Week 8.5

Learning Tasks for Monday, March 10

Essential Question:  How can literacy skills promote effective communication and understanding?

Objectives:

I can locate secondary sources for research.

I can evaluate secondary sources for research.

1. Writing into the Day

Spring Break is right around the corner (31 hours from now, but who's counting?).  If you had an unlimited spending fund, how would you spend your ideal Spring Break?

2. Assignment #5

Find four different types of sources (1 academic journal article from a database, 1 book in print, 1 periodical article online or in print, and 1 website) that cover the subject of economics in some fashion and evaluate each. Consider readings, class discussions, and lecture material on textual evaluation in your response.

Learning Tasks for Tuesday, March 11

Essential Question:  How can literacy skills promote effective communication and understanding?

Objectives:

I can locate secondary sources for research.

I can evaluate secondary sources for research.

1. Writing into the Day

What is the nicest thing you've ever done for another person?  Plan a random act of kindness that you could feasibly perform for someone else.

2. Assignment #5 or Annotated Bibliography

Week Eight

Learning Tasks for Monday, March 3

1. Writing into the Day

Set a SMART goal for Week Eight.  How will achieving this goal benefit you?  What resources or support do you need in order to reach your goal?

2. Discussion
Some people like to jump right into ALLLLL the information, but research goes much more smoothly if you have a plan.  How do YOU create a research plan?  In what order do you complete research tasks?

3.  Discussion Board

In Blackboard, respond to the following:  "If you have ever used a Research Plan before, please share your experience. If you have not, please elaborate on the benefits of using one. Feel free to share some of your ideas for the Research Plan assignment that is due on March 5. I would also suggest that those who have never created a plan before should consider borrowing from some of the ideas presented here."

Learning Tasks for Tuesday, March 4

GOOD LUCK ON THE ACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learning Tasks for Wednesday, March 5

1. Writing into the Day

2.  Research Plan

Using information from Chapter 43, create a research plan for your Research Project.  Due dates to keep in mind:

• Annotated Bibliography- March 26
• Notecards- April 11
• Outline- April 17
• Rough Draft- April 25
• Final Draft- May 5

Learning Tasks for Thursday, March 6

1. Writing into the Day

"Adults always say, 'You're too young to understand.' Well, if you don't tell us, how are we supposed to understand?"

Has anyone ever told you that you can't understand?  How did that make you feel and how did you respond?

2. Mini-Sessions
You must complete at least four mini-sessions with a score of 80% or higher.  Scores for the remaining Mini-Sessions will be averaged into your final Quiz grade.  The mini-sessions are located in Blackboard under the Mini-Sessions tab.

Learning Tasks for Friday, March 7

1. Writing into the Day

2. Mini-Sessions
You must complete at least four mini-sessions with a score of 80% or higher.  Scores for the remaining Mini-Sessions will be averaged into your final Quiz grade.  The mini-sessions are located in Blackboard under the Mini-Sessions tab.

Week Seven

Learning Tasks for Monday, February 24

1. Writing into the Day
Set a SMART goal for Week Seven.  How will achieving this goal benefit you?  What resources or support do you need in order to reach your goal?

2. Quiz
What questions do you have after completing this week's reading (Chapters 10-12)?
Let's test your knowledge!  Open up Blackboard and take Quiz #6.  You can do it!

3. Choosing a Research Topic

Selecting Topic --> Finding an Issue --> Thesis

First, think of the communities that you belong to.  One of these has the potential to become your audience, depending on the topic you choose:

• personal- home, family, friends, etc.
• academic- school (past, present, future)
• professional- work and careers (past, present, future)
• society- local, national, and global communities

Use the following questions to delve into potential topics:

• What discussions do you find interesting within each community?
• Have you or others in a community had any experiences that have left you with questions or concerns?
• What problems or issues exist in each community?

