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.
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