Search This Blog

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Joy of Books

During my high school years, and even right up through graduate school, I always seem to have found a way to work in a bookshop or English department. There's just something nice about being surrounded by books.

It's a little like this...

Monday, January 9, 2012

RESEARCH PAPER INFO

Believe it or not, it's time to start actual construction of your research paper!

These are the steps we have already taken in the process:
• Identify topic
• Get familiar with researching techniques—don’t know where to start? See the librarian!
• Spend some time in the library searching for sources.
• Know the documentation style you need to use (MLA) and find out how to use it.
• Narrow topic while researching. Is there enough research on topic? If not, make the necessary changes.

And THIS is what we are about to complete in the next month and a half:
• Write thesis statement and supporting points.
• Continue researching. Create notecards to keep track of sources and important points/ideas. Match the supporting points of your thesis statement with the research that ties to it.
• Create a working outline that shows main ideas and major and minor details. This will help you organize your paper when you are writing it later!
• Finish research by filling in gaps
• Does your thesis need to be revised or refined? Do it!
• Write rough draft, using outline.
• Develop a Works Cited sheet.
• Hand in a rough draft!
• Re-write paper, based on teacher and peer edit comments
• Write final draft and proofread!

• Turn paper in on time! "On time" means at the start of the period. Your rough draft and your final draft should be emailed as a formatted Word document. All work must be in Times New Roman, 12-point font, with double spacing and a header on each page. Your header should be your last name and the page number. (Ie: Keenan 4 as the header on the fourth page...)

If you are absent, it will be considered late. Each late day results in a loss of one full letter grade!

We'll go over things more in depth as the week goes on.

OUR DUE DATES:
· Thesis Statement due Friday January 13th
· Outline due Tuesday January 17th
· First draft due Friday January 27th (This happens to be the end of 2nd quarter!)
· FINAL DUE DATE: Monday, February 13th

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Downton Abbey!

The most FABULOUS British television period drama, Downton Abbey, is coming back to PBS tomorrow night! The first season introduces viewers to the inner workings of a fictional estate, Downton Abbey, during the 1900s. It follows the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants. I know. You probably think that sounds REALLY boring, BUT it's actually REALLY interesting.

The second season returns Sunday at 9pm on PBS (for me, that's channel 13).
CHECK IT OUT!

Season One Trailer


Downton Abbey Official Website

Which Downton Abbey Character Are You?


Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thursday Update!

Hi folks!
We're in a few different places this week, so let's outline what's up with each period before the weekend is upon us...

ALL periods have viewed the "60 Minutes" segment on the SAT cheating scandal.

ALL periods have taken notes on the segment and created reaction statements/questions in connection with the story.

ALL periods have completed an OUTLINE for homework in response to the "SAT Cheating Scandal" assignment sheet.

ALL periods (unless otherwise noted!) should complete the essay assignment from the "SAT Cheating Scandal" and hand in by MONDAY.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!

Welcome Back! Here's hoping you enjoyed the week off and are ready to dive back in to English! (Applause Applause...) Today we viewed a 60 Minutes segment on the recent SAT cheating scandal.

You MUST view the segment if you missed it!http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57348498/the-perfect-score-cheating-on-the-sat/?tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel