W7000 Advanced Academic Study & Writing Week 3.2

ARTICLE CRITIQUE 9

Article Critique

Christopher Walters

Argosy University

Article Critique

Reflecting on Practice: Using Learning Journals In Higher and Continuing Education

Arthur M. Langer wrote an article called “Reflecting on Practice: Using Learning Journals In Higher and Continuing Education” in 2002 with an aim of examining if learning journals are really effective teaching tools in adult learning that is science based. According to his research, Langer found that students who were nontraditional were more skeptical compared to the traditional students over learning journals and used them more as tools of study . Langer sought to examine how effective learning journals were to nontraditional classrooms. Langer did a research on a group of adult computer students about how they responded to the requirement of using learning journals in their study. Through analyzing this work, I will be able to highlight the strengths and the weaknesses that are portrayed by the author concerning the importance of journals on non-traditional students. In this paper, I will analyze the research question, literature review, methodology, findings and discussion laid down by Langer in an attempt to determine if his study is valid or not.

Research Question

Langer (2002) stated his research question on the introduction part of his article. The research question in this study is; “how journal use impacts adult non-traditional students and how the impact can be compared to that of traditional students ”. After the mention of his research question, the author describes the students that he was focusing in the study. Just before completing he first paragraph, the author mentions the purpose of his study as an intent to attain understanding over the effects using journals as tools of learning among adult students as well as to develop skills of critical thinking (Langer, 2002)

Literature review

In the literature review, Langer presents references and information that deeply scrutinizes different published work through comparing and summarizing them. In the paper, Langer has clearly shown how different authors describe the role of reflection in learning. He also gives different interpretations of reflection as described by varying writers. Through his literature review, the audience is able to know what the paper will actually feature on. Langer has provided numerous pieces of evidence about learning journals and their effect on non-traditional students. The views and summaries of other writers have well been organized in the paper hence giving the reader an easy time reading through the article. The author seems to have done great reach since he is even able to compare works of different authors. For instance he is able to compare Harmerlink’s work with that of Selfe, hence showing ability of critical analysis

Methodology

In the methodology section, Langer utilized two main methods. One, he critically analyzed learning journals while secondly he carried out an interview on a number of students that were on voluntarily basis . Through these two methodologies, the reader is exposed to vast information that helps him/her to follow the research procedure. In order to access learning journals, the students were asked to submit their journals on weekly basis. The fact that the interview was carried out on volunteer students could have led to biased results. This is because students that are not interested in journals could have shunned the interview.

Findings

In this study, Langer managed to provide findings in a comprehensive manner. The provided results are also well connected to the methodology. In connection to the outcomes received through the interview s, the author provides a summary of the students’ responses to the questions of the interview. The article has also provided a table that is very precise demographic variables of the students that participated in the interview . During the three semesters’ period, the students were taken through interviews in an effort to find out how effective adult students that are working would benefit from the learning journals settings compared to the traditional students. The interview was also previewing how well this method of study benefited the adult working students. Even though this study provided results of its findings, it failed to show the challenges and limitations that were experienced during the research and compiling period . The author has also draw a conclusion from former researches instead of creating findings as per his own study.

Discussion

The results of this study portrayed that the non-traditional students developed better skills of critical thinking through the study of using learning journals . Langer concludes by saying that the learning journals are helpful to the learning of non-traditional students. Nevertheless, Langer should have been careful on his conclusion considering that he worked with a very limited sample size. It is also not satisfying to the reader since Langer did not provide his significance of the study.

In conclusion , this paper was aimed at highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Langer (2002). One major strength of this author is his professional organization in his work. The use of numerous literatures in his review also shows a great commitment to the work. Nevertheless, the work shows some weaknesses with the major one being bias on the interviews that he conducted. The author should have also mentioned solutions to the problems that were identified in his research.

References

Langer, A.M. (2002). Reflecting on practice: using learning journals in higher and continuing education. Teaching in higher education 337-351

