Writing 3 Class Notes -- Week 6 (September 30)

 Greetings!

We had a full day in class today.  I'm sure enjoying this group of students!

Quick Write

Today's prompt was inspired by the fact that is was on this day, September 30, in 1890 that Yosemite was named a national park.  I'm afraid I gave some incorrect information.  Yellowstone was the first national park, not Yosemite.  For the prompt, students were to write about some "great out of doors" adventure.  For responses, I heard about some close calls and some good times in nature.

Words of the Day

Vernacular -- fr. Latin verna (home-born slave) & vernaculus (domestic; native) -- "home-style language;" common language

Colloquial -- fr. Latin com (with) & loqui (to talk) -- language of a conversational style

Dialect -- fr. Greek dialektos (talk, conversation, speech) and fr. PIE -leg (to collect, gather, or pick out words) -- language specific to a particular region

Idiom -- fr. Latin idiomas (peculiarity in language) -- a figure of speech; words that have meanings other than their literal meaning

Homework Check

Usually after the beginning of class activities, I check in with the students about any homework questions.  We discussed assignments on Google Classroom.  I want to clarify an issue relating Google Classroom and the Grades Report that is emailed.  If students are missing an assignment, it will say "missing" on Google Classroom.  When I import the scores onto a Google Sheets spreadsheet using a grade book app, the missing scores are changed to zeros.  

Another note about homework.  I don't have a specific day that I correct homework, but the plan is to have it done and returned for the following class period.  When I'm done correcting work, I will update Google Classroom to reflect both the paper homework that was handed in during class and the assignments finished on Google Classroom.  

Student Led Discussion

Two groups of students presented to the class today.  First we heard about Note-taking from Eliana and Leighton.  The Madeleine and Levi gave us important bibliographical information related to Works Cited pages.  In addition to hearing about Evaluating Sources from Tyler & Carson, here's the plan for next week:

Week 7 (10/7)	Paraphrasing & Summarizing	1. Gabi Fletcher
		2.   Ethan Barns
	Mosaic Plagiarism	1. Madeleine Choe
		2.   Kara Smith
	Common Knowledge	1. Michael Miller
		2.   Ethan Barns

Student Group Discussions

After our presentations, I divided the students into small groups to discuss their topics and to work on their thesis statements for their research papers.  Their Research Proposals were due this week, and a preliminary outline is due next week.  As I've told students, the work for the first part of the semester is pretty light, but now it's picking up.  The first rough draft is due in two weeks!

Assignments for Next Week

Write Your Own Thesis Statement (2nd half)

Research Paper Outline

Links for This Week

Writing 3 Class Notes -- Week 6 (September 30)

About Note-Taking

Research and Relevant Sources

Have a wonderful Fall weekend!

Blessings!

Mrs. Prichard

Writing 3 Class Notes -- Week 6 (October 8)

 Greetings!

We had a good day in class yesterday.  We started with a Quick Write.  The two prompts for today were inspired by two October 8 events.  In the year 876, Charles the Bald was defeated in the Battle of Andernach.  I was struck by the unusual nickname, so nicknames were the topic of one option.  Also on October 8, 1871, was the Great Chicago Fire.  I asked students to write about fires, especially if they had a fun fire-related story.

Today we had the following Student-Led topics:  Common Knowledge, Mosaic Plagiarism, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing.  Plagiarism and correctly recording the information found while researching is part of being an ethical researcher and writer.  The students who presented the information did well.  We will not have student-led topics next week, but on Oct. 22, these topics will be covered: signal phrases, "the quote sandwich," in text citations, and block quotations.  (Please check this Google doc to see who presents what and when.) 

In addition to these topics, we discussed evaluating sources and the differences between skimming and scanning material to find pertinent information.  To further that understanding, I have two assignments for the students:  Evaluating Sources and Skim, Scan, etc.  They should use sources that are a part of their research for their paper.

Students were to hand in their research proposals today, and the outlines for their papers are due next week.  As a reminder, the first rough draft of the research paper is due on October 29.

In addition to the assignments on Google Classroom, I've posted some material that might be helpful for students to read:

Resources for Planning the Research Paper

Research and Relevant Sources

Research & Note-Taking

Information about Plagiarism

Have a wonderful weekend.  Weather should be great for enjoying the fall colors!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Assignments for Next Week

-- Research Proposal (due 10/8)

-- Research Paper Outline

-- Evaluating Sources Worksheet

-- Skim, Scan, etc. Worksheet

Links for This Week

Class Notes 10/8

Quick Write 10/8

Charles the Bald

Great Chicago Fire

Student-Led Topics

Resources for Planning the Research Paper

Research and Relevant Sources

Research & Note-Taking

Writing 3 Class Notes -- Week 5 (10/8)

 Greetings!

We had a good, productive day today.  We started with a Quick Write.  For today's prompts, I used the facts that October 1, 1908  was the day that Ford manufacturing rolled the Model T off its production line and that October 2, 1950 was the day that the first Peanuts comic was published.  Some students also mentioned that Tuesday was National Coffee Day.  Many students wrote about car-related stories.

Following our Quick Write I usually do a Homework Check (I use the time while they're doing the Quick Write to pass back work.)  Today I took time to go over the Final Drafts of their essays. The rubric that I use for evaluating their essays consider 5 categories:  Focus, Content, Organization,  Sentence Structures, and Mechanics.  This allows me to give more holistic grades for the papers they write.

