3.1.2013
Day 20
First of all, it is "Unofficial" today. What does that mean?! Video
1) IEF Feedback and Midterm Grade Sheets
2) Continue work on solutions
We will choose one solution that we as a group feel is best to focus on in our GRP.
3) Research Paper Thesis Statements
Step 1: What might be the difference between the thesis statements you have written already in this class and a thesis statement for a research paper?
Step 2: I will give you five minutes to write a thesis statement that could be used for our GRP. Keep in mind the three solutions that we decided on in the last class.
Step 3: Compare thesis statements in randomized groups of 3-4 (via Random Group Creator). How does what you wrote compare to your partners' work? Do you notice any patterns in your group's thesis statements? In other words, what is similar and what is different?
What information did you include?
Step 4: Thesis Building Part 1 (on paper)
Step 5: Thesis Building Part 2: With your group, write a thesis statement based on Part 1 in 1-2 sentences. Refine it! Make it beautiful!
Step 6: Add your finished thesis statement to google drive here. We will then decide on a final thesis statement for our GRP!
Critical Thinking & Analyzing Solutions
2.27.2013
Day 19
1) IEFs (link) I have also send you a link to this through email; don't fill out this form twice!
Today we're looking at Steps 4, 5, and 6 in the Pre-Research Portfolio, which involves the causes of and solutions to our problem.
2) Critical Thinking (ppt)
My umbrella?
3) Analyzing Solutions
WFP Video
What solutions does the WFP offer in the video? (five total)
We will choose THREE of these solutions to analyze.
To choose the best solutions for our specific problem focus, families in Africa, let's look together at the information our organization offers here:
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/who-are
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/causes
4) Questions Guide and Google Drive Grid
Homework: Choose 3 solutions of your organization and analyze them with the Analyzing Solutions Grid.
Pre-Research Portfolio due Wednesday, March 6.
Day 19
1) IEFs (link) I have also send you a link to this through email; don't fill out this form twice!
Today we're looking at Steps 4, 5, and 6 in the Pre-Research Portfolio, which involves the causes of and solutions to our problem.
2) Critical Thinking (ppt)
My umbrella?
3) Analyzing Solutions
WFP Video
What solutions does the WFP offer in the video? (five total)
We will choose THREE of these solutions to analyze.
To choose the best solutions for our specific problem focus, families in Africa, let's look together at the information our organization offers here:
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/who-are
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/causes
4) Questions Guide and Google Drive Grid
Homework: Choose 3 solutions of your organization and analyze them with the Analyzing Solutions Grid.
Pre-Research Portfolio due Wednesday, March 6.
Organization Characteristics
2.25.2013
Day 18
Announcements: If you have not filled out the IRP Topic Sheet, it is now late. Fill it in by tonight so I can approve your topic.
1) Organization Characteristics (ppt)
2) Synthesized Information
My pre-research synthesis notes (link):
In synthesizing the information from each group, I found the following to be important emphases:
-children's hunger
-worldwide problem
-complex causes (e.g. hunger problem may stem from political problems, hunger skepticism)
-wide range of solutions (e.g. celebrity sponsors, food banks/stamps, giving loans, population control)
In order to support all of your research combined, our emphasis in the GRP will be on solving hunger for African families.
3) World Food Programme
www.wfp.org
-Search and Discuss: Does the World Food Programme (WFP) fit with our emphasis on African families? Can you find information on their website about fighting hunger for African families?
-Does the WFP fit the characteristics of an appropriate organization for research? Fill in the GRP Organization Analysis tables to decide.
Homework: Decide on a focus for your topic if needed. Find an organization that suits your topic and use its website to fill in the IRP Organization Analysis. Due Wednesday, February 27 before class.
Day 18
Announcements: If you have not filled out the IRP Topic Sheet, it is now late. Fill it in by tonight so I can approve your topic.
1) Organization Characteristics (ppt)
2) Synthesized Information
My pre-research synthesis notes (link):
In synthesizing the information from each group, I found the following to be important emphases:
-children's hunger
-worldwide problem
-complex causes (e.g. hunger problem may stem from political problems, hunger skepticism)
-wide range of solutions (e.g. celebrity sponsors, food banks/stamps, giving loans, population control)
In order to support all of your research combined, our emphasis in the GRP will be on solving hunger for African families.
3) World Food Programme
www.wfp.org
-Search and Discuss: Does the World Food Programme (WFP) fit with our emphasis on African families? Can you find information on their website about fighting hunger for African families?
-Does the WFP fit the characteristics of an appropriate organization for research? Fill in the GRP Organization Analysis tables to decide.
Homework: Decide on a focus for your topic if needed. Find an organization that suits your topic and use its website to fill in the IRP Organization Analysis. Due Wednesday, February 27 before class.
