Dissertation+Ideas

**Dissertation Ideas**


 * Examination of 141/241/341 classes
 * What produces that greatest improvements in a students' reading level?
 * //Vicky Morgan feedback: ////This is pretty broad as stated. If you have an idea of what affects students' reading level, you could design a study to see if that's what is really going on (maybe compare it to another "thing" that might be affecting their reading level). //
 * Is there a difference between our individual curriculum vs. Read 180?
 * //Again, you would need to specify what you think the difference might be between the two and test that somehow, or you can devise something else that gives you data (like a survey) and then try to "lift out" the things that differ between the two. //
 * Is there a difference from one school's curriculum to another?
 * //Do you mean a school in your district to another? Or your district from other districts? Either way, the same ideas apply....how will you specify what you think the differences might be or how will you find out via another way (survey, interviews, etc.) what those differences might be. //
 * Examination of 4 year track of lower level English classes
 * What type of curriculum would serve these students and their futures best?
 * Is learning through literature best serving these students?
 * How does the current curriculum compare to the years where 201 was one semester of writing and one semester of reading?
 * //With all these, you would need to figure out how to find the answers to your question....for example, if you think learning through literature works best for the lower level English classes, can you compare a group who learns with that structure as compared to a group that learns in another way. You would have to decide on what to compare them....test scores? Your own assessment of their knowledge? Course grades? Same thing with comparing the current curriculum with a previous approach. Would you be able to get test scores or course grades for those previous years? Your first question about type of curriculum is getting at the same thing as your last two questions, I think. //
 * Summer Academy classes
 * Are these classes improving reading skills? Giving students a leg up on high school curriculum?
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Do you have some students that participate in Summer Academy classes and some who do not? If so, you can compare the two groups on whatever measure you think will tell you if the Summer Academy classes are resulting in improved reading skills. It would be best if you could get the two groups to be as equivalent as possible....same general ability, etc. //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Frosh/Soph Project Excel programs
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Are these programs serving their purposes? Content + Self-Efficacy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Does it work better at one school than another?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">How are these students supported after the program?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">advocacy of students
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">VAMP mentoring
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">testing focus--affect on writing
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">attendance issues and interventions