Summary: A Sample APA Formatted Philosophy Of Education
Running head1: SAMPLE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION PAPER
A Sample APA Formatted Philosophy of Education Paper
Future Teacher Lastname
Indiana University Northwest
F200 Examining Self as Teacher
February 2006
A Sample APA Formatted Philosophy of Education Paper
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to guide you through the process of writing your philosophy of education paper and to demonstrate the correct format. Use it as a template as you write your paper. This page shows you the layout of the first page. Observe how the title is first, followed by the Section Title, which is underlined, and that both are centered. Notice also that the paragraphs are left-justified and indented ½ inch (Cruz & Smith, 2009). …show more content…
Also look at the page number. It is in the top right-hand corner of the page, between the edge of the page and the first line. It is set several spaces to the right of the running head. The page number and running head should be on every page, including the Title Page. Notice also that the page has a one inch margins all around.
In your introduction identify the school of philosophy to which you belong.
Are you a Perennialist, Progressivist (or Constructivist), Essentialist, Existentialist, or Social Reconstructionist? Are you a purist, border crosser, or eclectic? Your introduction should begin with a thesis statement (the first sentence of this paper is a thesis statement) and be followed by an explanation of why you have identified with a particular school of philosophy. At the end of the introduction, add a transition. This paragraph will introduce the four remaining sections: (a) satisfactions and challenges of the teaching profession, (b) scope of the teaching profession, (c) responsibilities and requirements of teaching, and (d) structure and hierarchy of the profession. It is not necessary to arrange them in this order. As you address each of the four areas (1) tell what you know about the indicator and (2) connect it to your philosophical perspective. Do not make broad generalizations or statements without documenting your …show more content…
source.
Satisfactions and Challenges of the Teaching Profession
In this section you will describe the pros and cons of teaching as a profession and career. Tables 1.8 (p.23), 15.6 (p. 363), and 15.7 (p. 364) can assist you in answering these questions (Henniger, 2004). You must also comment on how you will respond to the wide range of student diversity present in today’s classrooms (Tables 2.1 to 2.3 and 2.5 to 2.7).
After stating what you know (one or two paragraphs are sufficient), explain how this is related to your philosophical perspective. For example, as an Existentialist, do you perceive every student as an individual or do you prescribe to the Perennialist view that all students learn and grow in similar ways? In this paragraph, you may speak in your own voice as you relate what you know about the satisfactions and challenges of the teaching profession to your school of philosophy.
Scope of the Teaching Profession
APA format requires that the entire paper be double spaced. There should not be extra spaces between paragraphs and sections. Notice once again that the section title is centered and underlined. The scope of the teaching profession includes disciplines, levels, settings, and roles of the professional educator. Select one or two of the following strands and write a paragraph explaining what you know. Table 5.1 (Henniger, 2004) can help you address the ways the profession is organized. Document the structures charted in Figure 4.1 and Tables 4.2 or 4.3 and state how schools are organized and what kinds of schools exist today. What kinds of services and programs are there for the diverse student population (Tables 4.1, 4.7, and 4.8)? What kinds of curriculum are found in schools today and what factors have an impact on the curriculum (Table 7.1, 7.3 to 7.7)? Be sure to include a statement about the roles a teacher plays (Tables 3.2 and 3.3).
At the conclusion of this section, in a new paragraph, make a connection to your school of philosophy and explain why you think/feel this way.
Do you support the Progressivist teacher who serves as a facilitator or the Essentialist teacher who dispenses knowledge and is responsible for motivating students?
Responsibilities and Requirements of Teaching
Begin by stating your legal responsibilities as a teacher (Tables 13.3 and 13.9) and your responsibilities related to social issues (Table 12.8). Next talk about the specific skills a teacher should have (Tables 3.4 to 3.6), or the professional behaviors and attitudes effective teachers possess (Tables 3.7 to 3.9, and Table 5.3). One or two well constructed paragraphs are all you need.
To conclude this section, discuss your philosophy perspective. Are you a Social Reconstructionist who views schools as one of the best agents for initiating transformation in our society? Or, as the Existentialist, will you share your classroom responsibilities with your students in dealing with problems and conflicts?
