Writing Day

Everyone should be writing their research paper today. Be sure to use the resources to help support these papers. Everyone needs to use at least 5 different sources in their paper. Remember not to plagiarise. Cite everything pulled from another authors' work.

If anyone has not finished their works cited yet, they are rapidly running out of time. This is a short project. Everything is due Monday. There is no time to be wasted today. No one should be goofing around on outside sources or there will be point deductions. NO GAMES, NO VIDEOS, NO WEB SURFING, NO ESPN. I will be checking to make sure everyone is working.


Academic Content Standards:

1.5.11 d WRITE WITH A COMMAND OF THE STYLISTIC ASPECTS OF COMPOSITION
1.5.11c WRITE WITH CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION
1.5.11a WRITE WITH A SHARP , DISTINCT FOCUS
1.5.11 b WRITE USING WELL-DEVELOPED CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE TOPIC

Writing Day

Everyone should be writing their research paper today. Be sure to use the resources to help support these papers. Everyone needs to use at least 5 different sources in their paper. Remember not to plagiarise. Cite everything pulled from another authors' work.

If anyone has not finished their works cited yet, they are rapidly running out of time. This is a short project and with the day off yesterday things are getting down to the wire. No one should be goofing around on outside sources or there will be point deductions. NO GAMES, NO VIDEOS, NO WEB SURFING, NO ESPN. I will be checking to make sure everyone is working.





Academic Content Standards:

1.5.11 d WRITE WITH A COMMAND OF THE STYLISTIC ASPECTS OF COMPOSITION
1.5.11c WRITE WITH CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION
1.5.11a WRITE WITH A SHARP , DISTINCT FOCUS
1.5.11 b WRITE USING WELL-DEVELOPED CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE TOPIC

Beginning Writing

Today everyone should begin writing their papers and works cited page. Noodletools is the best aide for creating these works cited pages. The Noodletools site can be very slow. If it lags, work on the paper until the page finishes loading. Remember there is a very limited amount of time to complete this paper so everyone needs to be constantly working.



Academic Content Standard:
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization
1.5.11D- Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition.
1.8.11A- Select and refine a topic for research
1.8.11B- Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.

Research Day 2

Today we will be continuing researching everyone's given topic. There is not much time to complete this project so everyone should be working. Be sure to cover as many sources as possible. Everyone will need to use at least five different sources in their final paper. Be sure to write down all of the information for each source, not just the URL. It may be impossible to get back to these articles without the proper information.

If anyone needs help with their topics, do not be afraid to ask. I'll do my best to help find as much information as possible. Remember time is very limited so do not play around. People will fail if they do not have enough sources because they are goofing around.

I will be checking notebooks for a grade to be sure that everyone is doing their research, not playing on the internet. Anyone playing games, looking at ESPN, watching music videos, etc. will be losing points.

Research Day

Today everyone will begin the research for their topic. Be sure to take notes during the researching process.
Everyone should be taking notes in their journals as they are researching. Be sure to take all of the information necessary to create a works cited while researching. Try to get as much information down on paper as possible.

Make sure that citations and notes are kept on the same journal page. Refer to the Bucknell link for any questions about the formating of citations. Be sure to know what kind of source is being cited at all times. (ex: newspaper, journal, book, website, popular magazine, etc. )

I will be checking notebooks for a grade to be sure that everyone is doing their research, not playing on the internet. Anyone playing games, looking at ESPN, watching music videos, etc. will be losing points.




Academic Content Standards:
1.8.11A- Select and refine a topic for research
1.8.11B- Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.

Researching Databases


Today will be everyone's last chance to learn all they can about the databases that we have access to. I will be covering another major site today which does require a login name and user password. Be sure to pay attention and make sure to write down the information somwhere that it will not get lost.

Everyone needs to make sure that they understand how to use each fo these sites after today, because I will not be spending time explaining this again.


Primary Source- an original fundamental and authoritative document pertaining to an event or subject of inquiry; a firsthand or eyewitness account of an event

Secondary Source- any document that describes an event, person, place, or thing, usually not created contemporaneously (not created at the time of the event)

Example:
A biography is a secondary source and an autobiography is a primary source.




These specfic databases should be the most useful for this project.

