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?