Structure and Hierarchy of the Teaching
Profession
In this section, describe the relationships between teachers and administrators, funding and governance. Most of this section will come from Henniger’s Chapter 14. Begin by describing how local school districts are structured, governed, and funded (Figures 14.1 to 14.3) and/or the relationship between state boards of education and the U.S. Department of Education (Figures 14.4 and 14.7). You could also talk about the relationship of teachers and administrators (Table 13.1).
Once you conclude your paragraph on the structure and hierarchy of the teaching profession, connect your views to your school of philosophy. Whether you are a Perennialist who promotes the classics, or a Social Reconstructionist with aims of making societal changes, you should explain why you think/feel this way.
Conclusion
In your conclusion, explain your current level of commitment to a career in teaching. The conclusion must support your thesis statement from the introduction. Before submitting your paper ask yourself: have I communicated clearly, convincingly, and consistently my philosophy of education? Have I used at least 3 professional books or journal articles to support my conclusions and ideas? Are my sources documented using the correct APA format? Did I support my point-of-view with appropriate research findings (this information is found in the professional reading you’ve done throughout this course)? Remember, your paper should be structured using the format of this model. Your writing should include an explicit line of reasoning and a clear focus with no redundancy. Your philosophy of education paper should be 4 to 6 pages of double-spaced 12- point font. Be sure to include a Title Page and paper clip of Rubric A’s score sheet to your finished paper. Do not put your paper in a plastic protector or notebook, a staple in the upper left corner is sufficient. If you have questions or concerns about APA format or assignment requirements, talk to your F200 instructor. We’re here to help.
1A running head is a printing term. It refers to the headers and footers you see in journals and newspapers when articles are longer than one page. The top of your Title Page should look exactly like the Title Page of this model paper. Beginning on page 2, the first page of text, and one every page thereafter, the running head is located in the upper right-hand corner.
References
Alfred, A. (2010). Surviving the APA requirement. American Research Journal, 47 (2), 75-83.
Curz, M.J. & Smith, C.D. (2009). APA format for dummies. American Psychological Association Journal, 58. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from Academic Search Premier.
Henniger, M.L. (2004). The teaching experience: An introduction to teaching. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Henniger. M.L. (2008). Educational philosophies and you. (Rev. ed.). Athens, OH: Universal
Publications.
Longfield, J.A. (1997). A survival guide for f200 students. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from
http://www.iun.edu/~edujal/f200/survival.doc
A Sample APA Formatted Philosophy of Education Paper
Future Teacher Lastname
Indiana University Northwest
F200 Examining Self as Teacher
February 2006
A Sample APA Formatted Philosophy of Education Paper
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to guide you through the process of writing your philosophy of education paper and to demonstrate the correct format. Use it as a template as you write your paper. This page shows you the layout of the first page. Observe how the title is first, followed by the Section Title, which is underlined, and that both are centered. Notice also that the paragraphs are left-justified and indented ½ inch (Cruz & Smith, 2009). …show more content…
Also look at the page number. It is in the top right-hand corner of the page, between the edge of the page and the first line. It is set several spaces to the right of the running head. The page number and running head should be on every page, including the Title Page. Notice also that the page has a one inch margins all around.
In your introduction identify the school of philosophy to which you belong.
Are you a Perennialist, Progressivist (or Constructivist), Essentialist, Existentialist, or Social Reconstructionist? Are you a purist, border crosser, or eclectic? Your introduction should begin with a thesis statement (the first sentence of this paper is a thesis statement) and be followed by an explanation of why you have identified with a particular school of philosophy. At the end of the introduction, add a transition. This paragraph will introduce the four remaining sections: (a) satisfactions and challenges of the teaching profession, (b) scope of the teaching profession, (c) responsibilities and requirements of teaching, and (d) structure and hierarchy of the profession. It is not necessary to arrange them in this order. As you address each of the four areas (1) tell what you know about the indicator and (2) connect it to your philosophical perspective. Do not make broad generalizations or statements without documenting your …show more content…
source.
Satisfactions and Challenges of the Teaching Profession
In this section you will describe the pros and cons of teaching as a profession and career. Tables 1.8 (p.23), 15.6 (p. 363), and 15.7 (p. 364) can assist you in answering these questions (Henniger, 2004). You must also comment on how you will respond to the wide range of student diversity present in today’s classrooms (Tables 2.1 to 2.3 and 2.5 to 2.7).