Pre-research continued, 2
2.22.2013
Day 17
Quick Announcements: IRP vs. GRP: These are two separate assignments! What do they stand for?
GRP Pre-research portfolio- This is a sample you can use as the basis for your IRP pre-research portfolio. I will continue filling it in as our class makes decisions about our GRP.
1) Pre-research synthesis (20 minutes)
Continue working with the same groups as last class to prepare a mini group presentation pulling out what your group feels are some of the most interesting or important facts from the pre-research chart. Group members should divide up the following components when speaking:
Groups present for 3-5 minutes each. Each group member should contribute equally. I will grade on clarity, professionalism, and content.
3) Wrap-up
I will take notes on what each group presents in a google doc that I will share with the class (link). Next time, as a group we will try to answer these questions based on the information I have synthesized:
Were there any common themes that came out from all the groups? Will this help us narrow our search or focus on a certain kind of organization?
Homework
Once I have approved your topic, start filling in the IRP Pre-research Chart for your IRP topic. Keep in mind that you are only doing pre-research at this point, but be sure you can fill in the information the chart asks for; this way you know you have a promising topic. Due Monday, February 25 before class.
Day 17
Quick Announcements: IRP vs. GRP: These are two separate assignments! What do they stand for?
GRP Pre-research portfolio- This is a sample you can use as the basis for your IRP pre-research portfolio. I will continue filling it in as our class makes decisions about our GRP.
1) Pre-research synthesis (20 minutes)
Continue working with the same groups as last class to prepare a mini group presentation pulling out what your group feels are some of the most interesting or important facts from the pre-research chart. Group members should divide up the following components when speaking:
- Describe the problem as if the audience knows nothing about the topic
- Identify 1-2 interesting facts related to the topic (this can come from any of the categories of the pre-research chart)
- Describe generally the kinds of organizations related to this topic (government, private, corporate, non-profit, etc.)
- Predict 1-2 difficulties that we may encounter related to researching this topic. Explain why they could be problems and how we could avoid it or address it.
Groups present for 3-5 minutes each. Each group member should contribute equally. I will grade on clarity, professionalism, and content.
3) Wrap-up
I will take notes on what each group presents in a google doc that I will share with the class (link). Next time, as a group we will try to answer these questions based on the information I have synthesized:
Were there any common themes that came out from all the groups? Will this help us narrow our search or focus on a certain kind of organization?
Homework
Once I have approved your topic, start filling in the IRP Pre-research Chart for your IRP topic. Keep in mind that you are only doing pre-research at this point, but be sure you can fill in the information the chart asks for; this way you know you have a promising topic. Due Monday, February 25 before class.
Pre-research continued
2.20.2013
Day 16
Pre-research portfolio
Our Official Topic!
I looked through our organization brainstorming Google doc, and these are the two topics that emerged that I thought seemed the most promising:
1) fighting hunger (http://www.mercycorps.org/26065)
2) land conservation (http://www.tpl.org/about/)
Let's vote on a topic! This does not mean that we will necessarily choose this organization, but we may. We will look at several organizations that fall under this topic in the pre-research stage.
Questions
What is pre-research?
Why do we need pre-research? Can't we just start searching for sources right away?
What information are we trying to gain with pre-research?
CQ Researcher
What is CQ Researcher?
Use CQ Researcher to do pre-research on our GRP topic. Fill in the Pre-research Chart with your group as you go.
Homework:
Complete the IRP Topic Sheet by Friday, February 22 before class.
Day 16
Pre-research portfolio
Our Official Topic!
I looked through our organization brainstorming Google doc, and these are the two topics that emerged that I thought seemed the most promising:
1) fighting hunger (http://www.mercycorps.org/26065)
2) land conservation (http://www.tpl.org/about/)
Let's vote on a topic! This does not mean that we will necessarily choose this organization, but we may. We will look at several organizations that fall under this topic in the pre-research stage.
Questions
What is pre-research?
Why do we need pre-research? Can't we just start searching for sources right away?
What information are we trying to gain with pre-research?
CQ Researcher
What is CQ Researcher?
Use CQ Researcher to do pre-research on our GRP topic. Fill in the Pre-research Chart with your group as you go.
Homework:
Complete the IRP Topic Sheet by Friday, February 22 before class.
Pre-Research
2.18.2013
Days 15
Part 1
1. Diagnostic grades and comments
Rubric
What do these words have in common? just, pros and cons, pretty
Font size and style
Indenting paragraphs
Is the audience the instructor of the class, AKA me?
2. Organizations
We need three parts for our topic:
1) an organization related to our topic that
2) addresses a specific problem and
3) proposes several solutions
Did you find any organizations for our topic, "going green"? Did you find a related topic with an organization?
To choose an organization, we have to make sure the organization does not simply promote awareness but provides a solution to a problem. *Consider the difference between .com, .org, .edu, and .gov.
