Thursday, April 15

Thursday, April 15

Typed final drafts of your research papers and works cited are due tomorrow!

Today:
Read all directions before getting started.

1. Create a new Word document for your works cited.
2. Change your font to Courier NOW! (it will help you later)
   
3. The words Works Cited should be centered at the top.
4. The entire document should be double spaced. Do not put extra space in between citations.
5. Works Cited Basics: Alphabetize your source cards; type your source cards into your Word document following these directions; type continuously (ONLY hit return in between source cards) and do all of the reverse indent formatting at the end; the auto-format feature will want to eliminate the < > symbols for your internet sites; type it in twice and you will over-ride this auto-format feature!
   
6. Do no format the reverse indent until you have typed in each entry. Complete reverse indent at the end. I will help you individually as this can be a little bit tricky.
7. Do not put a heading on the works cited page.
8. Be conscientious about all capitals, periods, commas, quotation marks, < >, etc.
9. When you are done typing your works cited page, continue typing, improving, and editing your body paragraphs...

- When I read your final draft, will I think you are an expert or just know the basics?
- When I read your final draft, will I think you worked on the writing process and fluency, or just stating information?

Formatting instructions for your final draft of the research paper and works cited:
- Look at the back page of the original packet that I gave you about the project about the heading and title.
- Font- 12 point font.
- Font type- Courier
- Insert page numbers if you know how.
- Double-space the entire document.
- Paragraphs should NOT have labels (for example, do not put the word "introduction" above the introduction).

April 13, 2010

April 13, 2010

Mac Lab Goals:
- Keep on typing your rough draft.

- Type your introduction, 3-4 body paragraphs, and conclusion.

- Use your topic sentence packet in order to write each topic sentence for your body paragraphs.

- Don't worry about most formatting, but by the end of class, do the following:

1. double space
2. type your name and class period at the top of the page
3. PRINT to the Mac Lab printer (MSLABHP4200) right at the end of the period and keep this draft for tomorrow.
4. No one will be allowed to print tomorrow, so even if you have two or three paragraphs, please print at the end of the period!

Monday, April 12- Working on Rough Drafts

Monday, April 12

Working on Rough Drafts

- Step 1- Read this entire blog post.

- Step 2- Open Word; if you have already created a document use that document; save early and often!

- Step 3- Start typing all of your paragraphs! Use your hand-written rough drafts and start typing your body paragraphs.

• Do not worry about any headings, format issues, font, titles, etc.
• We will follow a common format; you can always format your document last.

- Step 4- Use your topic sentence packet to start each body paragraph. Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence from the topic sentence packet.

- Step 5- Follow your outline in order to organize what information is in each paragraph.

- Step 6- Use transitions to link ideas and paragraphs together.

- Step 7- If you want to work on typing/body paragraphs at home, you need to transport this document electronically back and forth between school and home. OR- I am more than happy to write passes for homework club for any students this week.

Ways to transport your document:

• - copy and paste in the body of an e-mail; work on it at home, then copy and paste it into Word at home and repeat to get it back to school
• - attach the Word document to an e-mail and work on it at home and school
• - use Google Docs
• - use a flash drive

Friday, April 9

Friday, April 9

Today:
- continue research; go deeper!; are you an expert about your disease OR have you just covered the basics?
OR
- start typing (and saving in your LA folder) your introduction and conclusion into a Word document
- don't worry about any formatting yet; these instructions will be given next week; you can always go back and re-format

This Weekend:
- continue to revise and edit your introduction and conclusion; share it with your parents
- work on your outline; this is your ticket into the MacLab on Monday, April 12

Next Week:
- typing, revising, and editing our research papers
- final draft of research paper with a works cited - due Friday, April 16!

Reliable Websites- Disease Research

March 31, 2010

- In addition to finishing yesterday's work, please complete the following task today.

