Final Exam

Good day mates!

It is time to take the final. Here is the link.

Best wishes and have a great summer!

Book Return and Test Practice

In the words of Mrs. Roberts:
"Good morning,

Today we will have textbook returns. At our scheduled time we will all go down to the library to return textbooks. If any of your other teachers have told you that you need to keep a textbook to study for finals you can. You will need to return that book to the textbook window after the final for that class.

If you forgot to bring any textbooks to class today you can return them to the textbook window after school or at lunch another day this week, but not during class time. 

Thursday afternoon will be the last day to use lockers, so please only keep textbooks you need for finals. 

Also today, we need to practice taking an online test. Your final is going to be online, so this is to familiarize you with that process and make sure it works for us. To take the practice test you will need a test code that I will give you.  This code only works on this test and will not work on any other test.

Before the test, you will do a short tutorial about online testing. Go slowly and read the directions. This information may help you do better on the real test.  

Please go to the START PAGE and enter your code when I give it to you. Once you enter your code you may proceed at your own pace."

Sharing Your Knowledge

Hi Everyone. 

In order to help you spread your knowledge, take a moment to read the following and then post a response.

Think about what you have gained in your research. Think about what you have gained in terms of sharing information. Write a paragraph that discusses your new knowledge and what you have learned about spreading information. Then paste your link in your post so that others may visit your work.

Summarizing - Again

OK - so after reading your summaries yesterday, I realized that some of you have serious summer brain drain happening and school is not yet out. We haven't even taken finals!

Today, on your exit slip, write a summary statement for an article your group decides to read in the NY Times.

Your summary should include the title of the article, the author, and the main idea. For example: The article, "Title," by author is about the main idea.

Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Direct Quoting

Today we take a break from our research and creating in order to review some necessary skills.

Read an article from the New York Times in class. At the end of the period, submit a summary of the article, a direct quote from the article, and showcase your ability to paraphrase.

Analyzing Sources

This week you will be analyzing sources and beginning to track the sources you use.

Remember, you can use CiteLighter.

Also, by Thursday, you will submit the following document - printed.

History of Your Topic

As you move forward in the research process, you will need to work on reading and learning about the history of your topic.

Spend some time today, in class, creating a time line.

Research Proposal

After completing your research plan, you will write up your proposal and submit to me at the end of class or at the beginning of  class tomorrow.

If you would like a calendar to view: use this link. You can make a copy of it.

Awesome Research Questions

The following questions are ones that stood out for a variety of reasons:

If a person practices lucid dreaming, could she begin to confuse reality and dream?
How does the game of basketball help me progress into adulthood?
Do cleats affect my performance during a soccer game or practice?
How will learning about the laws of attraction benefit myself and others into becoming successful and truly happy?
How does my experience in dance affect who I am?
How does my culture impact my ability to learn old school and hip-hop forms of dance?
How does music relate to my emotions?
Can I learn to use hypnosis on myself or others?
Can global warming lead to the end of the world?
How can an understanding of kinesthetics improve my athletic performance?
Can dancing everyday keep me happier than usual?
What really attracts teenage girls to boy artists  and what makes them different from the rest?
How would my world be different if phones had not been invented?
Which theory of human creation do I believe in?
As I get older will my ability to lie get better?
Do I benefit from creative subjects, and activities, just as much as I benefit from academic subjects?
How can we help today's generation learn that books, school, and freedom are a privilege we are lucky to have?
How do smells affect my dreams?
How will the music I like make me stronger: mentally and emotionally?
How will learning the importance of forgiveness benefit me and the people around me?
How can I bring public education into 3rd world countries, like India, so that children are able to go to school and receive the proper education needed in order to prosper in the future?
Do dreams reveal anything about my life when I am awake and do specific situations, like age or health, have an effect on my dreams?
How can I use my knowledge of the mind to study for tests?
How can I decrease my stage fright and build my self-confidence while performing spoken word poetry?
How do video games affect the health and IQ of teenagers like me?
Can traumatic events physically harm my brain?
Why are surgeons allowed to deny patients, if they do not expect a successful outcome?

The Research Question

As discussed earlier, in order to conduct research you need a question.

Yesterday, I learned that it is possible to learn how to shave, braid hair, curl hair, make grits, and learn how to dye shirts all by watching YouTube videos. Very cool!

But what all those videos had that you didn't have when you watched them was an answer. You are now going to work on creating a question for which you discover an answer. Eventually, you will also discover a way to share that answer.

For now, I want you to ponder the following: Why does a researcher need a question and how is a good question formed? Take a few moments to make notes in your notebook.

Then, you will work on completing the first few boxes of the research plan.

Intense Brainstorming

The goal today is to make your brain ache - just a little bit.

When choosing a topic to research, you will need to narrow your topic down. Otherwise, you might be writing a book instead of presenting a short research project. Do you really want to write another book? I hope you do, but not today because we only have 4 weeks!

If you missed today, or you want to refresh your brain on how we narrowed our topics, take a look at the class notebook. Be sure to have your 4 questions ready to go for tomorrow.

What is Research?

Today is your day to embark upon a self-learning expedition. But first you must understand what research is.

