Reflection #2, DUE Weds. Dec. 5

In preparation for your Reflection Exam Essay, please write about your progress in the following categories: Conventions and The Research Process.  You do not need to answer all of these questions.  These are prompts to get you thinking about what you might write for each category.  You should, however, write in complete sentence and write at least 3-4 well-developed paragraphs in total.  This blog is due on Weds. Dec. 5 when we return to class.

Category 3:  Conventions (MLA formatting and documentation, grammar, spelling, sentence variety, paragraphing, punctuation, etc.)

1.     What did you learn about your ability as a writer to create clear, coherent, and grammatically correct writing?

2.     Where did you struggle to be coherent in your writing?  Find an example from one of your papers.  How did you work through this?  Quote a place where you identified error and understood how to revise/correct it. 

3.     What are your grammar weaknesses?  How did you learn to identify them and work through them?  Which ones do you continue to struggle with the most?  How will you continue to identify and address these grammatical issues in the future?

4.     What did you learn about how to properly format a paper?  Which tools did you use to help with this?

5.      What did you learn about how to properly document your sources?  (introducing, discussing, and citing quotes or summarized information).  Use one of your papers as an example. 

6.     Why is it important to gain proficiency in this area?  How will you continue to use these skills in the future?

Category 4:  The Research Process


1.  What have you learned about Information Literacy? (finding scholarly research, weighing the credibility of your sources, etc. )
2.  Describe your own research process?  What steps did you take toward constructing your final research paper?
3.  How did you evaluate the quality of your sources and weigh their worth/merit?
4.  What was difficult about writing a paper like this?
5.  What research skills were you particularly strong in, and which will you continue to work on in the future?
6.  How do social interactions:  conferencing, tutoring, and peer reviews, etc. continue to inform your own writing process?

Peer Review Assignment

Winter is here (well at least for now). Ugh.

 

As noted in my email, here is the link to your Peer Review Assignment. 
You are only required to peer review ONE of your peer's papers. 

These peer reviews must be completed on a physical copy of your paper during an "in-person" exchange that you arrange together
OR
virtually, through an exchange of papers and typed feedback through email. 

I WILL REQUIRE that you show me EVIDENCE that you have completed the peer review. 
I WILL ASK FOR THIS DURING OUR CONFERENCE.  (Sorry to shout; I just want to make sure you all understand :)

If you have questions please let me know.

In addition, please sign up for an individual conference time.  Click on the link here, in your email, or in the blog below this one.  No excuses.

Be safe all.  See you for our conferences.

Research Paper Conference Sign-Up Sheet

Research Paper Conference Sign-Up Sheet

Please sign up for a conference slot.  Let me know ASAP if none of these times will work for you. 

Introduction Strategies: Writing Support

How do I start my paper?  This seemingly simple task plagues most of us as writers.

Here are few suggestions for how to conquer the introduction beast.

Writing Introductions:  One Topic, 3 Ways

Starting the Annotated Bib

Today, open up a new Word Doc or Google Doc. 
We are going to start your Annotated Bibliography. 

Center:  Annotated Bibliography at the top of our document.  This is your title.

As you read and research today.  Begin adding your citations to this document.  For homework and as time allows in class, read carefully through your sources and begin structuring your annotations beneath their citation.  You must have 5 citations for this assignment.  2 must be scholarly journals. 

To find scholarly journals go to the University website and click on Databases A-Z.  The most commonly used search database is EBSCOhost. Enter your search terms and click "Full text" and "Scholarly Journal."  If you don't immediately see what you want.  Try again.  If you're hitting a wall, then speak with a reference librarian; they are EXPERTS at finding source information, and they can teach you how to use search terms that will yield the results you're looking for. 

It's time to read and get started on your research. 

Meet in the Campus Library (come sign in with me just past Starbucks) on Weds. Nov. 7.

Works Cited Support

How do I cite a Youtube video, a Tweet, a book chapter, a TED talk, a podcast, a scholarly journal, a newspaper article, a personal interview, etc???  Let's figure it out!

Below are resources you might find helpful in constructing a properly formatted MLA Works Cited page:

Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue has excellent resources available:
PURDUE OWL SUPPORT

Also useful in today's tech world:
HOW TO CITE SOCIAL MEDIA

Please reference this MODEL as well as you are constructing your Works Cited page for this paper:
SAMPLE WORKS CITED PAGE

Here is a sample paper that will show you how to set up your margins, headings, page numbers and how to use parenthetical citations.
FULL MLA PAPER

Use the links above to figure out how to properly cite and organize this information into your Works Cited.

If all else fails, Google is a great resource for figuring out how to cite unusual sources.  For example:  "How do I cite a TED Talk in MLA" will probably yield you the information you need.

Issue Exploration: Homework due Mon. Nov. 5

Open a new page in your blog.  You can title it:  "Issue Exploration"

1.  Spend 10 minutes listing out some of the issues that matter to you.  See if you can come up with a list of at least 5-10 issues. If you're stuck, the Research Paper assignment sheet has a link to many current issues, topics, and questions.

2.  Once you've created your list, look more carefully at the items on your list. What specifically do you want to say about this issue?  What do you want others to believe about this issue? What problems does this issue pose? What solutions might you offer?

3.  Go back and add secondary ideas, examples, or observations to at least 3 of your issues.

4.  Browse the internet for news articles, images, videos, or other commentary on your issue.  Create links to this media inside of your blog.

5.  Finally, as you look over your issues, begin to write a paragraph (very rough, just getting some ideas out here) about what you care about.  What do you care about?  What matters to you?  What should others care about?  Why?  What needs to happen?  How can you make that happen?

Advocacy Research Paper and Annotated Bibliography

Please bookmark:

Advocacy Research Paper
Annotated Bibliography