1. “Tyler Perry’s Money Machine” and “Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One?”

2. Discussion of “Tyler Perry’s Money Machine” p. 346
What is the main point or thesis of this article?
What point is Eugene Robinson making about Tyler Perry’s movies and the representation of African Americans in Hollywood?
In this article, Robinson shows that he is aware of the discussion that is already going on about the representation of African Americans in Hollywood by bringing up the trope (commonly used theme or literary device, similar to “cliché”) of the “magical Negro.” What exactly is this trope? Can you think of any examples of it other than the ones Robinson lists?
According to Robinson, how are the Tyler Perry movies different from those that use the “magical Negro” trope?

3. “Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One?” p. 45
What are some of the ways that the author, Lorraine Ali, learns about the Arabic part of her heritage? What influence does American pop culture have on her perception of Arabic culture?

4. Making Connections
We have now read two more essays about the issues of diversity, representation, and popular culture.
Do you notice any common threads? Can you connect some of Lorraine Ali and Eugene Robinson’s ideas to the essays from last week?
For example: What do you think Ali (the writer of “Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One?”) would have to say about the ideas expressed in “TV Diversity: Whose Job is it, Anyway?”

5. Preparing for College Level Research
Tell me about a time when you had to do research. This might be research you did for school, research into a product you were thinking of buying, research into how to apply for student aid, etc.
What did you need to find out?
Where did you go for information?
How did you know which sources of information to trust?

6. There are Three Steps to Using Sources:
Find sources and choose the best ones for your purpose.
Read the sources carefully, keeping track of your own reactions to the author’s ideas and using your sources as a springboard for your own contribution to the discussion.
Use the sources in your essay, giving proper credit in the body of the essay and at the end, using MLA format.

7. Finding/Choosing Sources
Why do you need to include sources in your essays?
To show your audience that you are aware of the conversation that is already going on.
To give your audience context for an argument you will make.
To support a point you are making.
To provide an example of an opposing point of view that you will then counter.

8. Where Can I Find Sources?
College Databases
College Library
Public Library
The Internet

9. Library Resources
Library Databases can be accessed through the College Library website.
Databases are collections of articles that have appeared, either in print or online, in various publications.
Potentially useful databases:
EBSCO
Proquest National Newspapers
Ethnic News Watch

10. Some Tips on Using the Databases
If you don’t get many results at first, try changing your search terms. For example, if you don’t get any hits for “black people and shows about space” try “African Americans and science fiction,” then try something else using related words.
Pay attention to the suggestions the databases make about related subjects.
Make sure to check the “full text” search option so that you will be able to access any results you want.
or save any results that interest you to read later. You may also print out articles here if you have a print card.
Make sure that you keep a record of any sources you use from the databases.

11. Evaluating Online Sources
Any sources you find through the databases are likely to be “reputable” sources, but what about typing your search terms into google or another search engine?
This can be an excellent way to find resources that are very new and haven’t been included in the databases yet, BUT there’s a lot of junk out there.
SO, how can you tell the junk from the good stuff?

12. Evaluating Online Sources
See p. 344 of Everyone’s an Author
Who takes responsibility for the piece of writing? Is it a publication with an online presence? Is it an organization with a good reputation?
In what ways does the author establish credibility?
Is the piece of writing presented well? (Are the points well argued/explained? Does the author display an awareness of the ongoing conversation? Does the piece of writing use clear grammar, spelling, and punctuation?)

13. Step 2: Read the Sources You Chose
Read them all the way through. Unless you decide after the first paragraph that the source is not useful to you, how can you possibly respond to a source you’ve only skimmed?
Identify the author’s big claims. Do you agree with them? If so, do you have anything to add to the author’s support? If not, how would you counter the author’s argument?
Keep notes on your sources. Highlight. Write questions in the margins. Make connections between what one source says and another source says.

14. Step 2: Read the Sources You Chose
A couple more things about sources…
Just because you find a source and read it doesn’t mean you have to use it. If you read a source and don’t like it, keep looking.
Keep researching throughout the writing process. If you find a wonderful source with all kinds of good ideas you want to respond to after you wrote a draft, that’s fine. Include that source and your response when you revise.
Keep track of every source you use ideas or quotes from in your paper. You will need to be able to find the source again when you give it credit.

15. What does this mean for OUR Essay #1 specifically?
Right now you need to be reading everything you can find about your specific topic relating to diversity and the media.
Read general articles about pop culture and diversity to start out if you would like, but you need to be reading articles about a specific film/show/musical group or a specific genre or a specific minority group.

