Welcome!

Here is the place for you to do all of your prewriting and editing for your senior project. You will keep records of your research, respond to other students' progress, and receive feedback from Ms. Grandchamp. Use this new and exciting technological tool to enhance your learning.

Monday, March 26, 2012

TWO Research Source Log for Book Source due April 11, 2012

TWO Research Source Logs for Book Source

COPY AND PASTE THIS TO YOUR BLOG TWICE AND FILL OUT THE ANSWERS BY Wednesday April 11, 2012.


Title of the Book (in italics when typed, underlined when written)
 Ex: Twilight

Author(s) or Editor
Ex: Stephanie Meyer

Publisher
 Ex: Little, Brown and Company

Year of Publication 
Ex: 2003

City of Publication
Ex: New York

Mode of Access (Print if you read the actual book, Electronic if you found it online, or through your kindle/nook/ereader):
Ex: Print

Eddition if indicated:
 



FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):
EX: After having known Edward for just a few short months, Bella admits that “it would cause [her] physical pain to be separated from him now" (Meyer 283).







Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

EX: Twilight follows the life of Bella Swan, outcast and wallflower, as she moves from her home in Arizona to Forks. Here she meets, falls in love with, and risks her life for a vampire named Edward. Throughout the story, Edward places her life in danger, and she continually latches onto him. It ends with Edward almost killing her in an attempt to save her life from the danger of another vampire.


Credibility of Source:
Author or Editor: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the editor.


EX for Author: This is the first book that Stephanie Meyer has written, and according to many interviews given, she claims it is a reflection of her own life growing up, and of "vivid dreams" she has.

Attachment: Does the author or editor have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative?


EX: The book was written for entertainment value, and meant to garner a profit.


Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing?

EX: The author is clearly biased toward Bella's love of Edward, as she wrote the book.


References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility?

EX: There are no references, as this is a work of fiction.

Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?

EX: I plan to use this source as a primary reference, and apply psychology to different quotes within the text, bringing out the ridiculousness of Bella's attachment to a vampire.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Final Two Online Sources - Due February 16, 2012

Find the final two online sources and repeat the research chart. Post both sources to your blog by Thursday February 16, 2012.
BY FEBRUARY 16, YOU MUST HAVE 5 ONLINE SOURCES.

The chart can be found in this post:

Senior Project Online Source Log

Thursday, February 2, 2012

When doing research...

When you're doing your research, keep in mind that the research paper will be made up of the following components:
  • Introduction
    • 1st page
    • hook
    • give a brief overview of the problem
    • clearly state your thesis
  • History of the problem
    • 2 pages
    • at least 2 sources cited
    • discuss the origin of the problem and how it has changed
  • Opposing views
    • 1 page
    • at least 1 source cited
    • can be switched in order with your stance, or blended together
    • give information on those who think differently than you on the subject
    • refute the information
  • Your stance
    • 2 pages
    • at least 2 sources cited
    • can be switched in order with opposing views, or blended together
    • where you stand on the subject and why
  • Solution
    • 1 page
    • at least 1 source cited
    • describe how we can begin to solve this problem
  • Conclusion
    • one paragraph
    • restatement of thesis
    • lasting effects on the world if problem goes unaddressed
Make sure that you're choosing quotes and evidence that can support one of these four areas.

Senior Project Online Sources - Due February 9, 2012

Find two more online sources and repeat the research chart. Post both sources to your blog by February 9, 2012.

The chart can be found in this post:

Senior Project Online Source Log

Senior Project Interview Information - Due March 7, 2012

SENIOR PROJECT INTERVIEW - DUE MARCH 7, 2012


As part of your Senior Project, you must interview someone who is connected to your essential question in some way. This can be someone who works within the profession that you're investigating, runs an organization that deals with your topic, or has been personally affected by your topic in some way (i.e., someone who has had cancer if your topic is the negative effects of cancer).

