Synthesizing Primary Research

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Assignment by Kalyn Prince, Bedford New Scholar 2020

During the Bedford New Scholars Summit, each member presented an assignment that had proven successful or innovative in their classroom. 

Kalyn: I’ve found that when I ask students to engage with real-world social/political groups or organizations, they often have trouble synthesizing all of their primary research, secondary research, and analysis. Such synthesis is crucial for students to be able to develop in critical thinking, understand the nuances of a group’s political engagement, and consider their own stake in these issues. To help them practice synthesis, I run students through this scaffolding activity where they begin to consider how synthesis works in documentary-style television shows. Students watch a clip of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (any documentary-style clip could work) and then respond to a series of questions regarding the different research components being synthesized in the segment. For this activity, you can customize the questions and materials to better fit with your classroom language and the skills you’ve been developing with your students.

Context

In ENGL 1113 at the University of Oklahoma, students are asked to write an essay in which they “research a local organization engaged in a social/political issue and analyze the ways in which the group enacts a shared value.” One of the struggles students have with completing the project is finding ways of synthesizing their primary research—interviews, observations, and textual analysis—with the secondary research and discussion of the group’s value required by the project. This activity offers students a model of synthesis, while drawing their attention to the unique ways structure can be determined by said synthesis.

Activity Description and Introduction

One of the challenges of Project 3 is synthesizing the various components of the paper. You have to be able to weave together background information on your selected group or organization, information on the social/political issue, primary research, analysis, and a discussion of the group's shared value.

Anthony Bourdain is a master of blending primary and secondary research, historical and
personal narratives, and analysis and commentary. He models value-analysis and synthesis in really exciting ways that can give you an idea of how to structure your paper. In this activity, you'll pay attention to how he incorporates all of the research and analytical components in a short clip about . . . Waffle House. Follow the instructions below and pay attention to his style. Think about how you can use some of his strategies for your Project 3 paper.

Step 1: Watch and analyze the clip from Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown

While you're watching the clip, considering the following:

Interviews

• Moments where an interview is incorporated into the clip
• What the interview adds to the piece overall
• The ways that the interview relies on other forms of research or commentary

Observations

• Moments where observation is incorporated into the clip
• What observations add to the piece overall
• The ways that observation relies on other forms of research or commentary

Analysis and Commentary

• Moments where Bourdain’s analysis of the event/location is incorporated into the clip
• What his commentary and analysis add to the piece overall
• The ways that the commentary is connected to other forms of research

Step 2: Write Your Findings

Write 1 paragraph that discusses how observations, interviews, analysis, and commentary work together in the clip. If you're stuck, you can answer some of the questions below. Once you're finished, submit the paragraph.

Questions

• What do you notice about the interview?
• What does the interview contribute to clip?
• What values emerge from the interview?
• How is the interview enhanced by other aspects of the clip (such as observations, analysis, or commentary)?
• What (or where) are the moments of observation in the clip? What do you notice about these moments?
• What does observation contribute to clip?
• Are any values revealed or clarified by the inclusion of observations?
• How are the observations enhanced by other aspects of the clip (such as interviews, analysis, or commentary)?
• What do you notice about Bourdain’s analysis/commentary in the clip?
• What does the presence of his voice (his analysis/commentary) contribute?
• Are any values revealed or clarified by the inclusion of his commentary?
• How is his analysis/commentary enhanced by other aspects of the clip (such as interviews, observations, or contextual information)?

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