page (double-spaced) proposal outlining details
that you propose for a 4-month study. In this proposal, you will
be expected to include the following:
I. Introduction and research question: Offer a brief context for
your topic. This can include some interesting current event that
is connected to your topic, relevant brief historical details,
and/or the setting up of the broader theoretical, political or
social issues or conversation your question is attempting to
address. This introduction should then clearly lead into your
research question. In other words, your articulation of your
research question should naturally flow from the introductory
context you set up. State the research question clearly. You
must include citations for any claims you make!
II. Rationale/Significance: Explain to us the significance of
your project. Some ways you can think about this question; you
don’t have to answer all of these:
a. Why is your study original?
b. Why is it important to ask this question you are posing? What
would it help us understand better?
c. Why is doing it qualitatively a valuable contribution?
d. Are the participants or site something other scholars haven’t
considered but should? Why?
III. Literature Review: Provide a brief overview of the bodies of
literature that will be informing your project. This is an outline
of your literature review so remember, this should only be

2. references to secondary and scholarly sources (e.g.—NOT
newspapers). Cite some examples (5-7) of the scholarship you
would use. Answer the following:
a. Which areas of scholarship (disciplines, sub-disciplines,
schools of thought, areas of study, etc.) will you be drawing
from?
b. Why are you drawing from these? How does it help inform
your work?
c. What are the broader discussions, debates, conversations, etc.
that these bodies of literature are having about your topic?
d. What will be your study’s contribution to this discussion? In
other words, what do you think is missing in their scholarly
conversation? What haven’t they tackled (or adequately tackled)
yet?
IV. Methods: In this section, provide full details about your
methodological approach to this study [JUSTIFY
EVERYTHING].Answer the following:
a. What will be the fieldsite for your study? A center? A
government agency? A building? Some meeting? Explain briefly
why this would be appropriate for your study.
b. Who will be the participants in your study? Whom will you
observe? Whom will you interview? Provide number of
individuals, positions, etc. Explain why you are making these
decisions.
c. Which methods will you be using? Why? Provide details.
How many hours/days will you spend doing participant-
observation? How many semi-structured interviews? If relevant,
what kind of material culture data do you hope to collect? From
where? Why?
Add any other details that are relevant.
d. Identify your own positionality as it relates to the study
e. In a few sentences, explain what collecting preliminary data
in the past month taught you. What worked? Is there anything
you have proposed here that is different from the preliminary
data collection you did? If so, explain.

3. V. Themes: In this final section, you will identify potential
themes that emerged in your preliminary data collection.
a. Identify 2-3 themes that emerged from your coding and
memo-writing.
b. Offer a 2-3 page synopsis for each theme. Each synopsis
should integrate or include excerpts of data relevant to that
theme.
INTERVIEW PROTOCOL 5
Interview Protocol
Name:
Course:
Tutor:
Date:
Running Head: INTERVIEW PROTOCOL 1
Research Question
What are the challenges and solutions, from students’ and
teachers’ perspectives, to acquiring academic language literacy
skills for Adult English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Participants
The participants in the interview will be the students and
teachers at the English Language Institute (ELI). Their role will

4. be to respond to the interview questions. They will also provide
any information necessary for the study during the field visit.
Interview Guide
A variety of questions will be used in the interview, where
each will be set in such a way that it will offer some importance
to the study. The questions are organized under different
thematic areas, including the challenges and the solutions, with
the participants answering questions in turns depending on if
they are directed to the students or the teachers as provided
below:
Questions relating to challenges
1) Are inadequate resources a major challenge to the
achievement of success by adult English learners?
The question will help in the research by explaining the
challenge of inadequate resources from the teachers’
perspective.
2) Do multiple language backgrounds in a class derail the
achievement of the learners?
It will shed light on the effects of multiple languages in class on
the learning process.
3) As a student, do you feel that your previous personal
experiences have a negative impact on your learning process?
It will help by giving students a chance to give their view of
their previous experiences and their impact on the learning
process.
4) Do your teachers make you aware of the variety of resources
available and the way to use them?
The question will help in determining if there is the challenge
of inadequate awareness among the students on the resources
available for their use.
5) Does controlling the students and directing their efforts
negatively affect their learning process?
The question will discuss the challenge of controlling the
efforts of the students during learning.
Questions relating to solutions
1) What resources are most critical for successful acquisition of

