Conferences

Hello All,

Today I conferenced with all students who were present today about their current work.  We discussed all missing work.  A lot was turned in today, and I'm looking forward the rest of the make-up work.

Have a great Thursday!

Writing Lab

Before you continue your research, please go to http://www.turnitin.com/ and check your 2 essays.  Click on each essay's name, then click originality to see your similarity percentage and what words were the exact same as someone else on the internet.  Also click on grade mark to see your comments, grammar notes, and your score on the rubric.  The rubric is located in the bottom right column and looks like a small, grey table of boxes.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  Once you've checked your turnitin, you should check your pinnacle account to make sure you're not missing any work.  Then continue your research.

Meet in Media Center--Don't forget to check in.

Hello Everybody!
The Activator is the same as yesterday, and is already on the Resources page. 

If you don't have your assigned poet, you need to see me first thing!

4th Block:  Go to the Resource page and read and take notes on the PowerPoint titled How to write bibiographic information.  Come to me with any questions you still have.

Today is your first deadline on your checklist!  When you have your sources and citation list, bring them to me (actually bring me the books, bring me the citation information for the digital articles you've emailed to yourself--that means, yes, you need to email the articles to yourself).  Your checklist must be signed by the end of the period to get full credit for today.  I will not write late passes; I will not call you to remind you. 

If you were not here on Friday or Monday, Ms. Marsala will be calling students to a small group to show them what they missed. 

Have a great day!

Meet in Media Center--Make sure you check in!

The goal for today is to start to gather your research for your Giant Research Paper.  Make sure you complete today's checklist in order.  Make sure you read all of what is expected of you, including where to meet for the rest of the week.

You need to check in to prove that you were here.  Also, I need to see everyone individually when we get to work time to discuss vocabulary and the argument essay due tomorrow.

1. Daily Work:
1. Activator 19:  Look at the first page of your green rubric.  What kind of information about your poet (which you need to get approved by your teacher today before you begin your research) do you need for Part I?  What kind of information do you need for Part II?  Where are you going to begin your research?  (i.e.: Online?  In a book?  At Wheelerlibrary.com in a database?)
2. Starting Tomorrow:  All this week, your Activator will answer the same prompt, but your answer will be different based on how much you accomplished the day before:  Write a brief summary of your progress through your research.  How many sources have you gathered about your poet's life and times?  How many sources have you gathered about your poet's poems?  How many sources have you gathered in total?  How many quotes have you gathered on your note cards?  Which deadline are you currently working on on your Check Sheet? (Remember, these are due Tuesday!)
3. DGP:  We're skipping DPG for this week due to being outside of the classroom so much.  We'll continue week 3 next week.
4. RR:  Since you are reading so much for your research, we won't be recording our Reading Reflections this week, however, what you do have will be due on Tuesday.
2. Get your Author Approved.  Check in with Ms. Bundschu to register your poet.  Remember, only 2 people per class may research the same poet. 
3. Look at your Rubric.  Notice the 2 parts of the paper.  What kind of information do you need for Part I?  What kind of information do you need for Part II?  Hint: for part I you can search for key words such as:  biography, life, (the time period they lived), influences, impact, etc.  For part II, you can search for key words such as: analysis, literature, poetry, (the key words from your rubric, like diction).
4. Step 1 on your research checklist is Gather Your Sources.  You need to have 4 books (or the equivelant) before you begin to take your first note.  Search through Wheeler Library to find information on your author's Life and Times and Influences.  Then, search through Wheeler Library to find information on your author's poetry.  Remember, you need at least one primary source of your poet's actual poems. 
5. Once you gather your sources, and get your Checklist signed by me, then you may begin Step 2.  This is to make sure you know what information is in each source.  Make sure you have all of the information you need for your rubric.  Notice what information you don't have and what information is repeated throughout your sources.

Week 5

This week is all about research for the Giant Research Project.

Our location:

Monday:  Media Center
Tuesday: Writing Lab (1st block in classroom)
Wednesday:  Media Center
Thursday:  Writing Lab (1st block in Media Center)
Friday: Media Center

Tuesday we'll have our Vocabulary Quiz from last Friday.

All of the handouts and powerpoints for the Giant Research Paper are already up on the Resource Page.

Meet In Media Center--Did you check in to be marked "present"?

Today Ms. Bryant and Ms. Marsala are going to show us where to find the information to cite sources using http://wheelerlibrary.com/.  For each database, on a sheet of paper, you need to write down:

1. The name of the database.
2. What steps you need to do to copy the reference information.  (Yes, it's different depending on the database.)

Activator 18:  We have very limited time in the library.  Why is it important to use this time effectively?  What are you going to do to use Ms. Bryant and Ms. Marsala's presentation time the most efficiently?  What are you not going to do?

DGP:  Click here for your Diagram Key.

Webquest

For class today, we're going to have a webquest, based on the information we've already learned about MLA format.  This will help you become familiar with MLA format as you find your own sources and write your own research paper.

This webquest is broken down into steps.  Follow the directions in each step, and write the answers down on your paper.

1.  First go to wheelerlibrary.com.  You can type it in another window or tab.  Or you can right click on the Wheeler High School site and find it on the left hand column.  On the Wheeler Library site, how would you find a copy of your MLA 7th ed. Works Cited Guide?  Which tab is it under?

2.  On that same tab, under the MLA 7th ed. Citation section, which link has the most detailed help information?

3.  Under which tab and section would you find the Databases if you wanted to search an approved database?

4.  In Gale Power Search, I found 5 academic journals that referenced dr suess as a keyword.  What is the title and actual topic of the first source?  (Hint: the title is 6 words long)

5.  Of these 5 articles, which of them actually talk about Dr. Suess?  Is it a good source if you're writing a biography about him?  Why or why not?

6.  Write down how you found the citation information for that source, then write down the citation information.

7.  Go back to Wheeler Library and click on the Student Resource Center.  How many biographies of Dr. Suess are in the database?  For each biography, cite the source and how useful you think the source will be.

8.  Go back to Wheeler Library and search for Dr Suess in the Book Collection: Nonfiction.  How many new sources show up?

9.  Go back to Wheeler Library and search for Dr Suess in Google Books.  How many sources show up?  Choose a primary source and cite it. 

10.  How many full length analysis books have been written about Dr. Suess according to Philip Nel?  What key words did you use to search in Google Books? (Hint: it tells you on page 11 of the book)