Identifying Thesis and Supporting Claims

Today, we looked at a hilarious, but well-structured "This I Believe" Essay.  Even though Elizabeth talks about Rice Krispies as heroes, this essay is a GREAT example of what I am looking for in your personal reflective essays. Be sure that you are elaborating like she does about each of your examples and character traits. 

Check out these articles about Real-Life Heroes from CNN. These articles are much more thorough, detailed, and researched but still offer insight into writing your own personal essay. See if you can identify the theses and main supporting claims in the articles!

Personal Hero Essay

For your first major writing assignment, you will be reflecting on a personal hero or on what makes a hero. Ordinarily, you would not use first person voice ("I," "me," my," etc.) in a formal essay; however, this essay is reflective. Use first person as appropriate! 

Choose one of the following topics:

HEROIC QUALITIES:

• You must choose THREE specific characteristics of a hero for this topic. You may choose three categories of hero qualities if you want to include a broader definition (i.e. “moral fiber” includes honesty, sacrifice, and commitment to personal beliefs).
• Include examples of each characteristic/category.
• Explain why each characteristic/category is significant and meaningful.

PERSONAL HERO:

• Use one paragraph to enumerate character traits of and your personal connection to the hero.
• The two following paragraphs should provide specific, demonstrative examples of this person as a hero. You can choose to group general behaviors as one paragraph, but you MUST have at least one SPECIFIC incident in which you can identify this person as a hero.
• Be sure to include explanations to the why these behaviors and actions constitute this person as a hero rather than just a good person.

Remember, you need to MLA format this paper and either type or write in pen. Check your work against the format and rubric I've given you on your assignment sheet. If your paper matches the format and is complete on Monday, I will give you 10 Bonus Points, as it was the original due date. We will go over a good 5-Paragraph Essay on Monday, so the true due date is Wednesday, August 27th.

Check out these resources for enhancing your paper!

• A (Hilarious and Detailed) Overview of the 5-Paragraph Essay
• Blog post (with video!) on how to write a killer hook and thesis!
• Blog post (with video!) on how to write an introduction and conclusion!
• MLA Formatting Resource
• Downloadable MLA Google Drive Document
• Video Instruction on LOADS of Writing Tips/Step

Continuing She's the Man

Complete the worksheet for She's the Man before we compare this Shakespearean adaptation to a traditional version of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

As we continue with Shakespeare, prepare your paper presentation for your exam day (Thursday for 1st, Friday for 2nd). Remember I will add up to 10 points on your paper grade based on this presentation for your final exam grade.

Outline --> First Draft!

Seniors! Remember the first draft of your research paper is due on Monday, March 3. Juniors, the first draft is due March 27. Key ideas to remember in order of importance:

1. Cite your sources! If you do not cite your sources in parentheses at the end of each notecard fact NOR include a Works Cited page, South View considers this PLAGIARISM!

2. Include analysis, which includes connecting facts together, commenting on facts, giving your opinion (without using first person ("I," "me," "we," "our")), and explaining significance.

3. Create a bang-up, awesome, totally insightful thesis.

4. Remove the outline format to create paragraphs.

Seniors: Editing to Create a Final Draft

Seniors,
Even though I'm a few states away, take today as a golden opportunity to finish up your research paper! They are each graded and it is now time for you to fix the problems I have identified. Follow the instructions below.

1. Log in to your CCS account and access your Drive. (CCS Email link above)
2. Open up your first draft. You will be fixing everything in this document.
3. PLEASE LEAVE THE HIGHLIGHTING AND COMMENTS. I will remove each when the corrections have been made.
4. To get help correcting various errors, check out these stick-figure videos. They are thorough AND entertaining!
1. For more grammar help (lots of pink highlights), check this out.
2. For more paper style help (lots of green highlights), check this out.
3. For more word choice and phrasing (lots of blue highlights), check this out.
4. For lots of comments about run ons and fragments or other more complicated punctuation matters, check this out.
5. For lots of comments on analysis or your lack of SOMEthing in the paper, check this out.
5. Remember that your Works Cited page AND in-text citations MUST BE PRESENT in the final draft of the paper or it will automatically receive a zero for "plagiarism" according to South View's policy. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 

Juniors: Adding a Thesis, Introduction, and Conclusion

Juniors,
Even though I am a few states away, you've still got a golden opportunity to work on your research paper. Follow these steps and watch my awesome instructional video for guidance on how to do your work today.