Interview requirements:
  • Identify a person to interview
    • Start with a list of people outside of your family you already know - neighbors, co-workers, supervisors, friends of the family. Professional organizations, organizational directories, and the Yellow Pages are good sources. You may contact an organization, school, or business directly and ask for the name of a person who would be willing to be interviewed.
  • Arrange the interview.
    • Once you have identified the person you wish to interview, you must contact them to set up an appointment. Make sure you clarify your purpose to the person you will be interviewing. You can make this contact:
      • By telephone.
      • By letter, followed by a telephone call
      • In person
      • By having someone who knows the person make the appointment for you.
  • Prepare for the interview.
    • Gather as much information as you can about this person before you conduct the interview. Prepare a list of questions that will help guide your research paper, as you will be using this as a source.
  • Conduct the interview.
    • Dress appropriately, arrive on time, and be polite and professional.
    • Be prepared to spend a minimum of 20-30 minutes with your interviewee. Average 10-20 questions.
    • Let the person know that you will be referencing this information in a documented paper and an oral presentation.
    • If you hope to use a tape recorder, be sure to ask permission first.
    • Take notes (even if you are taping).
    • HAVE YOUR INTERVIEWEE PRINT AND SIGN THEIR NAME ON YOUR NOTES.
  • Follow-up with the interviewee.
    • Immediately following the interview, record the information gathered.
    • Within a week, be sure to send a thank you note to the person you interviewed.
    • POST YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON YOUR BLOG, BUT ALSO TURN IN YOUR NOTES TO MS. GRANDCHAMP.

Sample Questions:
  1. What does this topic mean to you?
  2. How are you connected to this topic?
  3. Do you have first-hand experience with the topic?
  4. How long have you been connected with/affected by this topic?
  5. Do you think this is a serious problem, or something that can be put off?
  6. What are your thoughts on how to improve the problem?
  7. What are your thoughts on the opposing views?

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Senior Project Pathfinder

Hello students!

As you do your research, feel free to use this pathfinder put together by our very own library staff found at The Library Website.

The one that you may find most beneficial is:

World History_Social Problems_ Issues and Welfare.doc

There are others, however, on teen pregnancy and bullying that some of you may wish to use!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Senior Project Online Source - Due Wednesday February 1, 2012

Research Source Log for Online Source

COPY AND PASTE THIS TO YOUR BLOG AND FILL OUT THE ANSWERS BY WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2012.


“Specific Page Title or Article Title”
 Ex: Twilight: A negative influence on teens or just harmless fun?

Primary Contributor to the Website (if given) (author, editor, producer, etc)
Ex: POV

Title of the Entire Website (not www. )
 Ex: CBC News

Publisher or Sponsoring Organization of the website (if given)
Ex: CBC

Date Page was Last Revised
Ex: 10 September 2010

Date You Read It
Ex: 21 January 2012

<URL address> (ALL of it)



FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):
EX: The article cites Maria Nikolajeva, a professor of at Cambridge, as saying that Bella does not "in any way promote independent thinking or personal development" in women, instead portraying a woman "meek and willing to do anything for her vampire boyfriend" (POV).







Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

EX: POV brings together information from a Cambridge conference in which professors of literature examine Twilight's effect on teenagers. Many of the sources cited talk about the negative affect on women that the books have had.  The writer then turns around and asks the reader to take a poll, which is noted as not being scientific, to see what the general populance thinks on this issue.

Credibility of Source:
Author or Site: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the site. What is the purpose of the site? Who funds the site?

EX for Author: POV is simply a penname for an anonymous author. It stands for Point of View, and the majority of the articles written on the news cite are simply there to ask the opinion of the reader, and rehash someone else's research.

EX for Site: CBC News is one of the main news associations in Canada, and the purpose seems to be to bring the news to the people. The articles are meant to inspire discussion, not so much force an opinion.

Attachment: Does the author or site have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative? For example, is it a cigarette business posting an article about the benefit of cigarettes, or is it a scientific community unaffiliated with the cigarette business?

EX: Other than keeping a job with the Canadian News, it seems the variety of articles displays a lack of attachment.

Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing?

EX: There is a slight bias in the fact that only the negative effects of Twilight are mentioned, not the positive.

References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility?

EX: The author uses Cambridge professors in his/her argument, making it stronger, as they are professors of literature.


Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?

EX: I plan to use this source to support my opinion that Twilight has a negative effect on teenagers, and also use it as a jumping off point for other sources, as it has a link to an MSNBC article about this issue.