Thesis Statement/Taking Notes from Sources

Everyone should have turned in their 10 bibliography cards by now. Everyone should be working on a thesis statement. When you have one with which you are satisfied, turn it in. For more help with thesis statements, click on the OWL link at right and type thesis statements in the search box.

This week we will be taking notes from sources. Periods 2 and 5 will meet in the library on Friday. Monday through Thursday, please bring your source material with you to class in order to take notes. If you need to check out a book from the library, please do so. If you have checked out a book, please bring it to class.

Using Digital Library From Home

Now that most of you have your student email activated, you can use Digital Library from home. Remember to click on Teacher Pages and Ms. Abad. From there click on the link for Digital Library from home.

We will meet in the library again on Monday. You should have 10 bibliography (source) cards to turn in by the end of class on Monday.

On Tuesday, we will review how to take notes from your sources: summary, paraphrase and direct quotation. Then you will begin to take notes from each of your sources, as many note cards as necessary, one idea per card (front side only). This is where you will need a stack of index cards. We will do this for a week or two, so it is important that you have sources at the ready.

Research Paper: Finding Sources

All classes will meet in the library on Friday, Oct. 22 and Monday, Oct. 25 to find sources for their research papers. Students will locate sources and record the information on an index card (one side of the card only) according to the handout you were given and the chapter in your Writer's Choice book. Ten bibliography (source) cards are due at the end of class on Monday.

Although you need only seven to eight sources for your research paper (and one of them will be an interview), I'd like you to find 10 sources in case a couple of them don't meet your needs. This will be worth 10 points. Your sources should include books, newspapers and magazine articles. They may not be entirely composed of websites. (You can read the newspaper or the magazine article online. It is a newspaper or magazine article if it was originally published in a newspaper or magazine.)

Letter of Intent

Everyone should have turned in a letter of intent by Monday. I will give feedback and you can revise it. We did experience a glitch in the computer-printer situation. Most of period 4 and 5 did not print because the computer could not locate the printer. I am trying to address the situation. However,you may need to save your letter on a flash drive and print it from the desktop computer in the classroom.

In response to your concerns about the common application essay, I have asked Mrs. Sounsani, college counselor, to visit and answer your questions. She will visit classes on Thursday and will bring worksheets you can use in writing your personal statement. Have specific questions ready to ask her.

I have also discovered an online writing lab that may be able to help you. I will tell you more about it in class on Monday.

Your next step in your research paper is to generate at least five questions you want your research to answer.

The Rhetoric of the Op-Ed Page (Per. 2 and 5)

Today we brainstormed synonyms and antonyms for the word persuade. Then we read and annotated "Three Ways to Persuade" in the Rhetoric of the Op-Ed page module in the Expository Composition book (pgs. 29-32)

We will discuss the questions tomorrow. Those who have not yet met with me about their Senior Project, should do so.

Topic Selection Periods 2 and 5

See post below. All classes will meet with me individually this week. Next week you will write your Letter of Intent. See the Senior Project Survival Guide for a sample letter and a breakdown of the paragraphs.

Period 4: Senior Project Topic Selection

By now, you should have completed pages 8-12 of the Pathfinder booklet. This should give you a topic and focus for your research paper, as well as ideas for a physical project (20 hours of hands-on learning).

Next week you will begin writing your letter of intent. We will also begin the next module in the Expository Writing book.

Reflection (Periods 2 and 5)

If you taught your lesson on Friday, your homework is to write a reflection on how your lesson went. What went well? What didn't? How well did the students understand your lesson? How could you tell? If you had it to do over again, what would you change? What grade would you give yourself?

If you were absent Friday, collect from your group members any evidence such as quizzes that will tell you how well the information was understood. You may turn in your reflection on Tuesday.

If you teach your lesson on Monday, you will write the reflection for homework Monday night.

Your grade will be based on the thought, honesty, insight, and clarity of writing shown in your reflection, not on your actual presentation.