16. Step 3: Using Sources and Giving Credit
You’ve found your sources, read them, annotated them, and you’re ready to use your sources in your essay.
So… which quotes should you use?
Quotes that contain ideas you want to respond to.
Quotes where the original source’s wording is especially good or important to your response.
Quotes where the original source explains a complex idea clearly and succinctly.
Quotes that contain ideas that would make most people want proof.
Any quote you use should have an explanation/response that is TWICE AS LONG as the original quote. If a quote takes up two full lines of your paper, the explanation/response to that quote should take up FOUR.

17. What Is MLA Format? MLA Stands for “Modern Language Association”
The MLA makes rules for the writers of research papers in English and the Humanities so that everyone who is doing research is following the same set of rules and we can all understand each other.

18. What kinds of things do I need to do to have correct MLA Format?
Part of MLA style is format.
Margins
Heading
Font, etc.
Please see the formatting example that is in the file with your syllabus for my expectations on formatting.
Part of MLA style is citation.
This means giving credit to your sources and avoiding plagiarism.
Citation is also meant to make is easy for your reader find your sources if he or she wishes to read them.

19. Two Required Ways of Giving Credit in MLA Format
A Works Cited page
Where is it? On its own page at the end of your essay
Lists every source you used in alphabetical order by the last name of the author
Each source on your works cited must contain specific information in a specific order. Consult a handbook or the handout for more details.
Parenthetical (in-text) citations
What is it? A way of indicating which source you just quoted or summarized.
Where is it? In the body (main text) of your essay.
When do I have to use it?
After a direct quote that you took word for word from a source.
After a paraphrase of an idea that you did not write or think of yourself, you must indicate which source you are using in order to avoid plagiarism.

20. MLA Format
In-text citations and the works cited page work together in order to help your audience know where your quotes or paraphrases came from, and to help your audience easily find the source themselves.
Each in-text citation should use the FIRST name or words that appear in the works cited entry for that source. This way, you are linking your quote to an entry on your works cited page.

21. Resources for Using MLA
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
LA Mission Library Resources
MLA Handout posted on etudes
Your Everyone’s an Author text book

22. Useful Pages in Your Rules for Writers Book
Directory of In-Text Citation examples: p. 458
Directory of Works Cited examples: p
Integrating Sources: p
Avoiding Plagiarism: p
Sample Research Paper in MLA Style: p
Remember, your first essay for English 101 must have a works cited page that cites at least three sources.

23. Using Sources and Giving Credit
You’ve found your sources, read them, annotated them, and you’re ready to use your sources in your essay.
So… which quotes should you use?
Quotes that contain ideas you want to respond to.
Quotes where the original source’s wording is especially good or important to your response.
Quotes where the original source explains a complex idea clearly and succinctly.
Quotes that contain ideas that would make most people want proof.
Any quote you use should have an explanation/response that is TWICE AS LONG as the original quote. If a quote takes up two full lines of your paper, the explanation/response to that quote should take up FOUR.

24. They Say / I Say: Chapter 3
Quotations give your interaction with the ideas of your sources credibility. (p. 42)
Choose quotes that support your claim, and be flexible. This may change as you write.
Frame your quotes. (See how to make a “quote sandwich” on p. 46)
A bad example of how to use a quotation is on p. 45, and the improved example on p. 47.

25. The “Quote Sandwich”
This is a way to integrate quotes into your paper smoothly and avoid drop-in quotes.
The first piece of “bread”
Introduce quote, possibly mention author, connect quote to what you were saying before.
The “Meat”
Your quote, correctly cited with in-text citation.
The second piece of “bread”
Interpretation/explanation of quote (NOT simply rewording the quote), connect quote to what you will say next.

26. Online Examples of Quote Sandwiches
Notice that both of these examples make the quote a part of a sentence the essay author wrote, and notice that both examples give credit to the source’s author.

27. Quote Sandwich Practice
If you brought a possible source for Essay #1 with you today, choose a quote that you would like to respond to. Then, write a paragraph that includes the quote you chose in a quote sandwich. Remember, you need to INTRODUCE the quote by putting in in context, USE the quote with a correct in-text citation, and RESPOND to the quote by adding something new to the discussion.
If you did not bring a source, you must do this practice with one of the essays we have read as a class.

28. What I expect from a rough draft:
A draft is a first attempt of your essay. This means that while it may be rough, it should be a complete essay with a length between 2 and 5 full pages.
The longer and more complete your draft is, the more useful your peer and instructor feedback will be.
Your draft must be typed, and you must print out three copies for peer review.