1. Log in to your CCS account and access your Drive. (CCS Email link above)
2. Open up your outline. You will be adding everything into this document.
3. For your thesis, use this formula:
1. What is your topic?
2. Add an active verb (Resource #2) 
3. What are you trying to prove?
4. Add a transition word (Resource #2)
5. What are each of your paragraphs going to be about?
4. For example,
1. J. R. R. Tolkien
2. created
3. a mythology for Great Britain
4. by
5. integrating his personal history, creating a new language, basing mythical races on real history, and writing a diverse series incorporating this fantastical realm.
5. Finally, use your imagination to create an exciting sentence about your topic that would draw a reader's attention. Some ideas for that are:
1. a mind-blowing fact
2. a quote from someone famous
3. the first line of a short narrative (aka anecdote)
4. some zinger of an analytical comment
6. Then, connect this attention-getter with your thesis using some well-structured and well-directed sentences.
7. For the conclusion, you just do the introduction in reverse. Start out with a rephrased thesis and then work your way back out to a final send-off that relates to the opening remark.
8. To find out more on writing an introduction and conclusion, check out this stick-people video!
9. After you do all of this, go back and edit your outline sentences. You and I BOTH know that those sentences aren't all grammatically correct. Go ahead and fix them now before you loose a slew of points.
10. Once you have finished editing your sentences, go back and edit your citations. You will need these for your Works Cited page at the end of your paper, so you may as well have it done correctly now. 

The Research Process

Here are the individual steps of the research process as we will complete or have completed in our English courses. I have created the following table to show when each assignment is due for each grade level. The due dates are school-wide and, therefore, cannot be extended for any student.

Where are we now?	Assignment	Associated Question	English IIIs %	English IVs Ö
	Topic Approval	What kind of projects can my research prepare me for?	2/5	1/30
	Honor Code and Forms	Where can I find these forms?	1/31	1/24
	Annotated Bibliography	How do I create an annotation? How do I MLA-format my bibliography?	2/19 REVISED: 2/26 Sample Works Cited	2/12 REVISED: 2/24 Sample Works Cited
	Notecards	Where do I find sources? How do I take notes?	(30) 2/28	(50) 2/7
%	Outline and Thesis	How do I create an outline? How do I MLA-format my outline? How do I write a hook and thesis?	3/12	2/14  REVISED: 2/24
Ö	First Draft	How do I take an outline and turn it into a paper? How do I MLA-format a research paper?	3/27	3/3
	Second Draft	What editing techniques should I practice in between drafts?	--	--
	Final Draft	What are some common writing errors?	4/30	4/2

To access your CCS Google Drive, click this link and sign in with your NCWise number and Birthday password.

• Here are a few other resources to find more information about the research process:
• from Cornell University
• from the University of Illinois
• from The Mildred F. Sawyer Library
• from an online video course on writing

Another step by step guide of how to do research after the jump!

How to ALWAYS Write a Paragraph

A paragraph has a certain formula that includes key ingredients. If you follow the pattern and include each of the key pieces, your answers on my class work, in any other of your courses, on standardized tests, or even in your research papers will be AWESOME if you follow this winning formula.

In order to be successful, you must “RACE” your "constructed responses" and paragraphs:

R-A-C-E

• Reword the Question (the "R" in "RACE")
• Answer the Question (the "A" in "RACE")
• Cite Quotations as Evidence (the "C" in "RACE")
• Explain the Answer (the "E" in "RACE")

You may repeat the "C" and "E" as many times as necessary for a complete answer/paragraph. You will need to follow this formula on ALL short answer questions in my course and on your final, state-mandated exam.

