freshmen research paper

spring 2010

Tuesday, March 16Today’s objective: I will select a research topic and determine key vocabulary of research by justifying my choices and completing an exit ticket about vocabulary (5d).

Today’s agenda:1. “I Do” – McArdle will demonstrate choosing a research

topic.2. “We Do” – Use highlighters to narrow down topics of

interest.3. “You Do” – Justify/Rank your Top Three topic choices. 4. Essential Vocabulary – Exit Ticket

Wednesday, March 17Today’s objective: I will identify key points of my research topics and determine key vocabulary of research by justifying my choices and completing an exit ticket about vocabulary (5d).

Today’s agenda:

1. Dig deeper into your topic choices

2. Narrow to your number one choice

3. Essential Vocabulary – Exit Ticket

Choosing Interesting Research Topics for Your Paper

This is the starting point and the most essential aspect of any research paper writing process. Approach this task very seriously; it won’t be possible to change your approved research topic. When choosing a research topic, try to answer the following questions:

    * How popular is this topic?  * Will I be able to gather all necessary info?  * How many sources are available to me?    * To which extent I am familiar with this topic?    * Is there anyone who can help me?

Today’s objective: I will select a research topic and determine key vocabulary of research by highlighting/ranking my choices and completing an exit ticket about vocabulary(5d).

Common knowledge: Something which is generally known; can be defined as facts known by a large number of people. These "facts" do not have to be cited.

General: Steroids have side effects.Specific: Steroids can cause bad breath and severe acne.

• When being “general” or using common knowledge, you do not have to cite your info.

• But when using specifics, you must cite your research.

Note-taking: • Recording and citing relevant

information captured from a source which supports your central idea and helps you prove your point

Today’s objective: I will select a research topic and determine key vocabulary of research by highlighting/ranking my choices and completing an exit ticket about vocabulary(5d).

Thursday, March 18Today’s objective: I will use organization features of electronic databases to locate relevant information and understand the purpose of each source.Today’s agenda:1. Pass back organizer to solidify topic choice2. “I Do” – model today’s research process3. “We/You Do” – laptops, index cards, research4. Turn in all documentation

WWMD? What would McArdle Do?

1. Collect a list of possible sources.2. Categorize emerging “main points” or “key ideas”.3. THEN decide which are worthy of printing for

deeper reading.

Why not just dive in like a maniac?Waste of time (yours and mine).Waste of paper (don’t hate on the Earth and its trees).

• Urbina, Ian. “States Lower Test Standards for Diploma. (National Desk.)” The New York Times. January 12, 2010. Student Resource Center – Gold. Gale. Adams City High School. 17 Mar. 2010.

FRONT

• New law in Penn requiring stand. exams for grad• To ensure that students leave HS

prepared for college or workplace• Critics say text is too watered-down

to matter

BACK

“What goes on the index cards, Mister?”

Today’s objective: I will use organization features of electronic databases to locate relevant information and understand the purpose of each source.

Friday, March 19Today’s objective: I will continue to use organization features of electronic databases to locate relevant information and understand the purpose of each source.

Today’s agenda:1. “We/You Do” – laptops, index cards, research2. Turn in all documentation

Monday, March 22Today’s objective: I will skim and select relevant information by using titles, subtitles, and other text features to record information on appropriate organizers (1f, 5c).

Today’s agenda:1. “I Do” – Teacher demonstrates thinking process and how to

record on index card.2. “We Do” – Turn to elbow partner and trade current index

cards. Do your index cards follow the correct format? If not, fix the index cards.

3. “You Do” – Complete the rest ofyour 12 index cards.

Use your time wisely. Remember you will receive grades for “process” as well as “product”.

• Urbina, Ian. “States Lower Test Standards for Diploma. (National Desk.)” The New York Times. January 12, 2010. Student Resource Center – Gold. Gale. Adams City High School. 17 Mar. 2010.

FRONT

• New law in Penn requiring stand. exams for grad• To ensure that students leave HS

prepared for college or workplace• Critics say text is too watered-down

to matter

BACK

“What goes on the index cards, Mister?”

Today’s objective: I will skim and select relevant information by using titles, subtitles, and other text features to record information on appropriate organizers (1f, 5c)

Tuesday, March 23Today’s objective: I will analyze information from a variety of texts to formulate conclusions by summarizing and synthesizing information about a topic using note cards (5c).

Today’s agenda:1. Construct a “should” or “should not” statement

2. “I Do” – Teacher demonstrates how to group the cards into common themes to reveal what main points may emerge

3. “We Do” – Together, the class groups a sample pile4. “You Do” – Student analyzes his/her

own pile of cards5. Use the handout to plot main points

for a draft of position statement

SHOULD?

SHOULD NOT?Your

PositionExamples: • Schools should require students to pass exit exams for students to graduate.• The United States should not continue to invade other countries.• The state of Colorado should build more prisons for lawbreakers.

SHOULD?

SHOULD NOT?Your

Position

Examples: • Schools should require students to pass exit exams for students to graduate.

• Because the business world is claiming their newest workers are unprepared

• Because other countries with whom we compete globally require their students to do so

• The United States should not continue to invade other countries.• Because many citizens of foreign countries do not want us there• Because we have problems to solve on our own soil

• The state of Colorado should build more prisons for lawbreakers.• Because …

What main points seem to emerge as you skim/scan your

12 cards?

SHOULD?

SHOULD NOT?Your

Position

Examples: • Schools should require students to pass exit exams for students to graduate.

• Students already take the ACT and/or SAT to get into college

• The United States should not continue to invade other countries.• The United States is helping to form independent, democratic nations.

• The state of Colorado should build more prisons for lawbreakers.• Because …

What opposing viewpoint

emerges as you skim/scan your

12 cards?

Position Statements-On your own copy, underline 2 main points and circle the one opposing

viewpoint the writer will use.1.Though some claim that schools are

being asked to raise people’s children, the American Educational System should be reformed by financing inner city schools and their communities and improving curriculum.

2. Professional sports players should be able to use performance-enhancing drugs, because, although players are seen by many as role models, these sports players are adults who can make decisions about their bodies and fans would be entertained by the players’ record-breaking performances.

Wednesday, March 24Today’s objective: I will choose articles for my research and explain their relevance by using the recorded information on my cards to justify this selection (5b, 5d, 5e).

Today’s agenda:1. Select three articles you will print to support your FIRST MAIN POINT

Thursday, March 25Today’s objective: I will continue to choose articles for my research and explain their relevance by using the recorded information on my cards to justify this selection (5b, 5d, 5e).

Today’s agenda:

1. Select three articles you will print to support your SECOND MAIN POINT

Friday, March 26Today’s objective: I will choose articles for the opposing viewpoint and explain their relevance by using the recorded information on my cards to justify this selection (5b, 5d, 5e).

Today’s agenda:

1. Select three articles you will print to explain the OPPOSING VIEWPOINT

Monday, March 29Today’s objective:

Today’s agenda:*Go over rubric

Tuesday, March 30Today’s objective:

Today’s agenda:

Be clear with your words.• Even though homelessness is bad since of scam

artists, federal services should assemble programs in need of limiting homelessness.

• Schools should provide suicidal resources for teenagers because many teenagers are unaware that there is help.

• There are many suicidal teens out there that are unaware of the consequences of suicide.