	Unsatisfactory (1)	Emerging (2)	Proficient (3)	Exemplary (4)	Student Level
Writing Criteria
Organization	Writing is unclear and vague with little to no coherence. Writing has limited or missing transitions. Writing frequently tangents and/or repeats ideas unnecessarily.	Writing lacks coherence between paragraphs and ideas. Writing has inconsistent or inappropriate transitions.	Writing is clear and coherent. Transitions are appropriate and consistently used between paragraphs and help move from one idea to the next.	Writing is clear, coherent, and, fluid. Writing also is recursive in that it links ideas back to previously mentioned ideas. Writing also contains appropriate, consistent transitions between paragraphs and ideas help reader see the relationship between ideas.	1 2 3 4 x2 ___6_/8pts
	Paragraph development is flawed: no clear topic sentences. Paragraphs frequently have multiple topics. The writing has a limited or missing introduction and/or conclusion or summary of argument.	Paragraph development is ineffective or inappropriate for the assignment: topic sentences are present but not well connected to the rest of the writing. The introduction paragraph is incomplete or underdeveloped. Conclusion argument does not go beyond a brief repetition of points.	Paragraph development is appropriate for the topic and assignment: topic sentences introduce or summarize the content of the paragraph. The introduction paragraph is appropriate and complete for the topic and assignment. Concluding argument appropriately synthesizes key points.	Paragraphs are well developed and appropriate: there are strong topic sentences, clear ideas that naturally lead reader through the writing. The written piece is structured in a logical fashion that supports the presentation of complex content, including in the introduction and conclusion.	Comments:
Writing Style	Writing style is unfocused, wordy, inconsistent, and does not support the purpose of the writing.	Writing style is inconsistent and/or wordy. It weakly supports the purpose of the writing.	Writing is focused, concise, and has a consistent style that supports the topic and purpose of the writing.	Writing style is concise, engaging, insightful, and focused. It has clarity, depth, coherence, which strongly support the purpose of the writing.	1 2 3 4 x2 __5__/8pts
	Tone is inappropriate and inconsistent. Rhetoric is not developed with consideration of the audience.	Tone is too informal for academic writing. Rhetoric attempts to consider audience but is inconsistent or unclear.	Tone is almost always formal. Rhetoric reflects a good sense of the audience but does not directly appeal to audience by using appropriate terminology and background knowledge of the audience.	Tone is consistently formal. Rhetoric reflects a clear understanding of and directly appeals to audience by using appropriate terminology and background knowledge of the audience.	Comments:
Grammar and Mechanics	Writing contains numerous errors in spelling, grammar, and/or sentence structure that severely interferes with readability and comprehension.	Writing contains errors in spelling and grammar that somewhat interfere with readability and/or comprehension.	Writing follows conventions of spelling and grammar throughout. Errors do not interfere with readability or comprehension.	Writing is basically error free in terms of mechanics. Grammar and mechanics help establish a sound scholarly argument and aid the reader in following the writer’s logic.	1 2 3 4 X 1 __3__/4pts Comments:
Comprehension and Analysis Criteria
Comprehension of subject matter Summarized key points Demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources	The discussion demonstrates limited understanding of subject matter. Little, if any, effort is made to critique information.	The discussion demonstrates poor understanding of subject matter. Information presented is flawed or accepted uncritically. Opinions, personal reflections, and biases dominant discussion.	The discussion demonstrates an appropriate understanding of subject matter. Information is discussed, and an evaluation is attempted, but thoughts are not fully fleshed out to convey the point adequately.	The discussion demonstrates a clear and scholarly understanding of subject matter. Information is discussed with clear and accurate definitions of unfamiliar terms and is thoroughly evaluated from all possible perspectives.	Score 1 2 3 4 x2 __3__/8pts
	References from article are either inappropriately used to support argument or are missing in spots.	References from article are either inappropriately used to support argument or are missing in spots.	References from article are appropriately used to support argument.	References from article are used in an effective way to fully support the authenticity of the argument.	Comments:
Included reflection on the article, analyzing and explaining what was new in the article, views on the way the author conducted the research, and difficulties or frustrations faced in completing this assignment	Different perspectives are taken at face value, showing no reflection on or evaluation of sources.	Inappropriate or inaccurate conclusions are drawn from analysis.	Appropriate, but simple conclusions are drawn. Conclusions are based on single perspective; counter argument never addressed.	Conclusions clearly & accurately reflect & evaluate multiple perspectives of an issue, while taking a clear stance. Any evidence that may be contradictory to expected outcomes is used to present a thorough evaluation of the issue.	Score 1 2 3 4 x2 _4__/8pts Comments:
APA Style	Unacceptable use of APA Style and format. Does not utilize proper citation formats pertinent to the article. Incorrect use of headings.	Uneven application of APA style and format. Utilizes citations and headings inconsistently.	Appropriate use of APA format, inclusive of citations, references, and headings. Infrequent errors	Correct use of APA format, inclusive of citations, references, and correct levels of headings	Score 1 2 3 4 X 1 __3_/4 pts Comments:

Total Score: 24/40 Points

IMPORTANT: Students must aim to demonstrate proficiency (Level 3) in all criteria

Comments

Areas for improvement:

As you write, be sure to include citations to support your writing. Methodologies include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Data collection tools fall into each of these categories. See above for additional comments.

You have great headings. Title page looks great. Great job with hanging indent on the reference you have.

Let me know what questions you may have. If you want to make revisions and resubmit, please use this document. Leave track changes on.