Writing Question

Overview

The purpose of this assignment is to deepen your understanding of a key theoretical framework related to diversity and equity in education. You will select one framework, conduct a focused literature review of at least three scholarly articles, and then visually synthesize your findings into a conceptual map or infographic. This process will help you make explicit connections between the theoretical framework and core course concepts such as diversity, equity, intersectionality, and bias.

Your paper should be formatted in APA as if you were going to submit it for publication. If you are unclear on what that entails, I encourage you to review the Purdue OWL website.

Part I: Critical Literature Review (30 points)

Instructions:

1. Select a Theoretical Framework: Choose one of the following frameworks as the focus of your review:
   • Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy
   • Critical Race Theory in Education
   • Funds of Knowledge
   • Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
2. Locate Scholarly Articles: Find at least three peer-reviewed, scholarly articles that discuss your chosen framework. The articles should be recent (published within the last 10 years, unless it's a foundational text) and come from academic journals.
3. Analyze the Articles: For each article, write a concise summary (1-2 paragraphs) that includes:
   • The authors' main argument or thesis.
   • The key concepts or terms they use.
   • The methodology or research approach (if applicable).
   • How the article's findings or arguments connect to the core course concepts of diversity, equity, intersectionality, and bias.
4. Synthesize Your Findings: Conclude this section with a short synthesis (1-2 paragraphs) that identifies the common themes, disagreements, or key takeaways across the three articles.

Part II: Conceptual Map or Infographic (20 points)

Instructions:

1. Create a Visual Representation: Design a conceptual map or an infographic that visually represents your chosen theoretical framework. The visual should be clear, organized, and easy to follow. You may use a digital tool like Canva, Miro, or even PowerPoint, but it must be a single, static image file (e.g., PDF, PNG, JPG).
2. Connect Key Concepts: Your map or infographic must visually demonstrate the interconnectedness of your chosen framework with at least three of the following concepts:
   • Diversity
   • Equity
   • Intersectionality
   • Implicit Bias
3. Include Explanatory Notes: Use labels, brief text descriptions, or a legend within the visual to explain the relationships and connections you are illustrating. The visual should be able to stand on its own as a summary of your work.