After giving this all some thought, let's do some brainstorming and generate potential topics:

• Spend several minutes listing any research topics that come to mind.  They don't need to be good at this point!  Just list anything that pops into your brain.
• Of the topics you've just written, select five that sound the most interesting.
• State those five topics as questions.
• Pick the question that sounds most interesting to you.  Freewrite on that topic for five minutes.
• Pick the sentence(s) that sound most interesting to you.  Freewrite on that idea for another five minutes.
• Repeat or start over as many times as you'd like.  There's no perfection to this process, just finding a possible direction for your paper!

4.  Still Stuck?

CQ Researcher is an AWESOME site for perusing current issues and the stances people are taking on them.

Learning Tasks for Tuesday, February 25

1. Writing into the Day

Create a list of your favorite things.

2.  Selecting a Research Topic
Your research topic is due by tonight.  Make sure you have a *general* idea of what you want to research and REMEMBER:  YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE YOUR MIND!  So, no pressure.  Breath a sigh of relief :)

Learning Tasks for Wednesday, February 26

1. Writing into the Day

2. Assignment #4
Create an annotated bibliography for one of the essays you have read this semester.

Learning Tasks for Thursday, February 27

1. Writing into the Day

2. Mini-Sessions
You must complete at least four mini-sessions with a score of 80% or higher.  The mini-sessions are located in Blackboard under the Mini-Sessions tab.

Learning Tasks for Friday, February 28

1. Writing into the Day


















2. Mini-Sessions

Learning Tasks for Friday, February 21

Essential Question:  How can literacy skills promote effective communication and understanding?

Objectives:  I can...
-provide critical and constructive feedback of peer's writing.
-apply peer feedback to writing revisions.

1. Writing into the Day

2. Peer Review

Pick a partner and exchange papers.  Use the list of Peer Review questions in this Google Doc to give your partner feedback.  Once you finish, be sure to discuss your answers with your partner!

REMEMBER:

Learning Tasks for Thursday, February 20

Essential Question:  How can literacy skills promote effective communication and understanding?

Objectives:  I can...
-create a rough draft of an essay using a specific writing technique.
-revise my writing for clarity and detail.

1. Writing into the Day

2. Essay #3 Conferences

You will be meeting one-on-one with me to discuss your paper draft.  This is a great opportunity to ask me ANY questions you still have about the assignment or your draft!

3.  Drafting/Revising

While you are waiting for your conference, you should be either writing or revising your Essay #3 draft.  One more day to go!!!

Learning Tasks for Wednesday, February 19

Essential Question:  How can literacy skills promote effective communication and understanding?

Objectives:  I can...
-create a rough draft of an essay using a specific writing technique.
-revise my writing for clarity and detail.

1. Writing into the Day

2. Assignment #2

Log into Blackboard and complete Assignment #2 by the end of class.

3. Essay #3 Conferences

Once you have reached at least one page of a draft, I will provide you with some midpoint feedback.

***You need at least ONE FULL PAGE written by the end of class.  You can dooo itttt!!!

4.  Conclusion

Only two days to go!  How are you doing with your Essay #3 SMART goal?  What do you still need to do to achieve your goal?

5.  Homework
Bring at least ONE FULL PAGE of your Essay #3 draft to class tomorrow.  Your draft will count as a grade.  If you do not have at least a page written, I will call home tomorrow afternoon.

Learning Tasks for Tuesday, February 18

Essential Question:  How can literacy skills promote effective communication and understanding?

Objectives:  I can...
-evaluate and address my needs as a writer.
-create a rough draft of an essay using a specific writing technique.

1.  Writing into the Day

2. Drafting

Using a writing technique that works for *YOU*, begin developing a draft for Essay #3.  Recall the drafting techniques we discussed in class last week.  You need to turn in at least ONE PAGE of your draft by the end of class tomorrow, so be sure to pace yourself.

3.  Conclusion

Where do you stand with yesterday's SMART goal?  Are you on the road to success?  If not, what do you need to reach your goal?