1. Welcome to Seminar 2 We will begin on time. Meanwhile, enjoy chatting. Believe in your dreams. If you don't, who will? Jon Bon Jovi

2. It’s SHOWTIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to Seminar #2: How is everyone today?

3. What can you do this week toward achieving your dream? The Chinese say, "The best time to plant a tree was always 20 years ago. The second best time is always today." Funny how planting trees and taking action on the life of your dreams are the same that way. Every challenge is a stepping stone to a HAPPIER place than you even knew existed. Tallyho!

4. First the good news: You do not have a project due this week. [Pause for cheers] You do not have a project due this week. [Pause for cheers]

5. Unit 2 Discussion View the video about the KIPP Program. This is an example of a person or group of people creating a kind of amulet or a powerful elixir to fuel many journeys. These programs and causes do not arise on their own; people think of them and make them happen to help others. Ultimately, we all have the power to improve life for someone.

6. Discussion (cont.) Identify a charitable organization that could benefit from your help. Then provide the following information: Provide a summary of the group’s goals and programs. Explain/Illustrate how this organization could be an “elixir” or “amulet” to one person’s life. Explain what factors should encourage someone to volunteer in his or her own community.

7. Discussion: Amulet According to dictionary.com, an “amulet” is “ a small object worn to ward off evil, harm, or illness or to bring good fortune; protecting charm.” Some people wear crucifixes, a kind of sacred talisman. Some people wear a horn to ward off the “evil eye.” Frodo, the Hobbit, had a magic ring, but it was evil because its maker was evil.

8. Elixir An “elixir” is a magic potion believed to prolong life or cure diseases. In Harry Potter, the sorcerer’s stone was a drink that prolonged the life. Plus, the children used a magic potion called polyjuice to change their appearances. In The Chronicles of Narnia, the youngest girl was given an elixir. One drop cured wounds even for those who were dying.

9. Explain/Illustrate The discussion directions tell you to “Explain/Illustrate how this organization could be an “elixir” or “amulet” to one person’s life.” Don’t just tell your readers. Give examples. Specific details make your writing clearer and most interesting.

10. Examples If I tell you that studying karate benefits children, that statement does not tell you very much. If I give you examples, you will understand much better. –If I tell you a story about how my daughter’s ability to focus improved, you will be much more impressed –Examples of how my children’s knowledge of karate helped them to avoid being bullied

11. Reminders Discussions: are a large part of your learning experience as well as your grade, so post in each section and respond to two other students. Discussions lock after the unit is over, so late discussions must be emailed. Seminar: if you miss seminar, summarize the slides that I post in doc sharing afterwards.

12. The Final Project The final project for this class is to write a report, a type of informative writing. In this report, you will seek to educate the audience about the topic. You will explain and describe the topic. Most professions have a need for informative writing. Types of informative writing can include emails, reports, product descriptions, product comparisons, letters, etc.

13. The Informative Essay The directions for the final project can be found in Unit 9 under “Project.” In order to successfully write the essay, you may find that you need information. One of the places that you may find information is the Kaplan Library.

14. To Find Articles in the Kaplan Library 1. Click on Library at the top right of your “My Desk” page. This is the first page that you see after you log in, not the Course Home Page. 2. In the middle of the next screen, click on “Electronic Articles.”

15. Finding Articles (slide 2) 3. On the right side of the next screen, you will see a list of databases under the heading “Database Resources.” Click on the database that you want to enter, for example: Academic Search Premier. Other databases that you may find helpful are Business Source Premier, Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Health Source: Consumer, MasterFile Premier, Proquest Criminal Justice, Newspaper Source.

16. Finding Articles (slide 3) 4. Now you are into the actual database and can begin your research. In the box next to “Find,” enter the title of the article you are looking for, the name of the author, or a keyword. For example, if you are doing general research enter a keyword such as homeland security. When looking for the title of an article, do not use a question mark even if there is one at the end of the title. Be sure you have entered the title of the article correctly.

17. Research Involves Searching The word "research" contains the word "search" for a very good reason. Often, it is not easy to find material and you will have to keep trying different combinations of information until you find what you want. Go to doc sharing, download “Research, the Kaplan Library, & the Internet.” and read about what you will need to do to find information.

18. What is a thesis statement?

19. Thesis Statement = Topic + Point (Main Idea) Your thesis statement is merely your topic plus whatever point you are making about your topic. Begin by looking at your prewriting. What do you want to say ABOUT your topic? What do you want your reader to know? What point do you want to make about your topic?

20. The Thesis Should be only ONE SENTENCE. Must be a COMPLETE SENTENCE, not a title. Can NOT be a question.  If you find yourself with a question, answer it. The answer may be your thesis. The thesis binds the essay together. It controls or limits the essay.

21. Why do you need a thesis? So what? Who cares? What’s it good for anyway?

22. Why You Use a Thesis “Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. –A. A. Milne (creator of Winnie-the-Pooh) A thesis helps you to organize your thoughts. A thesis tell the reader what you are writing about. All writing needs to be clear and organized, whether it is an email, letter, proposal, report, etc.

23. Do I Want to Read This? How many of you read the back of a book or the inside cover before you decided to buy or read it? How many of you look at a long email briefly to see if it is important before you spend the time reading it in detail? If you do these things, you are not alone.