5. academic language literacy skills by adult learners?
It will give the solution of providing the most critical resources
to support students’ learning processes.
2) Does grouping students in groups that have multiple language
backgrounds enhance their proficiency levels?
It will determine if grouping students in multiple-language
groups boosts their literacy capability.
3) What does a problem-based approach towards pre-teaching
students entail and how does it help in equipping adult learners
with academic language literacy skills?
The question will be important as it will expound on the use of
problem-based learning in solving the literacy problems in
students.
4) What is your view of providing support and observing
learners, while minimally controlling their efforts help learners
with limited literacy?
The question will help by giving information of the way
teachers exercise control on students in an effective manner.
5) Does gaining awareness of the resources available for your
use and the way to use them help you in your learning process?
The question will expound on the solution of adequate resources
to support students’ learning processes.

6. References
Wrigley, H. (2008). Adult ESL and Literacy: Issues and
Options. Montreal: The Centre for Literacy.
Memorandum 1
To
From
Subject
Date
Student 1
Date data was collected: 23/11/2018
Time and duration of data collected: 10.00am Duration: 30
minutes
Location: English Language Institute
The participant provided important information regarding the
challenges they face as English language learners with limited
level of literacy. The information that was integrated in this
case provided a critical understanding on important processes
which defined the existing issues which need to be considered
in creating a highly effective enviornment where they can learn
better concepts which will improve their understanding on
English language despite the limited level of literacy. A key
challenge that the participant observed that was detrimental to
her development was the different learning techniques that they
are accustomed to which make it difficult to consciously
understand the concept that is being communicated.
There is need to focus on the fact that these individuals have
limited literacy levels and thus employ diverse learning
concepts which would help ensure that they effectively
understand important processes that help create a diverse
learning setting for English language learners. Thus the solution

7. suggested by the participate was to consider employing unique
learning strategies to help ensure that learners understand
important processes which help achieve better outcomes. The
participant highlighted that learning English is important and
will help improve her level of interaction with colleagues.
Memorandum 2
To
From
Subject
Date
Teacher 1
Date data was collected: 25/11/2018
Time and duration of data collected: 1:00pm Duration: 30
minutes
Location: English Language Institute
The participant had critical information to share regarding his
experiences in teaching adult English language learners. He
asserted that learners are putting in place significant efforts
which is providing a critical understanding on important
processes which help students to achieve their learning
objectives. The participant highlights culture as a major
challenge among learners which limit their ability to understand
important concepts in learning English language. Different
cultures focus on different concepts which provide a difficult
focus on key learning outcomes. The learning enviornment
focuses on certain elements which provide a critical
understanding on individual learning goals. Learners therefore
are required to reconsider their cultural approach in learning
new languages. Learners have different abilities which provide
a critical focus on important elements that define a successful
understanding on important processes which help identify
important outcomes.
The participant was very critical regarding the different
approaches that can be considered in creating an improved
knowledge among learners who can understand the key
processes that need to be considered in attaining positive

8. learning outcomes. Embracing diversity in learning is crucial in
promoting positive behavior where it is possible to integrate
strategic concepts which help achieve better outcomes among
learners. The changing learning enviornment provide a strategic
understanding on key processes which need to be evaluated
within different learning settings.
Memorandum 3
To
From
Subject
Date
Student 2
Date data was collected: 28/11/2018
Time and duration of data collected: 2:00pm Duration: 30
minutes
Location: English Language Institute
The participant believes that the changing learning enviornment
has created a critical understanding on different processes
which have been effectively evaluated and provide a strong
commitment under which it is easier to integrate better learning
concepts. The integration of important processes in learning
help understand the underlying needs among learners. A critical
process to consider is based on understanding and assessing the