With a partner
Go to the following website. Does the website mention any problems related to the environment? Does it have solutions to those problems? Search thoroughly, but only within this website.
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future website
In groups of 3 or 4
With your group, find
1) an organization, that
2) addresses a specific problem and
3) proposes several solutions
Organization options:
Earth and Economy website
Days 15
Part 1
1. Diagnostic grades and comments
Rubric
What do these words have in common? just, pros and cons, pretty
Font size and style
Indenting paragraphs
Is the audience the instructor of the class, AKA me?
2. Organizations
We need three parts for our topic:
1) an organization related to our topic that
2) addresses a specific problem and
3) proposes several solutions
Did you find any organizations for our topic, "going green"? Did you find a related topic with an organization?
To choose an organization, we have to make sure the organization does not simply promote awareness but provides a solution to a problem. *Consider the difference between .com, .org, .edu, and .gov.
With a partner
Go to the following website. Does the website mention any problems related to the environment? Does it have solutions to those problems? Search thoroughly, but only within this website.
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future website
In groups of 3 or 4
With your group, find
1) an organization, that
2) addresses a specific problem and
3) proposes several solutions
Organization options:
Earth and Economy website
Library Day
2.15.13
Day 14
Please come to the Undergraduate Library, Room 291, for a session led by a librarian.
Over the weekend, we need to think more deeply about our GRP topic so that we can start developing more on Monday. Please look for an organization that addresses a problem related to our topic and a solution that organization suggests for that problem.
Remember, our topic is the disadvantages of going green. A problem could be economic costs, either to companies or individuals, but you could think of any other problem related to that topic as long as you can find an organization that proposes a solution for it.
The key this weekend: Find an organization that addresses our problem and find their solution to that problem.
Day 14
Please come to the Undergraduate Library, Room 291, for a session led by a librarian.
Over the weekend, we need to think more deeply about our GRP topic so that we can start developing more on Monday. Please look for an organization that addresses a problem related to our topic and a solution that organization suggests for that problem.
Remember, our topic is the disadvantages of going green. A problem could be economic costs, either to companies or individuals, but you could think of any other problem related to that topic as long as you can find an organization that proposes a solution for it.
The key this weekend: Find an organization that addresses our problem and find their solution to that problem.
Choosing a Research Paper Topic
2.12.13
Day 13
What makes a good research paper topic? We'll take a look today to help you decide what to choose for your IRP as well as what we'll choose as a class for our GRP.
1.What makes a good research paper topic? (ppt)
We want to choose a topic that is a problem. It will be our task as writers to come up with solutions to that problem. So when thinking about a topic, we should choose something that comes with both real problems and potential solutions.
Example topics: school bullying, illegal music downloading, binge drinking...
2. Search and discussion of topics based on Checklist
Try using search engines or websites with lists of topics like this one: Midway College's 100 Research Paper Topics
We will choose 1 main topic and 1 or 2 back-up topics (in case our main topic doesn't work out).
3. Defending topics- choose a representative!
4. Choosing a class GRP topic- vote
5. Brainstorming problems and solutions- on the white board
Group 1: problems
Group 2: problems
Group 3: solutions
Group 4: solutions
Day 13
What makes a good research paper topic? We'll take a look today to help you decide what to choose for your IRP as well as what we'll choose as a class for our GRP.
1.What makes a good research paper topic? (ppt)
We want to choose a topic that is a problem. It will be our task as writers to come up with solutions to that problem. So when thinking about a topic, we should choose something that comes with both real problems and potential solutions.
Example topics: school bullying, illegal music downloading, binge drinking...
2. Search and discussion of topics based on Checklist
Try using search engines or websites with lists of topics like this one: Midway College's 100 Research Paper Topics
We will choose 1 main topic and 1 or 2 back-up topics (in case our main topic doesn't work out).
3. Defending topics- choose a representative!
4. Choosing a class GRP topic- vote
5. Brainstorming problems and solutions- on the white board
Group 1: problems
Group 2: problems
Group 3: solutions
Group 4: solutions
The Research Paper Process
2.11.2013
Day 12
Today opens up a new unit, the research paper. We'll become more familiar with the research process today--what it takes to prepare for a research paper, the actual writing of a research paper, and the purpose behind it.
Research Paper (ppt)
Group Ordering Activity
Day 12
Today opens up a new unit, the research paper. We'll become more familiar with the research process today--what it takes to prepare for a research paper, the actual writing of a research paper, and the purpose behind it.
Research Paper (ppt)
Group Ordering Activity
Outlines/Academic Tone
2.8.2013
Day 11
First of all, let's take a look at this sample outline I've created for the diagnostic analysis essay. It can be seen as a more in-depth guide for your writing.
Before we move on, I want to see that everyone has begun on their outlines and written a thesis to get started.
