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12/14 & 12/17: ONE DAY TO DUE DATE!!!

Today, I checked first drafts AND SENT HOME INTERIMS. (CHECK THE RUBRIC'S KEY FOR NOTES EXPLANATION OF WINTER BREAK ASSIGNMENT)

To check them we went through the grading rubric. I re-enforced the grading policy: if you don't do the research/format stuff correct, you will not pass this paper!!! So, make sure you get all of the requirements met (that's the top box on the rubric I sent home Wednesday and Thursday).

The rest of the rubric is straight-forward: did you follow directions and do what you're supposed to do in each section?

Those of us who had their first draft I conferenced with, checking their citations, synthesis statements, and everything else. The rest of us got COWs (Friday) or went to the computer lab (Monday) to work.

The goal for the end of the day was to have our paper "looking" like an MLA academic paper: Typed, double spaced, name and page numbers on each page, title page, works cited page, etc.

I also asked you to run spell check, but when it first opens click "options" Under options there's a box to check called "Show readability statistics" Select that. Now, when you're done spell checking it will tell you the grade level you are writing at, or, more precisely, the reading level you're writing at. It's call "Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level." It's fun. Believe me.

I CAN'T WAIT TO READ YOUR PAPERS!!! THEY'RE GOING TO BE GREAT, I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS!

12/12&12/13: A good Title

Today we worked on our titles and title pages.

A good title should:

• Never be a topic, like "Global Warming"
• Never be a type, like "Research Paper"
• Always lead in to your thesis
• Attracts your audience, just like your hook
• Matches the tone of your essay. The tone of this essay is formal/serious
• Try something creative: a pun, alliteration, symbol, magic three
• If you are having trouble: Start with your topic add a semicolon ; then a description of your paper/purpose
• Example: Global Warming; How we can Solve Global Warming Without Leaving our Homes.

Title Pages:

Separate the page visually into thirds:

1st 1/3rd.

Title

2nd 1/3rd

Your Name

Teacher's Name

Class Title, block/section

Date of submission (follow MLA style for Dates)

18 Dec 2007

Insert a page break here.

The rest of the block was spent in the library.

12/10&12/11: Conclusion How-To

1. Check intro paragraphs: Does it have a hook? Does it have a thesis with map? Does it have a background paragraph?

2. Fill out the checklist: Out of 12 paragraphs we should have written today (we're writing three more tonight!), how many have you done???

3. Conclusion how-to:

• paragraph 1: conclusion: synthesize the information you've presented in your paper. How do you propose we solve this problem?
• paragraph 2: application: what are you going to do about it? How will you use this information in your personal life?
• paragraph 3: closing: 1st remind the audience of the topic's significance (maybe reflect back to your hook). 2nd close with a call to action

4. Library. go to library to finish any work you need. This is our last trip to the library!!!

HW: Write your conclusion draft

12/6 and 12/7: Introduction How-To

I. Introduction How-To
A. Hook (paragraph 1). -choose one or combine-

1. General, Unanswerable Question: No "reading rainbow" questions: no yes/no questions Try revising/condensing your essential question. Significant Quote with discussion
2. Define Key Terms: make sure your audience understands what you mean by key terms.
3. Significant Quote with discussion: try using a quotation dictionary
4. Anecdote a short, interesting story about yourself or from current events on your topic.
5. "Imagine..."put your audience in the situation
6. Key Statistic a BIG stat, that will make readers want to read on so they can find out why the stat occurs.

B. Thesis with Map (paragraph 1)

1. From Persuasive Organization (quarter 1) this is your claim/argument
2. Your answer to the Essential Question
3. Thesis map = thesis as a magic 3: list three.
4. State the problem with 3 solutions.
5. NO: "In this paper I will..."

C. Background (paragraph 2)

1. Present general background information about problems and solutions
2. Answer the question: What is common knowledge to your audience on this topic?
3. This paragraph, on the Persuasive Organization (from Quarter 1) is the summary of the issue

HW: Draft of Introduction: Try to submit to SCORE

12/4 and 12/5: Embedded Quotes

• First we talked about grading. My first question is going to be: Does it pass?
  
  5 Title page (student’s name, class name, instructor’s name, title of essay, date)
  10 Typed, Double Spaced, name and page #s at the bottom of each page
  10 Essay (6-10 pages, size 12 font, 1/2 inch margins)
  10 Works Cited (6+ sources actually USED) at the end of the paper. Alphabetized with hanging indents.
  10 Parenthetical Citation, used each time information or ideas come from another source. Citations are done correctly throughout, either parenthetically or by introducing the author in the text.
  10 Academic Journal, Magazine/News, Website, Personal Interview, and Book/Print sources are USED.
  5 Is the paper submitted to the dropbox in SCORE?
  __ This checklist/grading slip (online students copy and paste to the end of the essay)

Then we talked about blended or embedded quotes

• To make our papers sound better (and longer!) blend your quotes with your own sentence:
• Example
• Quote:
• "SOL tests assess guessing" (Holt).
• Blended quote
• Many tests don't actually test the skills they claim, like the "SOL tests [which] assess guessing" (Holt).
• ALSO, you should establish the source's CREDIBILITY:
• According to Ryan Holt, long-time educator and English department chair at Spotsylvania High School, Many tests don't actually test the skills they claim, like the "SOL tests [which] assess guessing."
• notice how I don't use parentheical citation: Email me the complete reason why and you'll get extra credit!!!

HW: Typed Draft of Works Cited Page

11/30 & 12/3: Learning Stations

Today we got into learning stations where we read a sample research paper on "anti-americanism in muslim middle east"

In each section we had a different task, all designed to help us understand the parts of a body paragraph:

In pink highlighter: highlight the transitions and define the type of paragraph (Problem-solution) if problem paragraph, define further (Cause-Effect)

In Green highlighter: highlight the topics of the paragraphs.

In Yellow highlighter: Highlight all of the details. Find the details with no parenthetical citation!!! Did they do it right?

In blue highlighter: highlight the synthesis sentences. Remember, Synthesis statements happen in the author's head, details happen in a book or someone else's head.

The last group was asked to share their outlines (due today) and help each other by asking questions/sharing frustrations with the research project.

For homework:

Do the Solution section. Please submit to SCORE as well!!!