In your research papers or other works of fully-developed writing, each paragraph will need some form of conclusion. To do this, just add a sentence or two following this direction:

Summarize and consolidate the information you have written into a single analytical** statement to end your paragraph.

**Analysis:

·        NOT a definition or a repetition of information already given. (This is known as a “wonton.”)

·        IS a well-thought conclusion.

·        ANSWERS the question, “Why is all this collected information important?”

For another great step-by-step tutorial with example, please read after the jump!

Google Mail and Documents

In our class, your CCS e-mail account will be a vital link of communication for your junior research paper. I want us to use the Google platform to create everything for your project so it can never be lost, missing, or destroyed.

Your student email follows this format:

first three digits of your first name, first three digits of your last name, and last four digits of your PowerSchool ID/NCWise Number, ALL followed by @ccs.k12.nc.us .

For example, my name is Elizabeth Heck and my (fake) ID number is 06302012.
My email will be elihec2012@ccs.k12.nc.us

To login, you use your typical username and password that you use to log in to computers at school; this is often your NC Wise number and your birthday.
Log into your email at this link, off of the main CCS website (link is at bottom of the screen).

For any help or issues with Google Drive and Documents, use this helpful FAQs website. When we use Google Drive, you will always "Share" your documents with me at elizabethheck@ccs.k12.nc.us . I have attached the instructions from Google after the jump!

Creating Personal Resumes

Today, we had a look at a few key elements of resume-building. Look at the following resources to find more detailed tips and excellent word choices to further improve your resume:

• Center for Career Development
• The Resume Workbook for High School Students
• Sample Resumes
• Comparing Good and Bad Resumes

Use the following Resume Generator, sponsored by ReadWriteThink, to create a pre-formatted and outstanding resume.

Remember, your resume is a continually changing document. Remember to update it as you gain more experience or learn new skills!

Reminder to All Seniors!

Bring your Rough Draft and any other steps of the research process as we peer edit and use computers tomorrow in class!

How to Create a Killer Hook and Thesis

Your introduction paragraph sets the stage for the rest of your paper. This first look needs to be EXCITING and INTRIGUING so your readers will want to continue reading all the rest of your hard-work-sweat-and-tears-on-paper. So here are some protips that can help.

From Mrs. Dawn Curle, think of your thesis as a first kiss with someone. You aren't just going to run up to someone and place a smooch on his or her lips! You've got to woo him, to charm her, to engage his or her interest first! So, think this way:

• Hook: This is your chance to charm, woo, and excite. This should be some hinting at great things to come in your paper through fascinating details that don't fit into any other paragraph, a brief anecdote, or otherwise envisioning the awesomeness to come.
• Thesis: This is where you seal the deal. The thesis is your main idea with indicators of where you are going to stop along the way. Follow the format on this handout to make writing your thesis easier than stealing a kiss from a baby.

If this doesn't illustrate what you should achieve with your introduction paragraph, check out some of these great sites and resources:

• Writing Main Idea, Thesis Statement, and Topic Sentences
• What is a Thesis Statement?
• How do I write a Thesis Statement?

Digital Resources for Saving Documents

First things first, you should probably have an email address. Check out this article on the options of free, web-based email. When choosing a email address name, keep these things in mind:

• KISS: Keep it simple, Sweetie. You want your email to be memorable and easy to share when someone asks for it. Believe me, your Instagram name is catchy and memorable, but it is NOT appropriate for emails from your employers, teachers, and tax representatives. Just think what your boss will think when your email is b1k1n1h0tt13@godaddy.com
• Use your name, numbers, and punctuation. For example, if your name is Jay Gatsby, make your email jgatsby1922@ or jaygatsby@ or jg1922@ or gatsby22@ . Short, simple, easy to remember.

There are also plenty of cloud storage websites and apps that you can save your working documents to also be accessed from any device with internet. 

