Writer's Block Blues...

Here's my best shot at a one-handed pep talk!  I have corresponded with a few of you about how and where to search for sources and even how to find a point or direction in your search.  Take heart!  Don't give up!  Attitude is crucial to success!

First, remember that before you can begin drafting, you have to do a lot of reading.  That's what researching is all about:  searching, reading, searching again and more reading, and so on.  It isn't until I begin to dig into a topic that I know which of my books and articles are useful.   Don't forget you can also use other kinds of sources, like film, interviews, and more.

Don't cut this part (reading and searching) short so you can begin writing the paper.  Knowing how to efficiently search is a talent that you'll use in the future.  Some of you who are having trouble finding sources will benefit by playing with the words you type in the search bar, both on Google and our databases.   Remember the tips our librarians gave us about making advanced searches, and also their presentation about how to "Search Like a Boss" on Google, if you use that site.  Sometimes it takes a lot of patience and perseverance.

That said, please give Ms. Reaves a warm welcome.  This portion of the project is her forte!  We will be in close communication to serve you our very best!  You've had quite a bit of class time to work on this project, but it takes discipline to stay on task.  This also takes time outside of class.  I am hoping that with a quiet, diligent group of students in class, you can draft and conference and revise and so forth.   I hope in the next three classes before spring break, you can finish up your research papers.  Won't that be something to celebrate?

Guidelines for Research Paper, Due Dates. and a Bit of Regrouping!

I hope this post and the post before this help clear up concerns you may have about grades and due dates for our upcoming project.   Because some of you have missed class due to activities that have caused your absence from class, and because of snow days and my absence,  the first area of concern is due dates.  I hope this helps, but I'm extending due dates for the annotated bibliography.

I'll give bonus points to those of you who moved heaven and earth to hand in your annotated bibliography on time, and I'll accept and grade bibliographies next week in an effort to provide enough time for reading.  I'll ask the substitute to mark those that were turned in this week.  You'll need to hand in bibliographies before the next due date, which is the first draft of your research paper due Friday, February 27th.  After that, we're moving forward.  Remember, no late work!



Guidelines for the research paper:

• 4 to 5 pages MLA format
• Minimum of three sources used with at least one citation for each of your three sources. This could be a paraphrase or direct quote for each.  Aim for a minimum of one direct quote.  You will no doubt use more.  Remember, you will write other pieces which can be informed by your other sources.  Your minimum is five sources for the whole project. 
• Paper to include an introduction, supporting body, and conclusion.
• First draft conference on Friday, February 27th.  Must be a complete paper, although it will be rough.
• Second draft conference on Tuesday, March 3.  This draft should include your citations.
• Third draft final packet due Thursday, March 5.

Because I've been grounded until the cast comes off (right after spring break), I've been worrying about how to help you with the writing.  Great news:  Ms. Reaves has agreed to come back on Wednesday, February 25th until my return, and she is looking forward to working on this project with you!

Have fun researching, my friends!

Update From Home! Miss Everyone!

Nothing like a snow day or two!  Congratulations, seniors, on shortening your semester!  As for me, I'm "on the mend" and working with the one-handed, hunt-and-peck system on the keyboard.  You don't want to hear about my silly accident, but it's enough to know that I broke several bones in my left arm/wrist/hand and am grounded now!

Olaf needs an arm,too!

What's due, you ask?  You've missed a class period, so I hope you have found and summarized your sources for your research.  Your annotated bibliographies are due today or by the end of the week.  You should be able to trade and conference your work today. Refer to the Purdue Owl for directions to the annotated bibliography. Remember we wrote annotated bibliographies first semester, so you also should still have those directions and samples!

Hand in your work at the end of class or by the end of the week.  You know you can use the comment box here, and that way maybe someone else from class can help you, too.

You can use class time to work on your first draft of your research paper.  Bring your printed articles or books or flash drives to class so you can get credit for your efforts during class. First draft conferences of the research paper will be next Wednesday.  Come prepared. A completed first draft is a complete paper, not a one-page brief attempt!

Sorry I'm not there.  Let me hear from you if you have questions.

A Note About the Research...

It's Thursday, and many of you are checking out books related to your research topics.  I hope this trip to the library helps you make the connection between research and fun!  Yes, it can be fun... Think about the number of times a day you make a quick check online for information on a myriad of topics.  I do. What I'm hoping for is that the topic you choose leads you to riveting reading, reading that you really want to do.

Next week's classes are devoted to reading workshop.  Bring your research materials with you to class.  If you have a topic the school system will be likely to block because of content, print it out at home or bring it on a flash drive to print for class.  Come prepared!  You'll get workshop participation points just for coming in prepared and working, reading, and writing quietly, making notes for your project.

The first due date is Feb 11th for the annotated bibliography writing conference.  The final draft of the annotated bib will be due on February17.  You'll remember you wrote an annotated bib first semester.   You will briefly summarize your sources, how they fit your topic and how you will use the information.   You will place your sources in alphabetical order according to the first word in the citation.

So...happy reading, researching, and writing!  You need to get started now in order to be able to make these initial deadlines!

Panning for Ideas, Finding Sources, and Narrowing the Topic

We have some very interesting reading to do in the next few weeks.  It'll be a joy to see what comes of your topics; there is such a wide variety.  We cover everything from the spirit world to mechanical engineering, from family history to poverty and education, and from eating disorders to sexual assault. Gosh, the list goes on, and I'm so pleased to think these are topics you want to learn more about.

I realize that requiring a primary source seems to baffle some of you, but I don't want that to keep you from the topic you would most like to learn about.  With your list of topics, I began to explore book titles, and I've asked the librarians for help.  Wouldn't it be more interesting to start off with a book, fiction or non-fiction, related to your topic?  For example, A Long Way Gone:  Memoirs of a Boy Soldier would be an interesting place to start for the topic of boys in war.  For poverty and/or education, I am Malala may illuminate the importance of equal access to education.  We (librarians and I)  are compiling a list of books and ideas.  If you don't have a primary source for your idea, see me, and if we can't come up with one, that's OK.  We'll find other sources!

In the meantime, we will return to grammar today with a study of the comma and also parallel structure.  Friday your 2nd writer's notebooks are due.  In an effort to continue the idea of choice, I am offering the choice of a writer's notebook installment of 8 pages (or 4 front and back) or a reading response on a book of your choice.  By the time we get to next Friday, I hope you'll have a book related to your research topic that you could use for a book response.

Meantime, happy reading, writing, and researching!