18 Works Cited Page // Due the week of Feb. 2, 2015

Hi Everyone!

This week we talked about two main things:

1. 5 Rules for finding good research online
1. Do not use Wikipedia as a source**
1. **You can sometimes use facts from Wikipedia if you cite the place where the facts came from—instead of just Wikipedia. You can find the citation information if you click on the little blue number that can be seen right after the good fact. 
2. Do not use websites that get their information from the public—such as Answers.com, or any other comment-sourced pages.
3. Be wary of ".com" websites. The most trustworthy are ".edu," ".gov," and ".org."
4. If a website is not well-designed or well-written, it's probably not very legitimate.
5. Websites associated with well-known news sources or programs tend to be trustworthy on their facts (although not always unbiased in their opinions)—i.e.: Time Magazine, BBC News, etc
2. Using EasyBib.com to create a works cited page for your paper.
1. Every research paper needs a "works cited" page in order to show readers where information was gathered.
2. Each citation on this page must have a particular formatting (in this case, MLA)
3. Easybib.com asks for specific necessary citation information, and then takes it all and puts it into the format for you—yay!
4. Make sure to tell it to display the URL (or copy and paste it at the bottom of each citation yourself) so you can easily visit the website later on.
5. Copy and paste each finished citation into a document (saved with your name at the top) in Google Drive in the folder marked: "Works Cited Pages."
6. Title it: Works Cited 

So that said, your homework is:

1. Find at least 6 websites that look like they have good information.
1. Scan through the information.
2. You don't need to write down any facts yet—just make sure it looks like a helpful website for your topic.
2. Using Easybib.com, create citations for each of your 6+ sources.
3. Create a works cited page in Google Drive in the folder "Works Cited Pages."

Email me if you have questions or still are having trouble getting onto Google Drive!!!

17 Thesis Statements // Due the week of Jan. 28, 2015

Hi Everyone!

This week, we started working with Google Drive! I am emailing you the login info tonight, so email me if you don't get that email :)

You will go into Google Drive (google.com/drive), research and think about several of the topics in the "Research Paper Topics" page, and then claim one by writing your name and your created thesis next to it!

Keep in mind, it is not claimed until you have your name and your thesis next to it. If someone else picks your topic and your chosen opinion on that topic and claims it before you get to it, you'll have to pick another.

Email me if you have any questions!

16 Introduction and Conclusion // Due the week of Jan. 15, 2015

Hi Everyone!

Last week, you should have completed three body paragraphs on a particular topic/thesis.

This week, we learned what makes a good introduction and conclusion!

For homework, write an introduction and conclusion that go with your three body paragraphs from last week, put them all together into a document, and bring them next week! (You can take out all of the underlining and highlighting).

1. Introduction
1. Start off with ONE attention grabber to engage your reader
1. Question: Are you looking to get a pet sometime soon? If so, you should be educated on what the best pet truly is.
2. Joke: Do you want to get a dragon as a pet? Well, too bad—you can't. But you can get the next best thing: a cat!
3. Quotation: Abraham Lincoln once said, "If you're going to get a pet, the only pet to get is a cat!"
4. Interesting Fact/Statistic: People with cats are 98% happier than people with any other animal.
5. Noise: Bang! Wham! Crash! If you don't want to hear those noises in the middle of the night, don't get a dog. Instead—get a cat!
2. Your attention-grabber can then lead into your thesis which ALWAYS comes after the attention grabber.
1. Cats are the best pet to get because they are friendly, clean, and inexpensive.
2. Body Paragraph 1 (R1)
3. Body Paragraph 2 (R2)
4. Body Paragraph 3 (R3)
5. Conclusion
1. Do not bring in any new reasons or evidence. 
2. Sum up your paper.
3. Potentially do a "call to action"
1. Therefore, if you want to experience the joys of pet ownership, go out and get yourself a cat!

15 Ethos, Pathos, Logos Paragraphs // Due the week of Jan. 7, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week's homework is fairly complicated, so hopefully this blog post can explain it well enough! Email me if you're still confused :)

8 Steps of Homework:

1. Pick one of your 15 thesis statements (one you haven't written an outline on yet) that you find interesting and exciting to you!
2. Write an outline for that thesis statement like we did last week. **See bottom of post for the outline format. 
3. Make sure that each body paragraph has at least 1 instance each of Logos, Pathos, and Ethos:
1. Logos: Facts, Statistics, Reasonings that prove your reason from your thesis
2. Pathos: Emotional or personal story that demonstrates the truth of your reason from your thesis
3. Ethos: Quotation or statement from an expert (i.e.: doctor, scientist, expert, etc) that backs up your reason from your thesis
4. Write out all three body paragraphs (As paragraphs, not outlines), starting each with a topic sentence and ending each with a concluding sentence.
5. Include and underline all 6 dress-ups:
1. Because Clause
2. Who/Which Clause
3. Adverbial Clause
4. Adverb
5. Strong Verb
6. Imagery
6. Print off your 3 paragraphs, double-spaced
7. Take three different colored markers/highlighters and for each paragraph:
1. Highlight the example of Logos one color
2. Highlight the example of Pathos a different color
3. Highlight the example of Ethos a different color
8. Make a key at the top or on the back for what colors correspond to what types of evidence

