WELCOME TO SECOND SEMESTER! WE’VE MADE IT HALF WAY! "Anything worth doing, is worth doing right." Hunter S. Thompson 1/28/14 Learning Target: Describe the research paper process

Agenda1/28/14  Senior Project Reminders  Review PP#3 and future portfolio plans  Grade wrap up and new passes for semester  Bellwork

What should you be doing for your senior project right now?  Make sure all your paperwork is updated and current  Did you change something? Update your proposal, parent awareness form, and mentor agreement form.  Make sure you’re OFFICALLY approved with Mrs. Downs Tuck those papers away in a safe spot-class portfolio folder?  Keep updating your hour log with the work you’re doing.  Next hour log check is Thursday, March 27 th. 15 hours should be completed by then!

Senior Project Database-get this in ASAP!  A WHOLE LOT OF YOU!  This is where you go on the CHS homepage, click in the student section, and then follow the directions on the Google Form.  Important step for Mrs. Downs-please do this by FRIDAY (if you’re not sure how to, a really quick stop into the Career Center is the best way to do it!)

My teacher heart grew three sizes…

Portfolio connection to SRP  All those good revision skills will be put to MAXIMUM effect with your senior research paper!  You’ll self-edit, peer-edit, and get a teacher edit before your final  You’ll be better prepared to take suggestions for improvement to make sure you pass the first (or at least second!) attempt  After the SRP, you’ll feel like the last portfolio pieces are a breeze!

Bell Work1/28/14  List any questions you have about the Senior Project Research Paper. Do you have an idea yet about what you want to write about?

Why Research?  To demonstrate a depth of knowledge related to your senior project topic  To answer questions about a topic you are interested in learning more about  To practice synthesizing information from multiple sources  To prepare yourself for the academic expectations of college  To demonstrate an ability to work and think independently  Or… just to meet the requirement for graduation and to get credit for my class!

The Hardest Part(s)?  Gathering resources appropriate to the task and reading level (independent, instructional, frustration)  Reading complex materials and identifying author’s claims  Understanding your sources well enough that you can enter into the discourse and add your own reflections and insights in your paper  It’s not really about writing, it’s about reading!

Our plan of attack  Check out this packet carefully  Read over the first and second pages, please, and be ready to ask any questions at __________

Library and Lab Times  Woah…we have a lot. Why?  Because it takes a lot of time to find, read, and take notes on good sources  Because it gives you more time to work collaboratively with teachers, librarians, and each other  Because I ask you to demonstrate skills throughout the process so you’re more likely to have a good final product  Because I have high expectations for quality, and I want to give you class time to complete most of it  Because we don’t add any other content until after you’ve submitted your teacher draft Don’t look a gift teacher in the mouth…use this time wisely, or it will be reduced! Know where we are each day, and be on time to the location! Behave respectfully in those shared spaces-we want to be allowed to come in for all that time!

Topic Selection  This paper is about an issue related to your project; it’s not about your ACTUAL work  It’s not a report of facts, it’s more of a survey of attitudes and researched arguments about the issue  It’s not a “pro-con” paper- you’re not trying to persuade someone to agree with a position  It’s somewhere in the middle…present content objectively, focus on OTHER’s opinions, not yours

Good topics should be:  Manageable  Narrow enough  Argumentative/Analytical  Not persuasive, not a report  Relevant  Connected to your project  Fun!  Something you actually want to put this much time and effort into learning about!

Does this topic pass the MARF test? Project: Volunteering at a local homeless shelter Paper: Indentifying the leading causes of homelessness

Does this topic pass the MARF test?  Project: reading to the elderly at a retirement home  Paper: Figuring out the best funding method for the future of Social Security

Does this topic pass the MARF test?  Project: Coaching a kids softball team  Paper: Researching the benefits and drawbacks to Title IX legislation at the college level