What it Takes to Make a Paper Good Enough to Hand In

We are correcting research papers, making sure the in-text citations are correctly done, and adding a bibliography.  If you wrote a paper in this class last cycle, you will be using that paper.  If you did not write a paper last cycle, you will be using someone else's folder.  In Period 2, the papers were assigned and worked on as follows, starting on May 24th, 2010:
John R. is working on Jodie's paper.
Doralee is working on her own paper.
Kassandra is working on Michelle's paper.
Anthony R. is working on Edwin's paper.
Rhenea is working on her own paper.
John G. is working on Carlos G's paper.
Torvari is working on Millie's paper.
Rachel is working on Kristie's paper.
In Period 5:
Jodie is working on her own paper.
Nelson is working on Edwin's paper.
Karesse is working on her own paper.
Duaine is working on Millie's paper.
Robert is working on Carlos G's paper.
Aaron D. is working on his own paper.
Tatiana is working on her own paper.
Justin is working on Shelbey's paper.
Christina M. is working on her own paper.
Christine S. is working on Xiomara's paper.
Carlos A. is working on Kristie's paper.

Evaluate Your News Sources

Now that you have looked at the websites of four of the most prestigious newspapers in the United States, write a journal entry describing which newspaper you like best, and why.  The newspapers are The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Wall Street Journal.

Assignment for Wednesday, May 19th

Find 5 articles from these websites:

The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
The Christian Science Monitor
 The Washington Post

Create a bibliography citing these articles correctly.  You may read each article, but you do not have to print it out, unless you want to do so.  Then utilize the handout on the MLA format, which should be in your folder, but is also available here.  Use it to create a bibliography of the 5 articles.  Please follow the exact format as shown in the MLA handout.  That handout is also available in the classroom.

Cycle 6: Upcoming Work, Previous Assignments, Materials Needed

Because of the cycle system, some of you did not write papers last cycle, because you were not in this class.  You will be working with previous students' papers and research documents.  Your job is to create a bibliography for the paper you're working on, and make sure that the citations within the paper are correct.  We want to end up with the kind of paper that you could legitimately submit for an introductory college course.  Use the criteria outlined in the previous posts to correct the paper and create the bibliography.  Those materials are both available online, and in the classroom. 

PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS:
If you have not corrected the first two papers we did as a group - the one on the Reformation and the one on domestic violence, you need to have those corrected and in your folders by week's end.  Those papers are available in the classroom only. 

MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS CYCLE:
Notebooks were handed out today to each student who was in attendance.  They will be used for daily writing assignments.  If you do not have a notebook you need to make sure to get one from me.  Please write your name on the first page of the notebook, and nowhere else.  I would like to use the remaining pages for next year, so please do not deface the book.  Thanks!

Grading Papers - Assessing Work

We're looking at two papers written by anonymous class members.  Your criteria for assessment is the RUBRIC, and your instructions for writing the paper.  In addition:

Instructions For Grading:

Do you suspect they didn’t write it?  Highlight or underline it.

Is it confused, or confusing?  Write a question mark in the margin.

Circle things that you think have problems.

Write your comments in the margins.

You may use a question mark, exclamation point, smiley face –

whatever conveys your feelings about that section of the essay. 

You may use proof-readers marks.

Then use the RUBRIC for an overall assessment.

 

Welcome to Cycle 6

We have several goals for this cycle. Among them are:

1) To examine research methodology critically, and fine tune research practice.

2) To proof read and improve written work in order to become comfortable with college-level expectations.

2) To regularly practice college entry-level writing.

3) To continue to read suitable grade-level texts for understanding, and explain them in your own words, in order to become more comfortable with reading and writing on an entry-level college level.

Are You Reading for Understanding At Grade Level?

We read an article from the New York Times on the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. What is the article about? What suggestions is the author making, and to whom? Your explication of this article should be done on this form.
Text-to-Self: Activating Prior Knowledge

Here's what we knew before reading the article:

• Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
• They had to capture the fish to preserve the population
• It did a lot of damage to the land to the biology of the area
• Floating thing to try to stop the oil from flowing
• Besides them losing money, it’s polluting the water now.
• BP (the oil company) lost money, and so did the fishermen.
• Pollution
• They are trying to use a controlled fire to burn up some of the oil in the water.
• People might get sick
• We might not be able to eat seafood
• Animals might mutate

Here Are Our Strategies for Reading for Understanding:

• Figure out words you don’t know
• Determine the source of the complaint: what is the author criticizing?
• Draw conclusions based on the reading
• Predict possible solutions