Databases searchable under EBSCOhost Web:

MasterFILE Premier- (Almost 2,000 general reference articles. Over 100,000 primary source documents)

Newspaper Source (Database of various newspapers from around the country)

ERIC- (Educational magazines and journals)

MAS Ultra- (Searchable database containing hundreds of modern popular high school magazines)

Funk & Wagnall's New World Encyclopedia- (The complete Encyclopedia)

History Reference Center- (Articles from magazines and journals on thousands of historical events)

SIRS Discoverer (Searchable database on thousands of topics)

****Nettrekker: (Educational search engine approved by teachers)
Required to log on to Nettrekker
Username: Berwickhs
Password: Library


AP Multimedia Archive- (Associated Press Photos)

Contemporary Authors- (Articles/Biographies on Modern Authors)

Biography Reference Bank- (Biographies on thousands of individuals both living and deceased)


No one may use outside search engines (Lycos, Google, Dogpile, etc.) or Wikipedia. These are not reliable sources of information.


http://dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf

http://www.bucknell.edu/Documents/ISR/mla.pdf





Academic Content Standard:
1.8.11A- Select and refine a topic for research
1.8.11B- Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.

Researching Basics

Today we will be working with a few more of the tools that are accessible within the lab. Be sure to pay attention to everything today. It is going to be a very short period, so we have to move fairly quickly. We will be working with Nettrekker, SIRS, Newspaper source and AP Multimedia.

If at any points there are any questions, do not be afraid to stop me and ask.

Nettrekker will require a password.

Username: Berwickhs
Password: Library

These databases are full of reliable sources for research papers. There should be no reason to search outside sources for this project.




We will also be picking topics today. Only one person in each class can write a paper on a specific topic. Here is the list to choose from:


Music

Prince
Buddy Holly
Gene Autry
Mel Torme
Burl Ives
Steven Tyler
Rage Against the Machine
Angus Young
Meatloaf Adel
Jimmy Buffet
Ozzy Osbourne
Michael Jackson
Elvis
Jerry Garcia
Johnny Cash
Rolling Stone
Sir Paul McCartney
Ringo Starr
Phil Collins
Bono
Dave Matthews
Toby Keith
Alan Jackson
Breaking Benjamin
Fuel
Luciano Pavoratti
Slash
Jon Bon Jovi
Eddie Van Halen
Eric Clapton
Sir Elton John
James Hetfield
Dave Mustaine
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Actors
Don Johnson
Kelsey Grammer
Tony Shaloo
Bill Cosby
Dustin Hoffman
Julia Roberts
Shirley Temple
Judy Garland
Alyssa Milano
Gene Wilder
Richard Pryor
Bob Sagat
Christopher Reeve
Angelina Jolie
Tommy Lee Jones
Will Smith
Robert Eungland
Johnny Depp
Henry Winkler
Michael Keaton
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lou Ferrigno
Martin Scorcese
John Travolta
Michael J. Fox
Bill Murray
Dan Akroyd
Tim Allen
David Caradine
Bruce Willis
Adam Sandler
Ray Ramano
Sir Anthony Hopkins
Jennifer Aniston
Sara Michelle Gellar
Jerry Lewis
Jack Nicholson
Jack Palance


Authors
Bram Stoker
Charles Dickens
William Shakespeare
Homer
Dante Alighieri
Virgil
John Steinbeck
J.D. Salinger
J.R.R. Tolkien
J.K. Rowling
Kurt Vonnegut
Christopher Marlowe
R.L. Stine
Alexandre Dumas
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Herman Mellville
Edgar Alan Poe
Ernest Hemmingway
Stephen King

Artists
Picasso
Leonardo DaVinci
Michelangelo
Raphael
Rembrandt
Van Goh
Monet
Charles M. Schultz

Directors
Tim Burton
Stephen Speilberg
George Lucas
George Romero
Matt Groening
Quentin Tarintino
John Carpenter
Alfred Hitchcock

Royalty
Marie Antoinette
Louie XIV
Richard III
Mary Queen of Scots
Queen Elizabeth I
Henry Tudor

