Research and Campaigns Module 1

Module 1: Research and Campaigns

• Research is crucial for improving quality and expanding knowledge (Kapur, 2018).
• Understanding research language aids in analyzing research problems and academic texts.
• Research begins with a question or problem, then scrutinizes existing knowledge (literature review).
• Research involves analyzing collected data, publishing procedures, data, and conclusions to allow for reproducibility.
• Design: A plan for creating or doing something.
• Data: Collected facts and information.
• Significance: Importance and meaningfulness of research findings.
• Evidence: Observations or information proving or disproving something.
• Treatment: A course of action in research.
• Experiment: A test manipulating all but one factor to observe its effect.
• Conclusion: Summary of findings at the end of a study.
• Observation: Careful examination of something.
• Statistics: Organization and analysis of numerical data.
• Campaign: A single or series of ads, providing a framework for advocacy.
• 5 Dimensions of Campaign:
  • Awareness-raising: Making an issue public.
  • Research: Providing knowledge for action (often involving stakeholders).
  • Social Mobilization: Actions of various groups (civic, religious) (e.g., rallies, meetings).
  • Training: Development of skills and vision (e.g., training teachers, police).
  • Lobbying: Influencing government decisions (e.g., coalition-building).
  • Advocacy: Action taken to promote a cause, persuading others (e.g., nonprofits, media).
  • Self-advocacy: Expressing needs to gain independence.
  • Accommodations: Changes facilitating success.
  • Steps for requesting accommodations:
    • Face person in charge
    • Make eye contact
    • State the reason for accommodation.
    • Thank the person.
    • Implement accommodation.

Module 2: Conjunctions

• Conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses.
• Coordinating Conjunctions: Connect ideas (e.g., "and").
• Subordinating Conjunctions: Show dependence of one idea on another (e.g., "unless").
• Correlative Conjunctions: Join equal elements (e.g., "neither...nor").

Module 3: Assertions

• Assertion: A statement of fact, opinion, belief, or prejudice.
• Fact: Verifiable statement.
• Opinion: Personal judgment based on facts.
• Belief: Conviction based on faith, morality, etc.
• Commonplace Assertions: Stereotypes or prejudices presented as universal truths.

Module 4: Modal Verbs

• Modal verbs provide additional information about the main verb.
• Can/Can't (present): Ability
• Could/Couldn't (past): Ability
• Could/Might/May (present, future): Possibility
• Must/Must have (present, future): Certainty
• Should/Ought to/Must: Advice
• Must/Have to: Obligation

Module 5: Claims

• Claim (for speakers/writers): Central statement proving a belief or idea.
• Characteristics of a good claim: Argumentative, specific, engaging, logical.
• Types of claims:
  • Fact: Reporting, describing, predicting, causing/effecting.
  • Policy: Urging action or discontinuation.
  • Value: Judging morality, beauty, merit, or wisdom.

Module 6: Rhetorical Questions

• Rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered, but they are essential for effective communication.
• How to use rhetorical questions effectively:
  • Engage the audience
  • Personalize the question
  • Persuade
  • Evoke emotions
  • Emphasize
  • Predict audience questions
  • Answer with questions
  • Use consecutive questions

Module 7: Multimodal Texts

• Multimodal texts incorporate various modes (pictures, written language, etc).
• Digital multimodal texts: Combine written/spoken language, visuals (moving, still), audio, and more.
• Live multimodal texts: Incorporate gestures, spatial arrangement, spoken words, and audio.
• Visual text: Representations using lines, shapes, colors, etc.
• 5 Modes:
  • Audio/Aural: Sound focus
  • Visual: Images and characters
  • Gestural: Movement
  • Linguistic: Written/spoken words
  • Spatial: Arrangement of elements