Oct. 5th Peer Review/Oct. 12th Final Draft

Copy of guidelines can be found here: researchprojectwks.doc

Check it out!

Want to know what is due when for every one of your classes? Scroll down to Blogroll and click on 8th Grade Assignment Calendar.

Plus, if you forgot your MLA guide, you can now access the guidelines online.

Research Discussion–Due by Friday, September 29th

Share one interesting fact you have learned about your topic thus far. Everyone should respond to at least one other person’s interesting fact (Please refrain from responding with comments such as, “cool, neat, awesome, etc.” Rather, respond with follow-up questions or your thoughts on that particular fact. For example: If I were a student, I might research the position of Poet Laureate. An interesting fact I might share is that the Poet Laureate receives an annual payment of $35,000 and is required to enrich poetry in America during the time of his or her post. If I were a student responding to this post, I might say: Only 35,000? That’s not very much. What duties does the Poet Laureate have to complete during that year?

* Don’t Forget! Annotated Bib. Sources . . .

You may use reference books (such as those we found in the library today) as your two books sources.

Annotated Bib and Upcoming Due Dates

Due Thursday, Sept. 21st –  Must Peer Review at least one other student’s paper on Turnitin.com

Due Tuesday, September 26th — Annotated Bibliography is due in hard copy and must be saved to your thumbdrive

To see a copy of guidelines for the Annotated Bibliography, click here: annotated-bibliography.doc

People Changing Topics

Some people are at the point now where they are realizing their topic choices were too broad or that they were not able to find enough information to support their thesis statements. Please review their new posted topics and give feedback.

9-18 Reminder!

Please bring a two-pocket folder and your thumbdrive to class as soon as possible–We will be using both often.

Upload Research Proposal–Due by Wed

Here are the directions for uploading your document:

1.) Click on the Turnitin.com link located in Blogroll

2.) Log in using your email address and the password you created in class. If you did not have an opportunity to finish creating an account, you must first click on New Users and follow the directions (I gave you a class ID and password in class)

3.) Click on the class link

4.) Click on the small icon next to Assignment two (it looks like a little clipboard and the column heading says “Submit”)

5.) Create a title (You may use “Research Proposal”)

6.) Click on “Browse” if you are using a PC or “Find” if you are using a Mac

7.) Find the document you created and click Open

8.) The Browse or Find box should close and your document will now be listed next to the Browse or Find box

9.) Click Submit (upper right corner)

10.) It will ask you if you are sure this is the document you want to submit–click Submit again

11.) And you’re good to go

Reminder!

I have added a link to the ThompsonGale Library Database and  Turnitin.com–they are under “Blogroll”

Due Monday–Research Proposal

Yes, it needs to be typed on a separate sheet of paper–you will not be able to submit it here.

The purpose of the research proposal is to first communicate clearly to me the direction you would like to go in with your topic. Secondly, the research proposal gives you an opportunity do some preliminary research on your topic to make certain you will be able to find information to support your thesis. Below is a description of the elements that need to be in the proposal. After reviewing them, click on the link to see an example of what I am looking for (Focus on format, not content. I made something silly up just so you could see the format).

Three elements must be present in your proposal:

1. Title (Centered after your heading–regular text (no bold, caps or underlines) 12pt font

2. Abstract (8-9 sentence paragraph summary of your topic idea–it must include your thesis statement)

3. Literature Review (you will need to submit two annotated sources)

research-proposal.doc

Reminder!

Please respond to people whose comments have not yet received feedback.

Research Topics

Please post two possible topic ideas and explain specifically what you are thinking. For example, do not just tell me you want to research soccer–tell me what you plan to focus your research on.

Secondly, please review other’s comments and respond to at least one–choose someone who has not had any feedback. I will not give you credit if you choose someone who has two or more comments already!

Give good feedback. : )

Internet Safety, Apologies and Gratitude

First, I wanted to tell all of you just how awesome I think you are. The summer reading may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, but whether you realize it or not, you guys are making connections to your own experiences and prior knowledge in a much more meaningful way than I ever could have imagined. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing your comments–and gripes, these last couple of days. I’m very proud of you. I do have a quick reminder for you–please post your comments using your initials or your first name only so that we can protect our identities. I don’t imagine a whole lot of random people stumbling upon our site, but just in case.

I also sincerely apologize for my tardy approval of comments tonight. I got caught up in my own nightly duties and didn’t get back to the computer as quickly as I would have liked. I think some of you are really beginning to use this forum in the way it was intended–perhaps I should postpone the exam and give you the weekend to do more of that? I hear you have four quizzes/tests tomorrow. Ordinarily, that won’t happen. Your teachers just haven’t had a chance to compare lesson plans yet. We’ll debate the issue tomorrow. Be prepared for the exam just in case. If the majority are ready to go and would rather just get it out of the way, we’ll have tomorrow.

Good night.