Inventors
Thomas Edison
Ben Franklin
Bill Gates
Phil Harrison
Eli Whitney
Johann Gutenburg
Isaac Newton
Orville/ Wilbur Wright
Leonardo DaVinci
Sam Walton
Rupert Murdock



Political Figures
Ghandi
Mother Theresa
Pope John Paul II
Buddha
Fidel Castro
Hillary Clinton
Al Gore
Douglas McArthur
Martin Luther King Jr.
Dalai Lama

Historical Figures
Christopher Columbus
Sigmund Freud
Charlemagne
Julius Caesar
Henry Ford
Nicolaus Copernicus
Alexander the Great
Aristotle



Sports Stars
Michael Jordan
Jerome Bettis
Joe Dimaggio
Mia Hamm
David Beckham
Babe Ruth
Boomer Esaison
Joe Montana
Tiger Woods
Barry Bonds
Tony Hawk
Tony Dungy
Brett Favre
Andre Agasi
Maria Sharpova
Ana Kournakova
Venus/Serena Williams
Yao Ming
Matt Hoffman
Larry Bird
Allan Iverson
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux

Television Personalities
Katie Couric
Ted Turner
Bob Hope
Ellen Degeneres
Oprah
Dr. Phil
Johnny Carson
David Letterman
John Stewart
Ryan Seacrest
Jerry Springer
Montel Williams
Rachael Ray
Barbra Walters
Walter Cronkite

Presidents:
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
John F. Kennedy
George Bush
George W. Bush
Gerald Ford
Alexander Hamilton
Ronald Regan
Richard Nixon










Academic Content Standards:

1.8.11A- Select and refine a topic for research
1.8.11B- Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.

Parallel Structure and Research

Today we will be covering parallel structure for just a short while to be sure that everyone is comforable with the topic. Remember, parallel structure is extremely important in any papers so everyone needs to be sure that they have this down. If there are any questions, today is the day to ask them. I will not be going in to detail on this subject again, so "speak now or forever hold your peace."

Do not forget. Parallel structure involves writing all of the items of any series in a similar structure.

Once everyone has parallel structure under control, we will move on to our next topic.

We will begin working with some of the research tools that are available in the classroom. This is going to be another very important aspect of the next project we begin so take notes.

There will be a lot to search for and only a little time, so everyone needs to be on the same page.

If anyone has any questions today do not be afraid to ask. The sooner everyone understands research, the easier this project will be.

Parallel Structure

In many of the PSSA prompts that were submitted, parallel structure was almost non-existant.
It appears that many of you do not fully understand this idea so we will be spending a day working on this idea to help improve your writing.

We will start with a simple definition:
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

This means that when creating a sentence with a series of ideas, all of these ideas must be constructed in a similar manner. This plays an extremely important role in the creation of blueprints.

By keeping items parallel you are giving them the same amount of importance in your paper. Since your three blueprint items are supposed to be the support for your thesis, they should all carry the same weight in your paper.

This is very important when writing academic papers so be sure to pay attention today.




EDIT: ****For anyone that missed school here are the examples that we went over in class****

Example 1
(-ing ending vs. infinitive)

Not Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.

Parallel: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.

OR

Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.

Example 2
(single word/phrase choice)

Not Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.

Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.



Example 3
(Noun/verb choice)

Not Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.

Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.


Example 1
(Phrases)

Not Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.
-- or --
Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game.


Example 2
Not Parallel: The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers.


Parallel: The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that prospective buyers would ask him questions.



Not Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.


Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.


Academic Content Standard:
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization
1.5.11D- Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition.

Journal Day

Today is the end of the week and that means it is once again journal day.
Everyone did a good job with their presentations this week, despite all of the chaos due to the computer crash and krispy kreames.
I've decided since everyone did such a good job this week that you will be getting a small reward.

I am going to allow everyone to have a free write today. You can write about anything thing that comes to mind, however there are a few catches.

1. You must be constantly writing.
2. You must complete 3 full pages of writing.
3. It must be quiet. No talking.
4. Whatever you write about must be school appropriate. (No drugs, racy topics, alcohol, guns, violence, etc.
5. No games
6. No Internet until you have completed 3 FULL pages.

Have fun with this and enjoy the long weekend!

Journal Day

Today is Friday and that means it is once again, journal day. Everyone will need their journals. You must be working! Everyone will need to complete three full pages intheir notebook before the end of the class period today. There is no specific format you need to use, just write.

