Motivating Children in Educational Settings

1.  First choose an educational program.  This program may be a placement where a student works or may be identified based on a search of the research databases.  For example, if you are interested in reading literacy, you might search the library database for interventions on this topic.  In your paper, you will have a section which thoroughly describes your chosen intervention (e.g., age of participants, ethnic composition, structure of program, techniques, etc.).

2. Next, identify the motivational theory or theories that this program utilizes.  For example, you might discover that the reading literacy program you’ve chosen uses goal-setting and positive reinforcement to encourage youngsters’ skill development.  Your term paper will include sections which review the literature on motivational theory relating to goal-setting and reward use.

3.  Next, you will link the program you’ve chosen with the motivational theory or theories you have identified.  For example, in this section you would discuss specific motivational strategies used by the literacy program, their effectiveness, and integrate this with research findings.  A sample:

The Parker Literacy Program relies primarily on positive rewards such as toys and school supplies to motivate children’s progress.  Research on use of tangible rewards to motivate children’s progress has shown mixed results …

You would then review research on the pros and cons of tangible reward use.

Motivational Theories to Consider or Use in Your Analysis:
1) Effects of reward use or praise
2) Self-efficacy (consequences, teacher self-efficacy)
3) Approaches for involving students in their own learning (self-regulation)
4) Goals and goal-setting effects on motivation
5) Role of emotions and/or affect in motivation
6) Ability grouping or tracking (as linked to motivation)
7) Consequences of achievement anxiety or test anxiety
8) Importance of teacher expectations (for motivation, learning, or performance)
9) The motivational role of students’ causal attributions regarding performance

In addition, your paper must include a consideration of individual differences (i.e., gender, developmental, racial differences) in the importance of the issue (and relevant processes) for the individual learner.

You will also need to critique and evaluate the research you are citing in your paper. You will need to describe specific limitations with the research sources you are citing (across all sources, or in one or more of the sources).

Overall, the paper should review theories and specifically empirical research related to the motivational theories you have chosen and your educational program. It should also include an evaluation of how this issues and program are relevant (or has effects) on the learner.

Specifics:
The paper is to be 10-15 pages in length (it must be at least 10 full pages and no more than 15 pages). You are to double-space, use 12-point Times or Times New Roman font, and you must have one-inch margins on all sides of each page. Page numbers are to be included on the upper right hand corner of each page. The paper, including references, must be in current APA format. A minimum of 10 peer-reviewed journals references relating to motivational theories is required. Any additional sources must also be peer-reviewed. The paper is to be clearly written so that it is easy to read. Ideas are to be presented in a way that they flow together. I should not be left wondering where sentences fit into the paper. Grammar and spelling are very important and points are deducted for any errors. Overall, you will be graded on how well you write.

The title page and reference page should be in APA format (see APA guide). Specifically, any references you may use should be put on a separate page at the end of your paper in APA format (title and reference pages are NOT counted in the 10 pages required for this paper). Please note that references included on your reference page must be cited in the body of your paper. You can choose to include an abstract (although it is not included in the minimum of 10 pages). A total of 3 points will be deducted for grammar and spelling errors and the paper is worth 40 points with the bulk of the points assigned to whether you have met the criteria specified. Late papers will be penalized 3 points for each day that they are late (including Saturday and Sunday). Of course early papers are always accepted!!

Be sure to review the grading protocol when writing and revising your paper. In the past students put a lot of effort writing papers- but lose significant points because they do not meet the paper criteria.

Sections:
I. Introduction
The first section will be the introduction. Here you will introduce your program and the motivational theory (or theories) you will discuss. Your goal is to give the reader information about your educational program and introduce what and how you plan to relate it to motivational theory in the rest of your paper. In this section you must also discuss why this paper is important. You will need to end this section by discussing the plan of the paper (e.g., First I will discuss…, Next, I will discuss…).

II. Body
This section will be the longest section of the paper and where the bulk of points are assigned. In this section you should link your motivational theory (or theories) to your educational program. You should present research-based evidence to support the topic as you discuss them. The most important thing to remember about this section is to be as specific as possible. Provide details and examples of what you are discussing in your paper and make sure your ideas flow from one idea to the next. You should also include your discussion of individual differences (relevant to the learner) in this section.

A.  Description of Educational Program
Give a thorough overview

B.      Review the Literature – Motivational Theory or Theories
Discuss the specific strategies used in your program and relate them to the empirical research.  Be thorough and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy.

III. Summary and Conclusions
In this final section you should summarize the major points in your paper. Furthermore, make some conclusions about your assignment and discuss how you came to these conclusions. Summarize your paper and discuss the educational implications of your review of your issue.

Using References and Citing Sources in the Paper:
An important portion of the paper is learning how to find and appropriately cite research sources. The library research session is set-up to help you find solid research sources for your paper. In terms of citation, you must always cite information that is not known to either you or the general public. That is, any statement that you make as fact or information must be cited in APA format. For example, the statement, “teachers develop expectations in the class” or “most individuals are good teachers” would need research citations in your paper. You also should make sure your statements fit together and are not just listed (i.e., must integrate your statements and ideas).

General Writing Suggestions:
PROOFREAD. You will improve your paper dramatically if you proofread. Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure you run the spell check program on your computer. But remember, computer programs do not know the difference between “their” and “there.” So make sure that you do! Also make sure the paper understandable and clear. It often helps to have a friend, parent, partner, etc., read your paper to see if they understand it or can find errors.

PLAGIARISM. If you are using someone else’s words use quotation marks and cite the source in APA style. Using someone else’s ideas without giving them credit is also considered plagiarism, even if you put it in your own words. So remember to cite the sources where you get your ideas. You will not receive ANY points for the assignment and you could fail the course if you plagiarize! Check your syllabus or course catalog for the definitions of academic integrity at SJSU.

Be sure to include the grading protocol below and your turnitin.com confirmation number with your hard copy of the final paper!

** This term paper will need to be submitted to Turnitin.com by class time on the due date.

Name:
Grading Protocol for Research Paper:
POINTS        CRITERIA

________    Introduction (e.g., describe specific plan for paper- first I will discuss…).  Provide background information on your motivational theories and your educational program. (4 points)

________                      What are the most important motivational theories described in relation to your program? Have you discussed (not simply listed or stated) various motivational theories related to your topics and outlined the highlights of those theories/processes. (5 points)

________    Use of recent empirical research on the topic cited (i.e., recent and most important)? Review the research and link the research to your chosen theory or theories. Be sure to review and integrate the research and not just simply list or state the research. (8 points)
– Use recent peer-reviewed publications (at least 10) and research-based sources

________    You will need to critique and evaluate the research you are citing in your paper. Describe specific limitations with the research sources you are citing (across all sources, or in one or more of the sources). (2 points)

________    You will need to review the findings on your theory/theories and connect the studies to a proposed or existing educational program. Describe what the findings mean for your topic(s). (9 points)
– Demonstrate critical thinking about the research, address the theory, and identify key findings and specific links to the educational program(s)
– Evaluation of how your issue(s) and program are relevant or has effects on the learner

________    You will need to describe individual differences in relation to your theory/theories. Describe gender, developmental, racial differences for the individual learner. (4 points)

________    In your conclusions do you summarize the review of literature in relation to your theory/theories and educational program. Describe educational implications of your review. (4 points)

________        APA and page format, grammar, and spelling (4 points)
– Between 10-15 pages, typed, double-spaced
– Use of APA format and follow paper guidelines
– Proper writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, punctuation)

________        Late penalty (3 points per day deduction)
– Late submission to Turnitin.com
– Late hard copy to instructor

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