24. Should I Read This? People are busy. They want to know what something is about before they invest their time reading it. No one wants to wade through pages of writing trying to find out what it is about. A thesis, since it is the last sentence of the first paragraph, saves the reader time.

25. Your Thesis It’s much like when you were in 3 rd grade and you wrote, “My paper is about…..” You were letting the reader know what to expect. It’s like the inside cover or the back of the book. Busy people want to know what writing is about. They don’t have time to waste on non-essentials.

26. Professional Writing Even in emails and letters, you should have a thesis. For example, if you were writing to your boss regarding a problem, you would not want to describe the problem pages or paragraphs into the writing. Your boss would not appreciate it if he/she had to wade through your writing to find out what the issue was. Instead, you would tell what the problem was in the first or second sentence and then go on to describe the issue in detail.

27. Where the thesis belongs in an Essay In formal essays, your thesis statement belongs after your introduction and is usually found as the last sentence of the introduction. Ideally, the thesis should be not only the end of the introduction, but also the transition into the overall theme of the essay.

28. Have any of you ever used MapQuest? When using MapQuest, what two things must you have or know?

29. YOU NEED TO HAVE Starting AddressEnding Address

30. You will get different sets of directions for the following trips: Trip #1 Starting AddressEnding Address [Fort Myers][New York City] Trip #2 Starting AddressEnding Address [Fort Myers][San Diego]

31. Think of your thesis statement as using Map Quest Starting AddressEnding Address [Topic][Point]

32. Your starting address (topic) may remain the same, but as you chance your ending address (your point), your directions change. Starting AddressEnding Address [Topic: Relatives][Point: Can create problems] Starting AddressEnding Address [Topic: Relatives][Point: Will support you in times of trouble] DIRECTIONS = OUTLINE

33. Your thesis statement is like using MapQuest or buying airline tickets. You must know where you are starting from and where you are going. Your topic is where you are starting from. However, if you do not know where you want to go (your point), you can not get directions or buy tickets.

34. To Find Your Point: Prewrite Brainstorming Free Writing Listing Questioning Bubbling

35. Free Writing Start by typing or writing down everything you know about your topic. Do not worry about organization, if you are making sense, grammar, spelling, etc.

36. Sample Free Writing Illegal immigration means coming to the country illegally. Lots of people come here illegally. Some come for jobs. I heard the government was going to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. I also heard that illegals had built a tunnel. Some people say that it's a war zone down there. We don’t seem to have the same problem with the Canadian border. I heard people are sneaking in by ship. Some have even landed on Sanibel. That's just down the road from me!

37. Freewriting (continued) Choose one or more sentences and research. Examples: –The U.S. is proposing to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. You could write an essay informing the reader about that. –Some people say that it's a war zone down there. Discussing that could be your essay. –We don’t seem to have the same problem with the Canadian border. Discussing that could be your essay.

38. Questioning WHO: Who is coming here illegally? WHAT: What does coming here illegally mean? What does the U.S. government plan to do about the situation? WHERE: Where are the illegals coming from? HOW: How are they getting here? Car? Boat? Plane? Walking? How is the U.S. planning to stop this? WHEN: How long has it been going on? Have there always been laws restricting immigration? Is it different now than before, or are we just more worried about it now? WHY: Why are they coming here? Money? Freedom? Fleeing from oppression? Running drugs? Terrorists?

39. Choose one question to answer Why are they coming here? Answering that question could be your essay. –People are coming to the U.S. for freedom, for economic opportunity, and for safety for their families. –OR –While many people are coming to the U.S. illegally for the American Dream, others are coming to run drugs or are terrorists.

40. Choose Questions to Answer Who is coming here? Why are they coming here? How is the U.S. planning to stop this? –Answering these questions could be your essay. People are confused about illegal immigration, wondering who is coming here, why they are coming here, and what the U.S. government plans to do about the situation.

41. Sample Thesis Statements 1) Using solar power saves money. –Topic: Using solar power –Point: Saves money 2) Using solar power saves money, helps with the environment, and provides options when the electric company has an outage. –Topic: solar power –Points: 1) Saves money, 2) Helps with the environment, 3) Provides options when the electric company has an outage

42. Let's practice thesis statements. For example, suppose your topic is "relatives" (family). What would YOU want people to know about YOUR relatives???? Anyone? Remember, the thesis must name the topic and list the point or points that will be made about the topic.

43. Sample thesis statements about relatives. You might say:  My family is very loving.  Relatives can be troublesome, interfering, and cause endless problems. These are possible thesis statements that could be developed into full essays.

44. Writing Tip: Then & Than The word THEN is defined as (1) Next in time, space, or order: I watched the late movie and THEN went to bed. (2) At that time: I was still in school THEN. (3) In addition; moreover; besides: It costs $20, and THEN there's the sales tax to pay. (4) In that case; accordingly: If traffic is heavy, THEN allow extra time. (5) As a consequence; therefore: The case, THEN, is closed.

45. Then & Than (continued) The word THAN is used to compare two or more things: He is taller THAN she is. As you can see, THEN has a lot of meanings, but THAN is used only for comparison. If you find you are confused, ask yourself if you are comparing anything. If not, choose THEN.