1. Come up with a Top Ten Disease Research Website list.

2. You have two options of how to share this information.
- The best way is to post the list on your blog and use the "link" feature.
- You should title the blog post- Top Ten Disease Research Websites.
- Under each link to a reliable website, write a short description of why it seems like a good place to complete research.

Example:
Web MD
* This website is a great place to obtain general information about many health conditions. It has useful, up to date articles.

- If you can't get into your blog, complete this on a Word document.

Getting Ready to Write Research Papers

March 30, 2010

Today's Objectives:
- Practice basic computer skills and Word skills.
- Bookmark medical websites into your account using Google bookmarks or the Firefox/Safari book marks.
- Find examples of medical websites and start evaluating them for reliability.

Procedure:
- Read this entire post before starting today's tasks.
- First, open a blank Word document.
- Save it in your Language Arts folder. Name it - (your last name).docx, for example, Collopy.docx. Call Ms. Collopy over and prove to her that you have saved it in the correct folder.
- It's o.k. to help each other do this properly.
- Then, answer the following questions on the Word document in complete sentences.
1. What is a Works Cited or a Bibliography? Is there a difference between the two?
2. What is the best way to do internet research on a topic that you don't know very much about?
3. How do you know if a website is reliable and has correct information?
4. Why is it NOT acceptable to copy and paste information from a website into your own notes?
5. Why is Wikipedia considered unreliable in most academic areas?
6. What is the difference between closing an application and quitting out of an application? How do you quit out of an application? How do you close an application?

- After you answer those questions, complete the following formatting tasks:
(remember: View, then Formatting Palette to open the helpful formatting palette!)
(also, if you don't understand the icons on the Formatting Palette, you should hover your mouse/cursor over the icon and it will tell you what the icon means)
- number your answers using the bulleting and numbering feature.
- make the first word of each response bold
- make the last word of each response italicized
- put a proper heading at the top of the paper, but align it to the right
- put a title below the heading, but above the answers that says: Research Questions
- center that title
- select the whole text, by using Edit, then Select All or Open Apple/Command A
- make all of the text Courier font
- make all of the text 10 point font
- select the whole/entire text again and double space your whole document (using the formatting palette!)
- Have you saved your document lately? It is a good idea to use the File, then Save command or Open Apple/Command S and save what you are working on periodically.
- Print this document to the MacLab printer. Make sure it isn't being routed somewhere else. Look up to the chalkboard to make sure you have the correct printer name selected.

After you turn this document into Ms. Collopy, please complete the following task.

- Goal: Find ten different websites that would be appropriate for completing research about a disease.
- Once you find a website that you think looks reliable, scroll down toward the bottom and find the organization that maintains it.
- If you think you have found a good website, create a bookmark to keep track of it. Don't just bookmark the website, create a folder (name it Disease Research).
- Do you know how to use Google bookmarks? Feel free to try! These are more reliable and you can access them anywhere.
- You can also just use the bookmarks that Firefox provides.
- If you find ten websites before the end of class, just keep on going and find more! Websites can be specific to diseases if you want.



Direction Reading Bonus:
* If you are still reading this post, come get a post-it from Ms. Collopy and write your name on it for an extra credit bonus!

Word Wall as of February 10

Word Wall

The Word Wall in Ms. Collopy's room is standing extra credit. In order to earn extra credit, use the following words in meaningful sentences. Meaningful sentences demonstrate a true understanding of the definition and correct usage of the word. Sometimes, it is necessary to write more than one sentence in order to demonstrate this understanding. Each high-quality sentence is worth a possible two points. The maximum amount of extra credit awarded per quarter is 50 points.

Current List:

• inundate
• traverse
• municipal
• succulent
• fluctuate
• synchronize
• dilapidated
• divulge
• enigma
• voracious
• bipartisan
• gregarious
• adversary
• tenacious
• definitive
• bicameral
• maniacal
• degenerate
• cartographer
• antecedents
• invigorate
• formidable
• bulwark
• outlandish
• overwhelm