Stanford
TeachingWriting

Developing Your PWR 2 Assignment Sequence

The centerpiece of PWR 2 is a research project that allows students to research, write, translate, and deliver an in-depth investigation. This project consists of several parts:

  • research proposal (in oral and written form),
  • substantial written research-based argument,
  • oral delivery of research with media support,
  • the composition of a text in an additional genre or mode (i.e., a podcast, a photo essay, an infographic)

At each stage of the project, students are asked to reflect on how medium impacts rhetorical choices. In addition, students participate in in-class workshops and peer-led revision exercises that are augmented by individual conferences with the PWR instructor and with Oral Communication Tutors. The class is designed to allow students to conduct field-based as well as library and Internet research, to write in a wider range of genres, to focus intensively on the media they use to present their research, and to plan and deliver presentations for live audiences.

PWR 2 Assignment Overviews & Examples

Research Proposal

Students write a proposal for a research project related to the  course theme, establishing the significance and scope of the project, framing research  questions and expected research methods, and presenting preliminary information about  prominent sources. Each student shares their research proposal with their class in an oral  presentation. (5 minutes of oral presentation, 2-4 page script)  Length: A minimum of 5 minutes of live oral presentation; written text of 900-1200 words; ungraded “Reflection on Proposal Assignment” (i.e., cover letter or reflective memo) of 250 words.

Written Research-Based Argument

Students create a substantial academic that incorporates a range of sources appropriate to their project, which will include  library and Internet sources and, in some cases, field research.  Length: 3000-3600 words or 10-12 pages of research-based writing; ungraded “Reflection on Written Research-Based Argument” (i.e., cover letter or reflective memo) of 250 words.

Delivery of Research 

Students translate their research-based argument and present it in a live oral presentation with multimedia support.  At end of the process, students write and submit an ungraded “Reflection on Delivery of Research Assignment.”  The  reflection should focus on how students translated written research-based argument into live delivery of research as well as their experience in delivering and presenting their final oral presentation. Length: 10-minute live oral presentation with multimedia support; ungraded “Reflection on Delivery of Research Assignment” (i.e., cover letter or reflective memo) of 250 words.

Genre/Modes Assignment

Students translate their research and argument into an  alternate mode or genre, such as a podcast, an op-ed, a video, or infographic.  Length: dependent on assignment goals.  Length will be decided by Instructor, and should correlate with grade % of assignment; ungraded “Reflection on Genre/Mode Assignment” (i.e., cover letter or reflective memo) of 250 words.

Helpful Links: