1. Bell-work 9/24/14 EQ 25 How do you identify the thesis statement? Copy this statement and take notes Thesis Statement -A clear, precise single idea that keeps a research paper focused and on target Thesis Statement -A clear, precise single idea that keeps a research paper focused and on target Terms to Know for discussion: Terms to Know for discussion: Broad- wide scope of subjects or areas. general; without detail. Broad- wide scope of subjects or areas. general; without detail. Specific-narrow; clearly defined or identified. Specific-narrow; clearly defined or identified.

2. Announcements I will post the class stats on the word wall tomorrow because I am waiting for 2 nd period to finish. I will post the class stats on the word wall tomorrow because I am waiting for 2 nd period to finish. The class with the highest % passing will receive a treat. The class with the highest % passing will receive a treat. Think about how well or awful you did. Why did that happen? Think about how well or awful you did. Why did that happen? BM1 is Tuesday. See me for VISA for test prep help! BM1 is Tuesday. See me for VISA for test prep help!

3. What’s wrong with this besides it is an opinion? Hannah Montana is the greatest singer this century! – Hannah Montana is the greatest singer this century! –

4. It’s too broad! Do you know all the singers of this century and do you really want to research all of them? Do you know all the singers of this century and do you really want to research all of them? You want to narrow your thesis statement so that you will be able to fully support your assertion. You want to narrow your thesis statement so that you will be able to fully support your assertion.

5. Which research topic is the most specific and why? EQ 24 Promoting proper health and exercise in elementary, middle, and high schools Promoting proper health and exercise in elementary, middle, and high schools How several inventions changed a country How several inventions changed a country How extracurricular tennis programs in Rutherford County help students’ heart health How extracurricular tennis programs in Rutherford County help students’ heart health Successful American student athletes of the past five decades Successful American student athletes of the past five decades

6. Which research topic is the most specific and why? EQ 24 Promoting proper health and exercise in elementary, middle, and high schools Promoting proper health and exercise in elementary, middle, and high schools How several inventions changed a country How several inventions changed a country How extracurricular tennis programs in Rutherford County help students’ heart health How extracurricular tennis programs in Rutherford County help students’ heart health Successful American student athletes of the past five decades Successful American student athletes of the past five decades

7. We’ll discuss more details about the research project later on, but when you have a research assignment in school, it’s important to make sure it’s not TOO BROAD or TOO GENERAL. We’ll discuss more details about the research project later on, but when you have a research assignment in school, it’s important to make sure it’s not TOO BROAD or TOO GENERAL. Examples of TOPICS THAT ARE TOO BROAD  Examples of TOPICS THAT ARE TOO BROAD  American Presidents American Presidents Hispanic Music Hispanic Music Jazz Music Jazz Music Dogs Dogs Food Food Celebrities Celebrities How might we narrow these down so they would become SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPICS? How might we narrow these down so they would become SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPICS? EQ 24 – LET’S DISCUSS…

8. Which of the following research topics is most specific? Which of the following research topics is most specific? A. Polar bears and ways they may become extinct soon B. Johnny Depp’s acting career C. How certain species of fire ants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil can destroy nerve endings after a bite on the arm D. Potato farming industry in Indiana THE KEY IS TO CHOOSE A SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPIC SO THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO RESEARCH BUT NOT TOO MUCH! THE KEY IS TO CHOOSE A SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPIC SO THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO RESEARCH BUT NOT TOO MUCH!

9. Which of the following research topics is most specific? Which of the following research topics is most specific? A. Polar bears and ways they may become extinct soon B. Johnny Depp’s acting career C. How certain species of fire ants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil can destroy nerve endings after a bite on the arm D. Potato farming industry in Indiana THE KEY IS TO CHOOSE A SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPIC SO THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO RESEARCH BUT NOT TOO MUCH! THE KEY IS TO CHOOSE A SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPIC SO THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO RESEARCH BUT NOT TOO MUCH!

10. Which of the following research topics is too general? Which of the following research topics is too general? A. Specific kinds of skateboards sold in the U.S. B. Rob Dyrdek’s participating in skateboarding contests within the last 2 months C. 3 year old skateboarders in the U.S. D. Skateboarding contests in Honolulu, Hawaii YOU WANT TO WRITE A REPORT ABOUT SKATEBOARDING…

11. Which of the following research topics is too general? Which of the following research topics is too general? A. Specific kinds of skateboards sold in the U.S. B. Rob Dyrdek’s participating in skateboarding contests within the last 2 months C. 3 year old skateboarders in the U.S. D. Skateboarding contests in Honolulu, Hawaii YOU WANT TO WRITE A REPORT ABOUT SKATEBOARDING …

12. Name one research topic that would be TOO broad or general that we did NOT discuss in class today. 1 minute Name one research topic that would be TOO broad or general that we did NOT discuss in class today. 1 minute Discuss with your partner and be prepared to share with the class!

