Research Paper Sources, Essay Example

Internet Source:  National Home Education Research Institute (www.nheri.org)

NHERI provides general information, research, and educational materials regarding home education (homeschooling) in the United States.  This includes a very recent (January 2011) fact-sheet providing research facts about homeschooling that will be key to my exploration of the topic.  The purpose of NEHRI is to connect educators, parents, and other interested parties with valid research about homeschooling.  The site is a very credible reference as it takes great care to document the sources it uses .  As well, the president of NEHRI, Dr. Brian D. Ray, is an educator and researcher who has studied homeschooling for over twenty years.

Library/Database Source:  “The Civic Perils of Homeschooling” by Rob Reich

http://web.ebscohost.com.cat1.lib.trentu.ca:8080/ehost/detail?sid=4b3ca14c-2ca0-48f7-9a7d-cb9a467401ed%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=113&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

This article is from the April 2002 issue of Educational Leadership.  The author, Rob Reich, looks at how homeschooling practices can negatively impact on the education of children, especially in aspects of citizenship.  This article will be helpful in providing a balanced approach to the subject.  The source has credibility because its from a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal, and was located through the EBSCOhost database.

Published Source:  The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool by David & Kim D’Escoto

This short book explores homeschooling from a largely positive perspective, detailing reasons why it can be the best option for educating children.  It covers the history of homeschooling in America, and also covers some of the controversies of this educational method, including socialization and academics.  The source is credible because its published through a legitimate publishing house (B&H Publishing Group) rather than a vanity press.  As well, the authors have experience in homeschooling their own children and providing resources to families interested in the subject.

Potential Interview Source:  Roxanne D’Amato, homeschooling parent

Through my preliminary research, I’ve been put in contact with Mrs. D’Amato, a mother who has been homeschooling her three children for the last five years.  I intend to interview her via email (as we live in different states) to learn about the day-to-day successes and frustrations of homeschooling.  She is a credible source for first-hand information about homeschooling because it is part of her everyday practice.