**Outline Format:

1. Introduction
1. Thesis: Opinion because reason1, reason2, and reason3.
2. Body paragraph about reason1
1. Reason/detail/fact/example 1
2. Reason/detail/fact/example 2
3. Reason/detail/fact/example 3
4. Reason/detail/fact/example 4
3. Body paragraph about reason2
1. Reason/detail/fact/example 1
2. Reason/detail/fact/example 2
3. Reason/detail/fact/example 3
4. Reason/detail/fact/example 4
4. Body paragraph about reason3
1. Reason/detail/fact/example 1
2. Reason/detail/fact/example 2
3. Reason/detail/fact/example 3
4. Reason/detail/fact/example 4
5. Conclusion

14 Persuasive Paper: Outline // Due the week of Dec. 17, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, we learned how the thesis provides the foundation for the outline—which is the basic structure of the persuasive essay!

It looks like this:

1. Introduction
1. Thesis: Opinion because reason1, reason2, and reason3.
2. Body paragraph about reason1
1. Reason/detail/fact/example 1
2. Reason/detail/fact/example 2
3. Reason/detail/fact/example 3
4. Reason/detail/fact/example 4
3. Body paragraph about reason2
1. Reason/detail/fact/example 1
2. Reason/detail/fact/example 2
3. Reason/detail/fact/example 3
4. Reason/detail/fact/example 4
4. Body paragraph about reason3
1. Reason/detail/fact/example 1
2. Reason/detail/fact/example 2
3. Reason/detail/fact/example 3
4. Reason/detail/fact/example 4
5. Conclusion

So for example, it could look like this:

1. Introduction
1. Thesis: Cats are the best pet because they are clean, inexpensive, and friendly
2. Clean
1. They use litter boxes.
2. Veterinarian Dr. Richard Brant said, "Cats are 93% more sanitary than dogs."
3. They clean themselves.
4. Their saliva only has 2 types of germs.
3. Inexpensive
1. They cost $50 to buy—$100 less than dogs.
2. They don't eat very much.
3. They don't need much clothing or many toys.
4. They don't live as long as dogs, so they cost less over time.
4. Friendly
1. They like to cuddle 40% more than birds and reptiles.
2. They have smiles consistently on their faces.
3. They have the ability to sense when people are sad and help comfort them.
4. 3/4 cats has a friendly personality.
5. Conclusion

So for homework:

1. Write 2 outlines
1. One of them can be the one you did in class
2. The other must be new
2. Requirements:
1. 3 body paragraphs
2. At least 4 pieces of evidence for each body paragraph
3. Must be typed and printed out
4. Does not need dress-ups

13 Persuasive Paper: The Thesis // Due the week of Dec. 8, 2014

Hi Everyone!

A thesis is a statement of your opinion that you will proceed to defend in a persuasive essay (in which you are trying to persuade your readers to act or think a certain way). For the purposes of this class, we will take the thesis one step further (a step which will greatly help you with your organization later on).

For this class, a persuasive thesis should have what you think and three reasons that support your opinion. Basically, a what and a why.

Formula:

• Th = O + R1 + R2 + R3
• Thesis = Opinion + Reason1 + Reason2 + Reason3
• ie:
• (This is true) because (this), (this,) and (this).
• Example: 
• Cats are the best animal in the world because they are clean, useful, and good companions.

Take an opinion on the following 15 topics and write a thesis statement for each. Each should be a complete sentence with a clear opinion and 3 reasons. Underline the "because" in each thesis statement.

1. All students should have daily chores.
2. Every home should have a pet.
3. Every student should play a musical instrument.
4. Homework should be banned.
5. School uniforms should be required.
6. Year round education is better for students.
7. Children should not be allowed to drink soda.
8. PE should be required of all students throughout middle and high school.
9. All students should be required to volunteer in the community.
10. Corporal punishment should be allowed in schools.
11. The Internet should be banned from schools.
12. Junk food should be banned from schools.
13. All parents should be required to attend parenting classes before having a child.
14. All students should be required to learn a foreign language in middle school.
15. All museums should be free to the public.
    
    
    Email me if you have questions!

12 Writing Get-Back-to-Basics-Before-Essays! // Due the week of Dec. 2, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, I just want you to spend some time enjoying writing! I want you to write 3-4 pages of anything you'd like, from paragraphs about neat topics like crocodiles or black holes, to short stories, to poems, to journal entries, etc—as long as it's writing!

You don't need to do the dress-ups for this project—just enjoy the joy of writing!

When we come back we'll get started on the essay.