9. challenge which negative influence learning outcomes. A
critical evaluation on these concepts define important elements
which help understand important measures within learning
context.
The participant highlighted that adult learners have different
level of understanding which means that integration of a single
learning technique limits the overall focus on important
concepts which help identify strategic concepts that need to be
evaluated to provide a favorable setting under which it is
possible to understand the key processes that define a successful
change process.
The solution to this problem id to ensure that there is better
understanding on important concepts which help in determining
critical elements that define positive development among adult
learners. Focusing on a multi strategy learning technique will
provide a greater evaluation on important measures which
define better elements that define change in learning.
Understanding the learning needs among adult learners is
essential in developing successful interventions.
Memorandum
1
To
From
Subject

10. Date
S
tudent
1
D
ate
data was
collected:
23/11/2018
Time and duration of data collected:
10.00am Duration: 30 minutes
Location:
English Language Institute
T
he
participant
provided
important
information
regarding the ch
allenges they
fa
ce as
English

11. language learners with limited level of
literacy
.
T
he
information that was integrated in this
case provided a critical understanding on
important
processes which
define
d
the
existing issues
which need to be c
onsidered in creating a highly
effective
enviornment where they can learn
better
concepts
which will
improve
their understanding on
English
language despite the l
imited level of
literacy
.
A

12. key challenge that the participant observed that was detrimental
to her development
was the different
learning
techniques
that they are a
ccustomed to which make it difficult to
consciously
understand the
concept
that is being communicated.
T
here
is need to focus on the fact that these individuals have limited
literacy levels and
thus employ diverse learning
concepts
which would help ensure that they effectively understand
importa
nt processes that help create a diverse learning setting for
English
language learners.
T
hus
the solution suggested by the
participate

13. was to
consider employing
unique learning strategies to
help ensure
that learners understand important processes which help
achieve
better outcomes.
T
he
Memorandum 1
To
From
Subject
Date
Student 1
Date data was collected: 23/11/2018
Time and duration of data collected: 10.00am Duration: 30
minutes
Location: English Language Institute
The participant provided important information regarding the
challenges they face as
English language learners with limited level of literacy. The
information that was integrated in this
case provided a critical understanding on important processes
which defined the existing issues
which need to be considered in creating a highly effective
enviornment where they can learn better
concepts which will improve their understanding on English
language despite the limited level of
literacy. A key challenge that the participant observed that was
detrimental to her development
was the different learning techniques that they are accustomed

14. to which make it difficult to
consciously understand the concept that is being communicated.
There is need to focus on the fact that these individuals have
limited literacy levels and
thus employ diverse learning concepts which would help ensure
that they effectively understand
important processes that help create a diverse learning setting
for English language learners. Thus
the solution suggested by the participate was to consider
employing unique learning strategies to
help ensure that learners understand important processes which
help achieve better outcomes. The
My Major: Teaching and Curriculum in Education Program
Research Topic: Adult English Language Learners (ELLs) with
Limited Literacy: challenges and solutions.
Research Question: What are the challenges and solutions, from
students’ and teachers’ perspectives, to acquiring academic
language literacy skills for Adult English Language Learners
(ELLs)?
The Site Observation: English Language Institute (ELI)
The Participant Observation: Interviewing with students and
teachers
*Interview Protocol - Attached
*Data Collection and Memos- Attached
*Research Proposal DueDecember 3, 2018
You will develop a 10-13-page proposal that draws from the
semester’s work and data collection to propose a 4-month

15. research study. It will include the following: Introduction and
research question; Rationale/Significance; Brief overview of the
bodies of literature that inform your project and that your
project will contribute to; Description of your site and research
techniques; Articulating and supporting your preliminary
analytical themes. More details will be provided in class.