Since today is the unnofficial start of the Bloomsburg Fair, I am going to let everyone write about the Fair. You may write about anything you feel like involving the Fair. (Favorite foods, things to do, things you like, things you do not like, favorite stops, shows you are going to see, etc.)

Anyone that cannot think of anything to write about the Fair must still be writing. I will give you the option to freewrite today until you can think of something. This means that you can write whatever comes to mind, as long as it school appropriate. (no racy topics, drugs, alcohol, violence, etc.) Any violations of this rule will result in disciplinary action.

Everyone must be quiet today as well. If I hear too much talking going on, you will lose journal day.

Have fun and try not to eat too much this weekend.

Academic Content Standard:
5.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization
1.5.11D- Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition.

Informational Essay Day 3

Today we will be starting the final phases of this project. I will be giving you a few minutes at the beginning of class to finalize any remaining writing for this essay.

Be sure to proofread this very well. Remember you cannot use first person, second person or contractions. Do not forget to double check that you also have every required step in your process.

Once you have finished your proofreading, let me know and I will tell you when you can print.

Before the end of class we will begin presentations for anyone that can start their presentations without any outside materials.

Anyone who does not get to go today will be presenting on Monday.
Do not forget to bring any materials you will need.

Academic Content Standards:
1.5.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization
1.5.11D- Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition.

Informational Essay Day 2

Today we will be continuing to work on the informational essays that you began in class yesterday. You will need to complete these essays by the end of the period, so everyone should be working. As long as everyone finishes their assignment today we can begin presentations tomorrow.

That however, hinges on the fact that EVERYONE must be done writing.

If you have any questions about your paper do not be afraid to ask. I will help you with any part of your essay, but I will not write it for you. If you are having trouble finding a way to avoid second person, ask me and we will work it out.

Remember there can be no first or second person in this paper.
You cannot use contractions.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, we must be able to act out your how-to in class.

If you are having problems in any of these areas, see me immediately.

You may refer back to the previous two days blogs if you need any refreshers on what you should be doing.





Academic Content Standards:
1.5.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization
1.5.11D- Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition.

Informational Essay

Yesterday we began working with informational essays. We had a demonstration of just how difficult it can be to ensure you have filled in every detail when giving information.

Today, in order for everyone to learn how to write the facts without interjecting opinion, we will be writing how-to essays. Using the steps you started working on yesterday, we will begin writing a paper. You will need to take the ordered steps that you chose and place them into paragraph format.

I will be giving you more time today to finish writing out all of the steps you will need to finish this project.

Be sure to include every detail of the task you are writing about.
Remember leaving out even one little step can completely stop your project.
You cannot skip steps. If you would need to do it, you need to write about it.

Remember to be specific. If something must be done with a specific hand, foot, etc. be sure to note it.
If a specific part of something must be used,(left shoelace, right corner, etc.) be sure to mention that as well.
Make sure that someone else would be able to follow your directions to accomplish the task you have chosen.

While writing your paper, be sure to keep track of what step you are on in your process.
Do not let your steps fall out of order. Everything has a specific time it must be done, keep it that way.
Your paper needs to have a clear introduction, body and conclustion.
You will need a thesis for this paper.
I will explain the body paragraphs in detail in class.
Rememeber this paper must be unbaised, that means no opinion in this paper.

I should not see any use of the first (I, we, us) or second person (you).
This paper must be written in the third person. (He, She, They)

Do not use any contractions (it's, they're, can't, don't, won't, etc.)





Academic Content Standards:

1.5.11 d WRITE WITH A COMMAND OF THE STYLISTIC ASPECTS OF COMPOSITION
1.5.11c WRITE WITH CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION
1.5.11a WRITE WITH A SHARP , DISTINCT FOCUS
1.5.11 b WRITE USING WELL-DEVELOPED CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE TOPIC

Writing an Informational Essay

Informational Writing: Material through which an author shares ideas, facts, or instructions by helping the reader to compare familiar items with items that are not familiar

In other words, an informational essay explains a process or shows the reader how something works.