• DropBox
• Google Drive
• Microsoft SkyDrive
• Amazon Cloud Drive
• Apple iCloud
• CloudOn! an app to collect ALL your clouds info

I personally use Google Drive and the Amazon Cloud. I have also used DropBox and have been happy with each of them! Here are some pros and cons for a few of the favorite Cloud programs from a professional review website.

Senior Research Daze

Seniors, we have three main goals to fit into the next three days of INTENSE research:

1. Four useful sources, cited with MLA
2. 50 Notecards, due 9/11
3. Works Cited Page with Two Annotations, due 9/13

You will have most of the day today and all day Thursday and Friday to complete as much research as possible before you need to finish the rest at home, after school, or at the library.

Here are full posts that will give you lots of good info beyond the note packet* I handed out today.

• Where do I find sources?
• What are some techniques for searching online?
• How do I cite sources in proper MLA?
• Where can I find the proper order of citations?
• How do I take notes?

*The note packet consists of lots of handouts posted at the above links.

Proofreading Paper Requirements

Your papers having to do with the individually assigned grammar concept are due Wednesday! Here is the format one more time!     

1. Finally, you will write a two-page paper that discusses the facet of grammar or composition that you have researched and presented. Your paragraphs should follow this format:

a.       Introduction: Define the grammatical or composition concept. Give the reason for the convention. Give an example that is correct.

b.      1^st Body Paragraph: What is the common error associated with this concept? What causes this particular trend of error? Give examples from your own research paper where you committed this error. Give examples that are commonly found for this concept.

c.       2^nd Body Paragraph: How can you correct errors like these? Is there a specific formula, rule, or guideline to correct this error? Give examples from your own research paper by:

                                                               i.      Copy the incorrect phrase or sentence from your research paper.

                                                             ii.      Discuss why it is wrong.

                                                            iii.      Give a correct rephrasing of the sentence from your research paper.

                                                           iv.      Explain why this is more correct.

d.      3^rd Body Paragraph and Conclusion: What “rule of thumb” can you suggest to a beginning writer? How can you remember the proper rule for this grammatical/composition concept? Is there a specific error to be continually aware of in regards to this rule?

e.      References Page: Use MLA Citations to generate a list of PROPER MLA CITATIONS for the resources you have used to compile this grammar/composition paper.

New Online Resources

News from Mrs. Steppe:

After years of planning and developing, the Online American Library is now LIVE!  This is a fantastic resource - and will only get bigger each year!  With any luck all American library systems will share their digital collections, creating one of the largest inventories of information, music, and books available for free (well, our taxes pay for it) in the world.

 

Here's an article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/digital-public-library-of-america_n_3111264.html

 

And here's the DPLA:

http://dp.la/

Spring Break TO-DOs!!!!

Seniors: Two things:

• Macbeth Take-Home Test
• Remember you may use your text and resources to answer your test. This will be due Wednesday, April 10th after Spring Break.
• Along with your test, remember to complete your Character Quote handouts for basic Macbeth plot.
• Senior Project Hours and Portfolios
• All Senior Project info can be found at this link.
• 10 product hours and 5 mentor hours will be due the week you return to school, so GET WORKING!
• Fill in all those gaps in your portfolio using the forms and format found here on the blog and in the Senior Project Handbook.

Juniors:

• Time to edit your research papers. Even if you take just a few hours to create a cleaner draft, DO IT! 
• Remember, doing AS MUCH WORK NOW will save you immense amounts of work for your final draft. 
• All the help you need should be on this blog post (CLICK HERE).

Final Research Paper Grading Rubric (English III)

FINAL DRAFTS of Junior Research Papers are DUE Friday, May 17!!!!

