CITING SOURCES

I have added a link to a very helpful page that addresses citations for MLA format (scroll down to "Helpful Links"). The topic that you'll get when you click on it is "in-text citations"; however, if you scroll to the bottom you'll see links to all the MLA Format subjects. As much as I hated to link you to a Purdue site, this one is good. See you tomorrow.

TIME TO POST

It's time for another REQUIRED POST. Please respond to the following questions by TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 by 7:40 A.M.

1. What novel are you reading for the research paper, and who is the author?

2. How interesting and engaging have you found the novel; basically, was it a good choice for you?

3. What are you finding most difficult with your research right now?

4. What can I do to help you?

5. What should you do to better help yourself?

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A PRODUCTIVE DAY TODAY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR NEED ME TO LOOK AT ANYTHING RESEARCH RELATED, STOP BY TOMORROW WHEN YOU HAVE TIME. WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN-TEXT CITATIONS AND WORKS CITED PAGES ON THURSDAY.

ALSO, WE STILL HAVE SOME "THIS I BELIEVE" ESSAYS TO READ ON THURSDAY!

HEROES, WE NEED TO TAKE YOUR WINNING PHOTO.

OUTLINE

Your typed outline should be a total of 18-22 COMPLETE SENTENCES. You should follow the template of the outline worksheet I gave you in class.

REMEMBER.....EVERYTHING IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. Begin the outline with your thesis statement (as shown on the worksheet), and go from there.

TUESDAY'S CLASS

Ok, guys. Thanks to a plea from Rachel, I will let you turn in the typed outline on Thursday. You should then have a THREE PAGE DRAFT for the following Tuesday, since you are getting extra time.

I am about to leave school to run my children to various lessons and activities, and I won't be back at a computer until after 8 p.m. I will update the blog tonight regarding tomorrow's class.

So, the important thing for you to know is that you WILL be in the library tomorrow during the first half of class. You WILL be expected to spend the class period on research. You WON'T need to turn in the typed outline until Thursday. I hope this is good news to you. If so, you owe Rachel.

More later....

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

I've gone over and graded thesis statements for all who turned one in on Friday. If you'd like me to go over it with you, stop by when you have time. It will probably make your work time on Tuesday more productive.

NEED FEEDBACK ON YOUR THESIS STATEMENT? STOP BY ROOM 350!

The smiley face is in honor of Alyssa's "This I Believe" essay. It's also for you to look at in case you feel cranky about the research paper. If you keep up with your reading and writing assignments, we will work together on organizing your paper. Just try your best and think positively!!! There will be much more opportunity for guidance on your paper.

This brings me to THESIS STATEMENTS: I am in the process of going through each of your thesis statements, and in some cases going ahead and starting an outline for you as well. I have tried to write enough comments and suggestions to help get you to the next step, especially since I won't see you until Thursday.

Please stop by when you get time to talk about your thesis statement. I have some of them finished now, and I should have all of them finished by Monday. If you don't get a chance to come by the room, I'll leave your graded thesis statement in your mailbox in the back of the room (in the crate labeled "1").

THIS I BELIEVE ESSAYS

Great job on the essays we read today. I can't believe I forgot about the pep assembly!!!!! Sorry to those of you who didn't get to read yours. We'll look forward to hearing from you on Thursday.

I enjoyed all of the essays......I especially loved Lauren's analogy comparing the isolation at the lunch table to the social structure of life.

I also loved Sara F.'s belief statement that everyone is an artist. I don't think of myself that way, but her essay made me start thinking about different areas of my own life that really do require the "artist" in me.

Also, Alyssa's essay about the importance of smiling was about a simple concept, but the essay points out how much good it can do for someone to be the recipient of a smile; it represents so much more than what it seems on the surface. I'm not sure any of us spend as much time smiling as we could or should.

I enjoyed every essay read today. They were all creative and definitely unique. Round 2 on Thursday!

DON'T FORGET TO RESPOND TO THE FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BLOG IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!!! THIS MUST BE DONE BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 6.

HEROES WIN!

Great Job to the fast-posting Heroes! We will have to take a lovely blog photo next week to break up the monotony of research. While the Heroes may not be gregarious talkers, you've proven yourselves to be formidable posters. Good teamwork.

IGUANAS???? WHAT HAPPENED? I KNOW YOU KNEW THE ANSWERS!! In your defense, however, your discussion of the "This I Believe" essays was very insightful. I liked Max's comment about the 16-year-old who managed to include positive historical events to balance out the negative. Also, Tamara's comment connecting the author who believed in poetry to her own experiences was good. As a group, you had a very nice mini-discussion.

As for today's class.....I really enjoyed reading your essay drafts. Your belief statements were all very different and creative. Remember that these are PERSONAL essays, so by definition you are including personal information. Don't completely leave that part out or the essay won't be as effective. Overall, though, nice job on these. I can't wait to hear them on Friday.

PLEASE REVIEW THE GUIDELINES FOR THESE ESSAYS (DOWN A COUPLE OF POSTS).

Keep reading those research novels. We'll talk about sources on Friday.

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED TO THE BLOG POST ASSIGNMENT (SEE LAST WEEK'S POST WITH MY PHOTO), YOU MUST DO THIS BY OCTOBER 6!