Informational writing offers factual, unbiased, and expansive information. Informational essays may be based on research, or may be a personal essay based on personal thoughts and observations. (ie. something you have firsthand experience with.)

Differing from many other types of essay, the writer’s job is to explain and inform without offering an opinion or developing an argument.

An Informational essay must be impartial this means an informational essay is always written in the third person.

The goal of an informational essay is provide the reader with a full understanding of a complex process or situation.

Make sure all of your ideas are organized in a logical manner.

Offer concrete explanations and examples

Every "step" must be clear. If one "step" is not clear to the reader, then every step that follows is useless.

-Informational Writing is used in completing school projects, applying for and carrying out the duties of a job, and performing personal communications.

Types of Informational Writing include: Letters, biographies, definitions of simple abstract ideas, summaries, instructions or directions, description of a method or process, explanation of causes and effects, analysis of facts or ideas, comparisons of facts and ideas, expression of opinion through critique or review.

http://factoryschool.org/handbook/essays/EssayInformational.html - Example of an Informational essay.


1.5.11 d WRITE WITH A COMMAND OF THE STYLISTIC ASPECTS OF COMPOSITION
1.5.11c WRITE WITH CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION
1.5.11a WRITE WITH A SHARP , DISTINCT FOCUS
1.5.11 b WRITE USING WELL-DEVELOPED CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE TOPIC

PSSA Practice Day

We have spent the last week practicing writing Introductory Paragraphs for a 5 paragraph essay. Today we will be putting that practice to use.

Everyone will be required to respond to a PSSA writing prompt, using the 5 paragraph essay format.

You will have exactly 30 minutes once we begin to complete the prompt.

There will be no extensions on this project, it will take place just as if today were the PSSA writing exam.

Everyone will be asked to respond to the prompt:


Allowing students to leave campus during school hours has been restricted by some school districts. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not?

Write a short essay explaining your ideas about this topic. Use facts and clear writing to be persuasive.


After 30 minutes the prompts will be collected to be graded based on the PSSA writing rubric.



Academic Content Standards:

1.5.11A Write with a sharp, distinct focus
1.5.11 B Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic
1.5.11C Write with controlled organization
1.5.11D Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition.

Journal Day

Today is Friday and that means it is Journal Day.

The first thing we will be doing today is discussing 2 news articles. Take five minutes to read the 2 links and we will discuss them briefly as a class.

Germy Playgrounds

Squirrel Attacks Boy

You will have the remainder of the period to write in your journals about the following prompt:

You were given unlimited funding to go on a one week vacation and the ability to take one other person with you on this trip.
1. Who would you take with you?
2. Where would you go? (You may make multiple stops, but remember you only have 7 days.)
3. What would you do when you got there?

Do not forget that you need to fill at least two pages in your journal by the end of class and keep it clean. No racy topics, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Have fun!



Academic Content Standards:

1.5.11A Write with a sharp, distinct focus
1.5.11 B Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic

WELCOME TO COMP. 1

Composition I focuses on improving student writing skills.

This year we will be exploring narrative, informative, descriptive, and persuasive writing.

Students will become familiar with standards and terminology for the PSSA.

Every Friday we will part from formal writing and jump into our journals.

All work will be graded. Students MUST meet deadlines. Late work will not be accepted.
All work must be completed. Partial essays, projects and journals will receive a zero.

Monday, May 7 - Friday, May 11

Monday-Wednesday
1. Students will finalize their research projects.
2. All papers must be proofed by 3 students.

Thursday
1. Turn in your research paper

Order:
A. Cover page
B. Outline
C. Final Draft
D. Works Cited Page
E. Bibliography Page
F. Proofed rough draft
G. Notes

(All papers must be bound !)

Friday- Journal:

2 pages:
Describe a perfect word

or

Writer's Choice

Research Paper

Weekly Plan

Monday- Turn in outlines

1. Individual conference to discuss outline

Tuesday - Thursday
1. Continue to record notes
2. Begin to write rough drafts

Friday- Journal Day and NOTEBOOK CHECK

Journal Topic:

Write 1-10 lines from your favorite song. (Make a bibliography entry for the song/ artist)

Discuss how these lines have an impact on your life, how they inspire you or how they motivate you.

or

Write two pages on the topic of your choice