I went over the assignments connected with the longer Research Paper which is the primary assignment for this class.  We went over the due dates, which are as follows:

10/8 -- Research Proposal

10/15 -- Research Paper Outline

10/22 -- (nothing due)

10/29 -- Research Paper Rough Draft #1 (focus on content and organization)

11/5 -- Peer Reviews (in class)

11/12 -- Research Paper Rough Draft #2 (focus on sentences/mechanics)

11/19 -- Research Paper Rough Draft #3 (opt.)

12/3, 12/10. and 12/17 -- Final Drafts and Presentations

For next week, students should prepare their Research Proposal.  This writing assignment has 2 parts:  "Why I'm Interested" and Research Plan.  In addition to this short paper, students are assigned a worksheet about developing their thesis statements.  I've posted on Google Classroom some other resources for Planning Research Papers.

Following this discussion, we had student-led discussions.  Lilly and Martha talked about ways to take notes for research paper writing, and I covered evaluating sources and bibliographical information.

Here are the student-led discussion leaders for next week.

Week 7 (10/8)	Paraphrasing & Summarizing	1. Joseph Viskocil
		2.   DelliaBarrett
	Mosaic Plagiarism	1. Annika Choate
		2.
	Common Knowledge	1. Jacob Roberts
		2.   William Hutchinson

Assignments for Next Week

-- Write the Research Proposal

-- Writing Your Own Thesis Statement

Links for this Week

Class Notes

October 1, 1908   & October 2, 1950  Days in history

Writing 3 Google Drive folder

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Writing the Research Proposal

            The proposal is a brief written statement in which you explain to your teacher and yourself what your goals are for the research assignment.  The proposal helps both you and the teacher to evaluate if you’re heading in the right direction.  Like a contract or agreement, the proposal demonstrates what you are thinking about the topic and what preparations have been made for research.  Writing out your proposed plans also helps prevent procrastination.

            The proposal functions as a map for the process of writing the research paper.  It presents a brief introduction to the subject, explains the thesis and shows the direction in which the writer plans to go to answer the research question(s) and support the thesis.  The writer must do some preliminary reading and research to provide the information a good proposal offers.

           

The research proposal must include:

– brief background information for the subject and chosen topic

– a working thesis

– awareness of the level of the audience

– a plan for locating the appropriate sources

– an initial list of resources

– proposed subtopics

– a timeline for completing the assignment

– acknowledgement of any difficulties or challenges for the project.

After reviewing the ingredients for a good proposal, write a proposal for your own research topic.  Before you begin, review all of your work in the previous steps.  This paper should be a clear, effective single-page, business-like document. 

Research Proposal Guidelines

– Due dates:  Week 4 (9/14)

– Essay length:  1 – 3 pages

– Paper format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay

Writing the Research Proposal

            The proposal is a brief written statement in which you explain to your teacher and yourself what your goals are for the research assignment.  The proposal helps both you and the teacher to evaluate if you’re heading in the right direction.  Like a contract or agreement, the proposal demonstrates what you are thinking about the topic and what preparations have been made for research.  Writing out your proposed plans also helps prevent procrastination.

            The proposal functions as a map for the process of writing the research paper.  It presents a brief introduction to the subject, explains the thesis and shows the direction in which the writer plans to go to answer the research question(s) and support the thesis.  The writer must do some preliminary reading and research to provide the information a good proposal offers.

           

The research proposal must include:

– brief background information for the subject and chosen topic

– a working thesis

– awareness of the level of the audience

– a plan for locating the appropriate sources

– a timeline for completing the assignment

– acknowledgement of any difficulties or challenges for the project.

After reviewing the ingredients for a good proposal, write a proposal for your own research topic.  Before you begin, review all of your work in the previous steps.  This paper should be a clear, effective single-page, business-like document. 

Research Proposal Guidelines

– Due dates:  Week 4 (9/15)

– Essay length:  1 – 3 pages

– Paper format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay

Writing the Research Proposal

Writing the Research Proposal

            The proposal is a brief written statement in which you explain to your teacher and yourself what your goals are for the research assignment.  The proposal helps both you and the teacher to evaluate if you’re heading in the right direction.  Like a contract or agreement, the proposal demonstrates what you are thinking about the topic and what preparations have been made for research.  Writing out your proposed plans also helps prevent procrastination.

            The proposal functions as a map for the process of writing the research paper.  It presents a brief introduction to the subject, explains the thesis and shows the direction in which the writer plans to go to answer the research question(s) and support the thesis.  The writer must do some preliminary reading and research to provide the information a good proposal offers.

           

The research proposal must include:

– brief background information for the subject and chosen topic

– a working thesis

– awareness of the level of the audience

– a plan for locating the appropriate sources

– a timeline for completing the assignment

– acknowledgement of any difficulties or challenges for the project.

After reviewing the ingredients for a good proposal, write a proposal for your own research topic.  Before you begin, review all of your work in the previous steps.  This paper should be a clear, effective single-page, business-like document. 

Research Proposal Guidelines

– Due dates:  Week 4 (9/17)

– Essay length:  1 – 3 pages

– Paper format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay