Research

On Wednesday, the formal outline for the research paper was due. Students were asked to include ALL note cards, and proofread it before turning it in during class. They also were required to capitalize the first letter of each entry and proper nouns, as well as make sure that the outline is in a logical order. If you have not had a chance to look this over, please ask your student to share it with you.

The rest of the process should be easier once the outline is completed. Students are working on the rough draft of the BODY paragraphs, and the typed, first draft is due Monday. The complete and edited rough draft is due Thursday, and the title page is due Friday.

The final paper is due on Wednesday, October 13. Hooray...

Thanks for checking the blog.

Research Note Crads and Outline are Due

ALL note cards (approzimately 100, depending on the topic) are due at the beginning of class on Tuesday.

The Outline is due Wednesday - students may choose between Webspiration or Word to complete the outline.

Students have been cautioned about leaving research materials at home or in their lockers. It is crucial that they bring all materials and FLASHDRIVE to class every day. We are meeting in the Media Center this week where we have 1/2 the period at tables and 1/2 the period at computers.

Progress reports will be handed out on Tuesday. Please review them with your student before signing and returning them to me.

Thursday is picture day, so please make sure you have your form filled out and bring a check. All students will have their photos taken whether or not they are making a purchase.

Thanks for checking the blog!

Research this week!!!! HOORAY!

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, students will be in the Media Center working on their works consulted pages. They should have already finished their source cards and begun highlighting important facts (not sentences) on their sources. Everything for the research project must be brought to class daily.... including a flashdrive.

There were technical issues with the laptops while we were in the Media Center on Wednesday. Students are using EASYBIB, which is an easy way of doing the Works Consulted page. Your student is welcome to continue this at home, and they had time in class to complete it. They must have an email address and password to do this.

If your student has not shown me their source cards along with the physical sources, they may do that without a penalty by Thursday since there were technical issues on Wednesday.

Students should already be working on note cards following the guidelines given in class.

Thanks for your continued support.

Curriculum Night is Wednesday at 7 PM

We are looking forward to your presencen this Wednesday night at Curriculum Night. Starting at 7 PM, this is an great opportunity for you to follow your student's schedule and get a sense of daily activities. If you cannot be present that night, please ask your student to bring home a packet from my class. Your student will receive extra credit in LA if you sign in on a clipboard in my room that night. Extra credit is also offered to any student who participates in the Young Author's Conference on October 23 (Please check the District website for more information.).

By now I hope you have had a chance to view your student's progress, both by the progress report I passed out last week and online. A few students have not turned in some activities, and I suspect that it is because they forgot to turn them in, not because they did not complete them. Students who are absent are still responsible for all activities. I would appreciate your reminding your student to turn in activities for all classes. Perhaps there is an assignment or two in a
locker or backpack... ;)

As always, please check my blog for information about LA. Our schedule has been altered due to the MAP testing, but we still have time for all research components, as long as your student has found all the research sources OUTSIDE of class. Research sources should be photo-copied or printed so your student may write on them during class. Brooks Media Center computers are NOT available to students until after 9/21 due to MAP testing.

If your student has a question/concern about an activity or score, please direct him/her to speak directly to me outside of class. Please let me know of any additional email addresses I may add for your student's support system outside of school.

Research update

Due to the MAP testing schedule next week, students need to find research sources as homework.

In order to maximize our use of the Media Center, students are required to find a minimum of five sources for their research paper OUTSIDE OF CLASS. Please access the Oak Park Public Library, internet, and Media Center (before school and at lunch), outside of class.

Sources need to be reputable and photo-copied / printed before they are brought to class. Please make sure to copy the identifying info (article name, author, date of publication, website address, etc.) for access later.

Remember that all sources must reveal new information for use on the note cards, and at least three different types of sources (magazine, encyclopedia, non-fiction book, etc.) are required. Wikipedia is NOT allowed.


Research Source BONUS!!! WOW!!!!!!!!

Use your Oak Park Public Library card and get reputable sources for FREE from home. Log on to the Oak Park Public Library site with your library card and id #.

1. Click on Research,

2. Click on Online Tools,

3. Type in keyword and click source type: Magazines, Newspapers, Databases, etc.

LA Progress Report passed out today

Since there has been a flurry of activities and paperwork, I passed out progress reports today so your student can check if he/she is up to date. I will pass them out periodically, and I would like you to sign and return them after reviewing them with your student. It is possible that your student turned in an item after they were printed. It is best if your student returns the copy I gave out to me, rather
than emailing me that you received it.

The Research Process Requirements and the Research Schedule handouts are both on my blog under "handouts" (to the right of this message). Students have organized all of their research elements into their Research folders that will stay in the class setting for the time being. The due dates are very specific, and your student knows that activities are expected when due. If there are any changes to the schedule, I will update the schedule online.

Thanks for your support. I am amazed at the eagerness and humor of our core and honored to be working with your children.