13. Reliable Web Sites Fill in the worksheet as we discuss: Fill in the worksheet as we discuss: EQ 29 How do we critique the reliability and credibility of sources used in research. EQ 29 How do we critique the reliability and credibility of sources used in research. EQ 30 How do we draw conclusions about the validity of a web page as a source of info? EQ 30 How do we draw conclusions about the validity of a web page as a source of info?

14. #2 URL/Domain name http://www.mtsu.edu/ Education http://www.mtsu.edu/ Education http://www.mtsu.edu/ http://www.wikipedia.org/ Organization http://www.wikipedia.org/ Organization http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://www.people.com/people/ Commercial http://www.people.com/people/ Commercial http://www.people.com/people/ http://www.marines.mil/ Military http://www.marines.mil/ Military http://www.marines.mil/ http://www.usa.gov/ Government http://www.usa.gov/ Government http://www.usa.gov/ http://www.asp.net/ Network http://www.asp.net/ Network http://www.asp.net/

15. #3 What types of sites are there? #3 What types of sites are there? Informational Informational Wikis Wikis Blogs Blogs

16. #4 What are the four purposes a web site may have? Informational Informational Persuade Persuade Sell/advertise Sell/advertise Entertainment Entertainment Sound familiar? (Author’s Purpose) Sound familiar? (Author’s Purpose)

17. #5 How can you make sure the web page you are looking at is current? Is it updated? Look at the bottom of the page. Is it updated? Look at the bottom of the page.

18. #6 Bias –Someone’s opinion How do you know if a website is bias? How do you know if a website is bias? What are some things to look for to determine if a page is biased? What are some things to look for to determine if a page is biased? -Look at advertisements and blatant lies!!! -Look at advertisements and blatant lies!!! -Look for contradicting information -Look for contradicting information (contradicting means opposite) (contradicting means opposite)

19. Let’s check out some website and see if they are reliable for research Flip your paper over on the back and fill out the information as we find it… Flip your paper over on the back and fill out the information as we find it…

20. EQ 30 Check Cindy is writing a research paper for her English class about the group of American post-World War II poets known as the Beat Generation. Which of these sources would give her the most specific and reliable information? Cindy is writing a research paper for her English class about the group of American post-World War II poets known as the Beat Generation. Which of these sources would give her the most specific and reliable information? A. a web page titled “Famous American Poets” A. a web page titled “Famous American Poets” B. an article in Time magazine called “War Poetry” B. an article in Time magazine called “War Poetry” C. a scholarly essay about the influence of the Beat Generation on American poetry C. a scholarly essay about the influence of the Beat Generation on American poetry D. an encyclopedia entry about World War II D. an encyclopedia entry about World War II

21. EQ 30 Check Cindy is writing a research paper for her English class about the group of American post-World War II poets known as the Beat Generation. Which of these sources would give her the most specific and reliable information? Cindy is writing a research paper for her English class about the group of American post-World War II poets known as the Beat Generation. Which of these sources would give her the most specific and reliable information? A. a web page titled “Famous American Poets” A. a web page titled “Famous American Poets” B. an article in Time magazine called “War Poetry” B. an article in Time magazine called “War Poetry” C. a scholarly essay about the influence of the Beat Generation on American poetry C. a scholarly essay about the influence of the Beat Generation on American poetry D. an encyclopedia entry about World War II D. an encyclopedia entry about World War II

22. Exit Ticket Which one of the following statements is TRUE when identifying the thesis statement? EQ 25 Which one of the following statements is TRUE when identifying the thesis statement? EQ 25 A thesis statement is not a central idea with details. A thesis statement is not a central idea with details. A thesis statement will be a very broad statement. A thesis statement will be a very broad statement. A thesis statement is usually located in the middle of a paragraph. A thesis statement is usually located in the middle of a paragraph. A clear, precise single idea with supporting details keeps a research paper focused and on target. A clear, precise single idea with supporting details keeps a research paper focused and on target.