Academic Tone
Academic Tone (ppt)
(video)
Academic Tone Jeopardy!
*Attendance and being on time does affect your weekly participation grade! You can't participate if you aren't here, so please try to make it on time. If you have an issue getting to class that is justifiable, I am happy to talk to you about it so we can make arrangements.
Day 11
First of all, let's take a look at this sample outline I've created for the diagnostic analysis essay. It can be seen as a more in-depth guide for your writing.
Before we move on, I want to see that everyone has begun on their outlines and written a thesis to get started.
Academic Tone
Academic Tone (ppt)
(video)
Academic Tone Jeopardy!
*Attendance and being on time does affect your weekly participation grade! You can't participate if you aren't here, so please try to make it on time. If you have an issue getting to class that is justifiable, I am happy to talk to you about it so we can make arrangements.
Self-Diagnosis Skills
2.6.2013
Day 10
*If we have time, we will do a fun activity with the punctuation practice. Otherwise, we will save it for Friday.
The Diagnostic Analysis Essay due date is coming up! We'll focus today on how to structure this essay by discussing what will make this essay effective and creating an outline.
1. Diagnostic Analysis Outline Guide (link)
2. Sample Paragraph Outline Exercise
Sample Paragraph - Outline this sample paragraph according to its PIE structure. Keep in mind the differences in the I-E structure for "good" and "bad" examples.
3. Creating an Outline
Diagnostic Analysis Outline Template - Use this template to create your own outline for your diagnostic analysis essay.
Homework: Complete your outline by the next class period (Friday, February 9).
Day 10
*If we have time, we will do a fun activity with the punctuation practice. Otherwise, we will save it for Friday.
The Diagnostic Analysis Essay due date is coming up! We'll focus today on how to structure this essay by discussing what will make this essay effective and creating an outline.
1. Diagnostic Analysis Outline Guide (link)
2. Sample Paragraph Outline Exercise
Sample Paragraph - Outline this sample paragraph according to its PIE structure. Keep in mind the differences in the I-E structure for "good" and "bad" examples.
3. Creating an Outline
Diagnostic Analysis Outline Template - Use this template to create your own outline for your diagnostic analysis essay.
Homework: Complete your outline by the next class period (Friday, February 9).
Advanced Punctuation
2.4.2013
Announcements: Returned homework; Diagnostic Analysis Essay due next Monday!
Day 9
Today we will continue with a topic that will also help with your papers' flow: advanced punctuation.
But first, I want to do a small exercise to clarify some of what we have covered earlier in the class.
1) Review
Which thesis is argumentative and which is analytical?
-A child's physical, mental, and social health can all be influenced by obesity.
-Childhood obesity deserves serious attention from both parents and the medical community as it can negatively affect a child's physical, mental, and social health.
Identify each part of PIE in the following paragraph:
Childhood obesity can negatively affect a child's social health. Cassle (2010) explains that "early socialization can set the blueprint for the rest of a lifetime" (p. 27). Because obese children are often ridiculed by their classmates, their socializing "blueprint" can be greatly damaged, in turn affecting their social health long after childhood. Additionally, even more than with parents, a child's interaction with peers helps shape their social skills, such as negotiating and problem-solving (Marion, 2007, p. 141). If a child is obese and alienated from these social encounters, the skills will not develop. Although not many people recognize it, poor social health does relate to childhood obesity.
How are the Illustration and Explanation parts different?
1) Advanced Punctiation
Advanced Punctuation (ppt)
Slide 16: Coordinating Conjunctions Handout
Punctuation Practice
Announcements: Returned homework; Diagnostic Analysis Essay due next Monday!
Day 9
Today we will continue with a topic that will also help with your papers' flow: advanced punctuation.
But first, I want to do a small exercise to clarify some of what we have covered earlier in the class.
1) Review
Which thesis is argumentative and which is analytical?
-A child's physical, mental, and social health can all be influenced by obesity.
-Childhood obesity deserves serious attention from both parents and the medical community as it can negatively affect a child's physical, mental, and social health.
Identify each part of PIE in the following paragraph:
Childhood obesity can negatively affect a child's social health. Cassle (2010) explains that "early socialization can set the blueprint for the rest of a lifetime" (p. 27). Because obese children are often ridiculed by their classmates, their socializing "blueprint" can be greatly damaged, in turn affecting their social health long after childhood. Additionally, even more than with parents, a child's interaction with peers helps shape their social skills, such as negotiating and problem-solving (Marion, 2007, p. 141). If a child is obese and alienated from these social encounters, the skills will not develop. Although not many people recognize it, poor social health does relate to childhood obesity.
How are the Illustration and Explanation parts different?
1) Advanced Punctiation
Advanced Punctuation (ppt)
Slide 16: Coordinating Conjunctions Handout
Punctuation Practice
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