Completed Grammar #4: Essential and Nonessential Commas

Continued working on gathering sources and taking notes. Annotated works cited due at end of class on Monday.

Research day and began conferences with individual students. 

And here are some notes I forgot to give you yesterday about finding sources and taking notes.

GRAB URL’s FOR SOURCES

• Skim, scan, scrutinize, and evaluate your sources until you have your 6 or 8 GOOD, HELPFUL sources.
• Categorize sources (+) (-) or (+-)
• CONSIDER, what your task is. What are you trying to prove/argue. Does this source help or explain that?

Began actually researching and finding sources today. Please use the "notes template" document that is attached to the Google Classroom assignment "Junior Position Paper"

Individual conferences with Mr. Restad about topics, intros, definitions, and research so far will began tomorrow. 

Upcoming Due Dates:
End of day today: Personal intro and definition sections of paper
Monday, April 4th: Notes and annotated bibliography

ACT practice write. 40 minutes. Good luck.
You must complete this write even if gone.

Mr. Restad's suggestions

• Prewrite
• Make Notes
• Pick a side
• Fake it ‘til you ARE it
• Use the questions to create topics for your analysis
  • Who might hold this perspective?
  • Why would they hold it?
  • What if we all held this perspective?
  • What is one weakness or strength of this perspective?

Assignment
Complete Grammar #3: Interjectory (parenthetical) Commas

Finished Part I of our research project.
Began working on Part II - Definitions

• Identify vocabulary all sides of the argument could agree upon.
  • For instance, if a student decided to write a paper on fracking, it would be important to define that term so that the reader would understand that term when sources from oil companies and environmentalists made reference.
• Provide background on the subject or vocabulary word.
• Remember, this section may change as you continue your research and find more information.

Citations - Be sure to cite the source you used to get your definiton.
Examples:
IN TEXT CITATION

• Many land owners are concerned for their property because anglers might be trespassing. Trespassing is defined as an “unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another; especially a wrongful entry on real property” (“Trespass”).

WORKS CITED

• "Trespass." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

DUE TUESDAY
Research proposal
Part I – Personal Introduction
Part II – Definitions

Assignment
Open up the Junior Position Paper assignment in Google Classroom, set up your MLA formatting, and begin writing part I.

Write a paragraph introducing your topic

• as objectively as possible
• Introducing your relevant biases
• And including a statement on your pursuit of knowledge and understanding, not opinion

Example:
As a teacher and a college graduate, I have taken numerous national standardized tests. These tests have played a role into what college I got into, what scholarships I received for my undergraduate and graduate degrees, and even if I was to receive my teaching license. As a teacher, I also tend to see the stress that standardized tests bring students, the apathy given to them by some, as well as the class time that they take away from effective instruction. While it is my bias that standardized tests may create undue burden on students and teachers, I will objectively approach the arguments for and against assessments such as the ACT, SAT, Smarter Balance, and others.

Assignment
Feasibility Study #2 for our research projects.
Complete the Position Paper Research Proposal on Google Classroom.

Discussed answers to ACT Prep 1 questions.

Went over Position Paper Research Paper Overview. Topics must be chosen by Monday. Monday we will write a research proposal in class.

Practiced using research databases and the filtering options they provide. 

Complete the form on Google Classroom called Research Database Practice following the given directions. Keep this form open in a tab (BE CAREFUL NOT TO CLOSE IT) and use another tab to visit the websites mentioned. Remember, forms do not save so you must submit what you have done by the end of class. ​Remember, 

Shortened classes due to assembly. 

Worked on Grammar Skills #2: Commas with sentence introductions. 
Also did a shorts ACT reading test prep.

Both assignments can be found in the Documents page.