8th grade ELA – Writers Workshop Research Report 8th grade ELA – Writers Workshop

HOMEROOM 3-7-2017 HI – Good Morning Quah – Grade Check/Silent Read/HW Time 8th Grade Registration Information for HS Friday, March 10th during 2nd period

Wednesday 3-8-2017 Please gather ELA binder, notebook, book. Take out Research Folder, Notebook Grab a laptop and login by bell

Tuesday 3-7-2017 Please gather ELA binder, notebook, book. Pick up two peer evaluations handouts per person and pick up one research glossary handout. Have your review printed before class starts.

Present to Small Table Groups Stay seated Read your whole review to your table Each person should fill out two peer evaluations Turn in when whole table has finished and attach your peer evaluation(s) to your review. Paper clip your review to your peer evaluation(s) and turn in the correct bin by the sink. When finished did you do your HW? Objective Summary of UpFront Article of your Choice?

Day 1 Research = 50% curiosity + 50% organization What are you curious about? Go about your day in AND outside of school with the mindset of curiosity What do you notice? What questions can you ask? Let’s get organized: importance of the folder keeping items in it a place to collect information

What is a research report? The process of investigation The hunt for truth Getting to know a subject or topic by reading up on it, reflecting, choosing areas that interest you, and following up on them. It is determining the accuracy and relevance of information you uncover and making decisions about what to report.

Mentor Texts Help Us “SEE” Possibilities: What topics have people written about? What purposes did those books serve? What features/forms could a research report have?

Mentor Titles

Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes by Pamela S. Turner On page 62 she shares that “the best part of writing a Scientists in the Field book is going into the field with scientists.” She was so appreciative of getting to do her research “up close and personal” that she wanted to thank each and every scientist she encountered.

“Scientists in the Mist” Gorilla Doctors, cont. “Mararo’s Jewelry” p.5-12 “Scientists in the Mist” p. 13-21 As we read these pages, think about the following: What about this type of research writing grabbed your attention? What purpose(s) does this chapter serve? As we read these pages, think about the following: We learn about two scientists and how they conducted firsthand research. How did this research impact other scientists? What visual sources help us as readers? Overall, this book allows us to understand the work of real-life scientists doing actual research with specific purposes: to educate, to inspire, and to motivate others to pay attention to this environmental issue.

Why Do Writers Write Research? Your task: In small groups, you will look at teach mentor text, read the summary, flip through the pages, and complete the following: Title and Author Pages I Read Why I Believe Writer Wrote these Pages My Evidence to Support this Reasoning  

Organization and Structure Today’s focus: Research report writers use a variety of text structures to organize concepts, ideas, and information. Identifying these structures will help understand the content Text structures contribute to the presentation of clear and informative writing. You can apply these techniques to your reports.

When writers make decisions about which text structures to use in their writing, they are thinking about the BEST way to ORGANIZE their information so that their readers can gain: - clear meaning - deeper understanding

Text Structures Narrative Chronological/Sequential Descriptive: Main Idea + Details Comparison: Compare + Contrast Problem/Solution Question & Answer Cause & Effect

Looking at Mentors for Models “The Fight over Fracking” p. 10-13 in Feb. 10 edition of Upfront “Song of Smoke” in Harlem Stomp pgs. 5- Notice the text structures of this informational article: Headings Subtopics Word Choice The types of sentences provide clues to the text structures AND, more importantly, bring depth of meaning. “In the 1920’s, Harlem was hot! The streets….” p. 5 Booker T. Washington’s work outlined on page 6 W.EB. Du Bois’ focus outlined on page 7 Timeline on page 10

Compelling Questions Our Focus: Research report writers are adept at creating compelling questions in order to research and discover facts and information about their selected topic.

Inventing the Future by Marfe’ Ferguson Delano We will try to figure our Delano’s essential questions she answered by writing this book. Her purpose, as shared in the foreward, explain that she wanted to provide interesting facts but also to show Edison’s tenacity toward learning the “whys” and “why nots” of how things worked. He embodied the mantra “always learn more.” We know Edison was a famous inventor (including the light bulb, phonograph, kinetoscope, etc.) and was granted over 1,00o patents. Photobiographies are interesting because of their authentic photos – they help depict the life of the subject.

As we read, jot down questions Delano probably asked in order to inform her writing. Good questions are NOT ones that can be answered with “yes” or “no.” They usually begin with… What…. or Why….

Application to our Research Write questions you have about the topics you’ve brainstormed. They could begin with things like… What are some of…? What were the causes of…? What are the results of…? Why did…?

Research Report – Research Proposal You should OBSERVE your world in order to generate possible ideas NOTICE interesting information attributes, & themes.

Issues we think about - Global Example: Research how the lack of food and/or clean water in some countries is impacting millions of children in the world Human rights/Education Example: Research how communist governments dictate which books children are permitted to read while attending school. Moments in history that demonstrate pivotal change: Researching the impact that Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans had on living arrangements, culture, art, music, dance, and education. Environmental Example: Research the green movement and the short- term and long-term impact of conservation.

Inspirational People Hand in Hand by Andrea & Brian Pinkney A. Philip Randolph We will learn that Randolph grew up in a home that respected education, books, reading, holding one’s head high, speaking clearly and confidently, and the role of religion in daily life. What else did we learn about Randolph?