After stating what you know (one or two paragraphs are sufficient), explain how this is related to your philosophical perspective. For example, as an Existentialist, do you perceive every student as an individual or do you prescribe to the Perennialist view that all students learn and grow in similar ways? In this paragraph, you may speak in your own voice as you relate what you know about the satisfactions and challenges of the teaching profession to your school of philosophy.
Scope of the Teaching Profession
APA format requires that the entire paper be double spaced. There should not be extra spaces between paragraphs and sections. Notice once again that the section title is centered and underlined. The scope of the teaching profession includes disciplines, levels, settings, and roles of the professional educator. Select one or two of the following strands and write a paragraph explaining what you know. Table 5.1 (Henniger, 2004) can help you address the ways the profession is organized. Document the structures charted in Figure 4.1 and Tables 4.2 or 4.3 and state how schools are organized and what kinds of schools exist today. What kinds of services and programs are there for the diverse student population (Tables 4.1, 4.7, and 4.8)? What kinds of curriculum are found in schools today and what factors have an impact on the curriculum (Table 7.1, 7.3 to 7.7)? Be sure to include a statement about the roles a teacher plays (Tables 3.2 and 3.3).
At the conclusion of this section, in a new paragraph, make a connection to your school of philosophy and explain why you think/feel this way.
Do you support the Progressivist teacher who serves as a facilitator or the Essentialist teacher who dispenses knowledge and is responsible for motivating students?
Responsibilities and Requirements of Teaching
Begin by stating your legal responsibilities as a teacher (Tables 13.3 and 13.9) and your responsibilities related to social issues (Table 12.8). Next talk about the specific skills a teacher should have (Tables 3.4 to 3.6), or the professional behaviors and attitudes effective teachers possess (Tables 3.7 to 3.9, and Table 5.3). One or two well constructed paragraphs are all you need.
To conclude this section, discuss your philosophy perspective. Are you a Social Reconstructionist who views schools as one of the best agents for initiating transformation in our society? Or, as the Existentialist, will you share your classroom responsibilities with your students in dealing with problems and conflicts?
Structure and Hierarchy of the Teaching
Profession
In this section, describe the relationships between teachers and administrators, funding and governance. Most of this section will come from Henniger’s Chapter 14. Begin by describing how local school districts are structured, governed, and funded (Figures 14.1 to 14.3) and/or the relationship between state boards of education and the U.S. Department of Education (Figures 14.4 and 14.7). You could also talk about the relationship of teachers and administrators (Table 13.1).
Once you conclude your paragraph on the structure and hierarchy of the teaching profession, connect your views to your school of philosophy. Whether you are a Perennialist who promotes the classics, or a Social Reconstructionist with aims of making societal changes, you should explain why you think/feel this way.
Conclusion
In your conclusion, explain your current level of commitment to a career in teaching. The conclusion must support your thesis statement from the introduction. Before submitting your paper ask yourself: have I communicated clearly, convincingly, and consistently my philosophy of education? Have I used at least 3 professional books or journal articles to support my conclusions and ideas? Are my sources documented using the correct APA format? Did I support my point-of-view with appropriate research findings (this information is found in the professional reading you’ve done throughout this course)? Remember, your paper should be structured using the format of this model. Your writing should include an explicit line of reasoning and a clear focus with no redundancy. Your philosophy of education paper should be 4 to 6 pages of double-spaced 12- point font. Be sure to include a Title Page and paper clip of Rubric A’s score sheet to your finished paper. Do not put your paper in a plastic protector or notebook, a staple in the upper left corner is sufficient. If you have questions or concerns about APA format or assignment requirements, talk to your F200 instructor. We’re here to help.
1A running head is a printing term. It refers to the headers and footers you see in journals and newspapers when articles are longer than one page. The top of your Title Page should look exactly like the Title Page of this model paper. Beginning on page 2, the first page of text, and one every page thereafter, the running head is located in the upper right-hand corner.
References
Alfred, A. (2010). Surviving the APA requirement. American Research Journal, 47 (2), 75-83.
Curz, M.J. & Smith, C.D. (2009). APA format for dummies. American Psychological Association Journal, 58. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from Academic Search Premier.
Henniger, M.L. (2004). The teaching experience: An introduction to teaching. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Henniger. M.L. (2008). Educational philosophies and you. (Rev. ed.). Athens, OH: Universal
Publications.
Longfield, J.A. (1997). A survival guide for f200 students. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from
http://www.iun.edu/~edujal/f200/survival.doc