Final Research Paper Grading Rubric

Student:
Author:	Teacher:
Descriptor One:  Focus						Points Assigned
A.  Presents insightful and focused thesis statement.			0			2		4					6				8					10
B.  Draws strong and clear connections between the thesis and significant related ideas (information is relevant to thesis statement and limited to one topic).			0			2		4					5				6					7
Total Points this section  (17 possible points)
Descriptor Two:  Organization						Points Assigned
A.      Presents a compelling introduction with an effective transition to the thesis statement.			0			1			2					3								4
B.       Effectively provides a clear and logical progression of related ideas (follows the order of the thesis statement).			0			1								2								4
C.        Clear topic sentences begin each new paragraph of related information.			0			1								2								3
D.       Effectively uses transitions to connect supporting information between and within paragraphs and between original writing and cited material; uses signal phrases to introduce quotes.			0			1								2								3
E.       Effective analysis sentences/transitions at the end of each topic paragraph.			0			1								2								3
F.        Arrives at a well-documented, logical conclusion, involving critical thinking.			0			1			2					3							3
Total Points this section  (20 possible points)
Descriptor Three:  Support and Elaboration						Points Assigned
A.  Synthesizes complex ideas from research sources.			0			1			2				3								4
B.  Effectively demonstrates exceptional selection of supporting information relevant to the thesis and its related ideas; does not repeat information.			0			1								2								4
C.  Provides a meaningful presentation of multiple, credible, and current sources (no .com).			0			1								2								4
D.  Effectively balances use of quotations and student paraphrasing and summarizing.			0			1			2				3								5
E.  Skillfully integrates student-generated visual aids (diagrams, charts, graphs, pictures, graphic organizers to emphasize important content) which are properly formatted and/or block quotations.			0										+1
Total Points this section (17 possible points)
Descriptor Four:  Style									Points Assigned
A.  Exhibits skillful use of language, including effective word choice, clarity, and consistent voice (avoids wordiness, awkward phrase and repetition).			0						1				2					3
B.  Demonstrates exceptional fluency through varied sentence structure, paragraphing, flow of ideas, and transitions.			0						1				2					3
D.  Information is insightful and captures the readers’ attention; key items are defined and avoids unnecessary jargon.			0						1				2					3
E.  Avoids, clichés, slang, and “to be” verbs; no 1st or 2nd person.			0						1				2					3
Total Points this section (12 possible points)
Descriptor Five:  Conventions		Points Assigned
A.   Consistently uses standard sentence structure (no fragments or run-ons, avoids comma splices and subject/verb agreement is correct.).		0		1			2				3
B.  Sentences begin with a capital letter; proper nouns are capitalized; no unnecessary or arbitrary capitalization.		0		1			2				3
C.  Punctuation is used correctly (commas, parenthesis, semicolons, colons, hyphens, and parenthesis) to include MLA use of brackets, ellipsis, and sic.  Possession is correct.		0		1			2				3
D.  Spelling errors do not distract the reader; numbers under one hundred are spelled out.		0		1			2				3
Total Points this section    (12 possible points)
Descriptive Six:  Information Literacy		Points Assigned
A.  Employs proper MLA page formatting (one-inch margins, double-spaced, does not skip lines between paragraphs, half-inch indent for new paragraphs; uses Times New Roman, 12-point font).		0			1					2										3
B.  Correct header and heading; includes an interesting title; all pages are numbered.		0			1										2
C.  Meets minimum page requirements (3-5; 4-6).		0			1					3										5
D.  Correct MLA internal parenthetical citation format (context, author and page provided for all borrowed material within the text).		0			1					2										3
E. Works cited page is correctly formatted with one-inch margins and title; is in alphabetical order, doubled-spaced with no extra spaces between sources and 2nd line of each source indented.		0			1											2
F.      Works cited sources contain proper quotation marks, italics/underlining, proper order of information and punctuation within citation.		0			1										2							3
G.      Contains at least three (1) print source, one (1) internet , one (1) scholarly journal		0			1					3									4
Total Points this section  (22 possible points)
Conscientiously and consistently demonstrates integrity in citing practices – paper is not plagiarized.   Any student who plagiarizes will automatically fail with no appeal – this includes the lack of or improper internal documentation and the omission of a works cited page.  If “Yes” total final score; if “No” student receives a zero and fails the paper.		Yes										No
Total Points Earned (Final Score)
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