Research requires knowledge of the scientific method. If you are currently taking a science course, you already know the process. If you have forgotten, here is a great link for you to take a look at.

However, research is more than the scientific method. It is a process of determining, defining, developing, conducting, evaluating, citing, and sharing.

As we move into this process you will begin to brainstorm and refine your topic. During this time you will begin to formulate how you plan to share your ideas.

This weekend, look at your topic list and choose one that excites you. Then, list everything you know about that topic. Be ready to participate in an in-depth brainstorming session on Monday.

TED Talks

For the next few days, while we continue testing, you will be viewing TED Talk videos.

While viewing, you need to do the following:
1. Write the title of the talk
2. Summarize the talk
3. What are 3 take away or standout moments in the talk.
4. Why did you choose this talk?

Looking Backward and Forward

The year is slowly coming to an end. There are a mere six weeks remaining. Soon you will be a sophomore!

For the last six weeks, you will be focusing on an idea you want to share with the world.

By now, you might be asking: How can I share something with the world? What will I share with the world? What? Huh? She really has gone crazy!

In order to begin this process, you will need to look back at the beginning of the year and forward toward the future. Use this form to begin the thinking process.

Finalizing Your Persuasive Letter

Prior to sending your letter, (yes, we are sending them), you will need to make sure you have the following elements completed:

1. Business Letter Format (headings, salutations, signature, etc)
2. Introduction that includes background, claim, and explanation of why the issue is important you.
3. Two body paragraphs: subclaim, example, evidence, explanation/interpretation of the evidence, more evidence, and explanation.
4. At least body paragraph that introduces the opposing opinion, your counterargument, evidence to support your conterargument, and explanation.
5. A concluding statement that restates the claim, summarizes points, and makes a worldly or personal connection.
6. MLA formatted citations and reference page.

Opposing Viewpoints

First, if you have not shared your Google doc with, make sure you do today! Then, work on your body paragraphs and begin to think about a 3rd paragraph that acknowledges the opposing point of view. This paragraph should introduce an opposing point of view, give your counterargument, evidence for your counterargument or an example, and an explanatory sentence or a sentence that connects this new information to the thesis. By the end of today you should have your introduction and 3 body paragraphs. Be sure you take some time to reference the language of persuasion document ( it would be good to make a copy of the document for your very own as you move through high school and college). Have a great weekend and I will see you Monday.

Focusing on Body Paragraphs

Yesterday you focued on writing your introduction and posting it to the blog..

A good introduction for a persuasive letter will include a few things: a brief statement about who you are (helps appeal to ethos), background knowledge on the subject, your claim (be sure to look at the lanaguage of persasion chart for this), and possibly a call to action.

 Today, after listening to speeches, you will create a new Google Document.

 Title the document: NamePLPeriod (MicheleMcConnellPL4). Share the document with me.

 Paste your introduction onto the document and begin working on your first body paragraph.

 Your body paragraph should have the following:
Subclaim
Example
Evidence (if you have used CiteLighter - this part will be easy!)
Explanation/Interpretation
Evidence
More Explanation

 Tomorrow you will write one more body paragraph and then focus on opposing viewpoints. Remember, use the Language of Persuasion document posted under the Persuasion Tab.

Writing Your Letter

Take a look at yesterday's blog post. You will notice that homework was listed. If you did not complete the homework, you have 2 major assignments to complete today.

First, choose one of the letters from yesterday's HW, read it, and then complete this form. 

Finally, after re-reading yesterday's letter and today's letter, think about how you will structure your introduction. A typical introduction (and the easiest to write) is one that includes an brief introduction of yourself to help set credibility (ethos), your claim, and a hint at the call to action. There are other possible ways to begin your letter, how do you plan to do it?

Using the language of persuasion to help you write your claim, and using the letters from yesterday to help you structure your introduction, write your introduction and post it as a comment to this blog post. Be sure your name is attached to the introduction so I can give credit to you.

Analyzing Letters

Any of your teachers could easily give you an outline and tell you one way to organize your letter, but what fun would that be? Your letter would sound and look exactly like your best friend's letter. Oh, and let's not even think about how boring all the letters would be to read.

In order to complete today's assignment, you will need to form a group of 4. Decide who is 1, 2, 3, and 4.

#1 - What is the claim? Is it stated or implied? Where is it located within the text?
#2 - What are the subclaims?
#3 - What evidence is used? Where does the evidence come from?
#4 - Does the author appeal to ethos, pathos, or logos?
All together - How is the text organized?

Here is a link to the letter you will read: Trash Letter

For HOMEWORK:
Preview one of the following letters and be ready to discuss the following when you enter class on Wednesday:
1. What is the claim? Is it stated or implied? Where is it located within the text?
2. What are the subclaims?
3. What evidence is used and where does it come from?
4. Does the author appeal to ethos, pathos, or logos?
5. What can you learn from this letter in order to write your own?

Letter #1
Letter #2
Letter #3

To Whom Will You send Your Letter?

In researching a topic, you were supposed to choose a current, relevant, and local community issue. Now you need to figure out who should receive your letter.

You will need to make note of the following information in your notebook and on an exit slip:
1. Name of the person
2. Name of the business
3. Address of the business
4. Email contact of the person
5. Phone contact of the person/business