Today I asked students to list the research process for me on a document.  (I wanted to gain a better understanding of how a student sees and explains the research process.)  This is what the class collectively determined:

1.     Google various topics.
2.     Find task
   a.     Break it down
   b.     Which topic has the most info?
   c.     Which topic is the most interesting?
3.     Find sources
   a.     Evaluate sources (books and online)
   b.     For online print if needed
   c.     Find general information
   d.     Find subtopics
4.     Create annotated bibliography
   a.     mla format 
   b.     evaluate
   c.     summarize
   d.     reflect
   e.     alphabetical order
5.     Take notes and organize information
   a.     Highlight key information
   b.     Find key words
   c.     Group info into subtopics
6.     Create mla outline
   a.     Thesis
   b.     Topics
   c.     Subtopics
   d.     Topic sentence
   e.     Supporting details with citation
   f.      Conclusion
7.     Write first draft
   a.     Use outline as a guide
   b.     Include transitions
   c.     Expand details
   d.     Introduction
        i.     Engaging broad first sentence
        ii.     Point out general topics
        iii.     Thesis
           1.     Summary of details in paper
           2.     Main idea for whole essay
   e.     Body
         i.     Topic sentences
         ii.     Supporting details with citations
         iii.     Follow outline for topics and subtopics
   f.      Conclusion
          i.     Restate thesis
          ii.     How it effects the world
          iii.     Relate it back to general topic
   g.     Edit outline to fit first draft
8.     Final Draft
   a.     Revise and edit
   b.     Stronger word choice
   c.     Fix organization/flow
   d.     Make sure it’s logical
   e.     Make mom read
   f.      Read it outloud


Tomorrow you will bring an outside reading book of your choice.  This will be a 10 point assignment, and you will read for the period - no strings attached.

Have a great night!
-Mrs. Coller

Quiz today on chapter three.

• Your task: to connect the symbol of "invaders" to the rest of chapter three.
  

When the class completed their writing assignment, they had reading time - Boy's Life.

Have a great night!
-Mrs. Coller

Notice that Robert McCammon juxtaposes two connected stories in order to emphasize his main point, usually referred to in the chapter title.

WHAT A CONCEPT!

Today we discussed the fact that chapter 1:2 (book 1, chapter 2) is entitled "Down in the Dark".  In class, you shared ideas as to what the symbolic meaning of the title could be:

1. Cory's father is dealing with a tragedy in his life, the discovery of a dead man and his car shoved into Saxon's Lake.  This events haunts him and brings him to a very dark place inside his mind, a place where he cannot sleep for fear of never finding the solution to this terrible mystery.  The dead man himself literally was pushed "down in the dark" at the same time Cory's dad was metaphorically pushed into his own "dark" world.
2. The shroud of mystery that now surrounds the town can also be connected to the darkness of the lake.  This town, for Cory, has been a place of magic and wonder for him while growing up, and it is now sullied with a tragedy.

Tomorrow, you will write about more symbolism found in the text.  See you then.

-Mrs. Coller

Outline (with citations) - Due Today
First Draft of 4-5 page paper - Friday, March 21

Have a great 

This is your schedule for the week:

MONDAY: Write your topic choice on the spreadsheet provided by Mrs. Coller.  Continue to research, keeping in mind that you need to have SEVEN related valid and reliable sources in an annotated bibliography.  This will be due FRIDAY, March 7, 2014.

TUESDAY: Continue to research, keeping in mind that you will create a WORKING THESIS with THREE prongs.  This will be done in class on Monday, March 10.  In your research paper, you must explain your thesis, then prove it using your researched information.

WEDNESDAY: Show Mrs. Coller your research so far.  You should have 3-4 sources by now, and you should be sure to annotate each source with a summary, an assessment, and a reflection.

THURSDAY: Your annotated bibliographies are due tomorrow, so you should be sure that your sources all connect strongly with your topic.  You should also be considering the organization of the research paper, separating the information into three sections, all pointing to the THESIS.

FRIDAY: Explain your findings to a partner.  The reason for this is so that you can articulate your ideas out loud, and therefore on paper.  If you cannot do this, you should reevaluate your research.  Work with your partner to make any appropriate changes to the Annotated Bibliography before handing me a PRINTED COPY.