Tuesday Night In-Class Work

Please respond to the following in the comments section:


1. On a scale of 1-10, how far along are you with your research and planning for your paper?
2. Explain your rating.
3. What do you have left to do?
4. How much of that did you accomplish during class? (You should move up at least 1-2 "points" with the time!)

Coming up...

Nice work on the satellite topics, everyone! I've also heard from a number of you, and I'm glad to know researching these additional topics has helped expand your work, and put your GB in greater context...

For Tuesday, as you know, your prospectus is due. In addition, we will use class for some surface-level writing issues. Finally, I would like to have an open Q&A about your papers as we move into the final stage. Please come to class with any questions at all about your project--don't worry if the questions are very specific to your paper...that's what I want! We can all learn from each other's work...

See you Tuesday!

Satellite Research

As discussed in class, please post your "satellite" research here (if you haven't already done so in the previous post). Thanks!

In-class exercise, Tuesday

Now that the actual Research Paper is in our sites, it will be helpful to look at a successful one closely.

Go to this site: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/dean/50/2008papers/aiello.pdf , which features an award-winning essay from one of my previous Writing 50 sections (it was named the best Writing 50 paper of the year!)

Read the paper closely, then answer the following questions. Give yourself plenty of time to read it, think about it, and express your ideas.

1. Why do you think this essay was singled out as a good example of a research paper?
2. What do YOU think is the best aspect of it? Why?
3. What do you notice about the research?
4. How does reading this affect your plans for your own paper?

Since you are getting class time to complete this, your response is due by 11 pm this evening.

Sample Annotated Bibliography Format

Here's a good website with a document embedded that shows an appropriate format for an AB: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/7477/MLA-Format-for-Annotated-Bibliographies

Please note that this is being used for formatting issues only--often ABs have different needs in terms of the annotations themselves...

Just to clarify...

I think there may be some confusion about what, exactly, I want you to bring to class tomorrow, so to clear it up...

1. Your 8 sources, thoroughly read...and annotations (drafts) for each.

2. The handouts in the previous post (that you have to download).

I just wanted to make sure that everyone brings rough drafts of annotations along with the sources...see you tomorrow!

Important: Please print out this file for Tuesday

The file found here has three pages you will need for Tuesday's class...please download it and print it out!

Also, don't forget to bring your eight sources...

See you tomorrow!

DOWNLOAD FILE: http://www.sendspace.com/file/dwoc37

Nice job so far! (AB)

Thanks for posting your initial research on Thursday night--I'm excited to see where you all go with the Annotated Bibliography, and ultimately, your Research Paper.

Please remember to bring eight credible sources to class on Tuesday, along with rough drafts of annotations for each, so that we can "test out" our research with our classmates.

On Tuesday, we will also discuss "satellite research," along with formatting, etc.

Post Tonight's (Thursday) Research Exercise Here

As discussed in class...

In the comments below, please include the following:

1. Your name
2. The name of the person you are planning on researching
3. The focus area of that research
4. The citation information for four sources you can use in the AB

Updated schedule/due dates

Considering the change in plans from last week, here is the new schedule for the course:

Tues, 8/17: Two copies of the rough draft of your CD paper due.

Thurs, 8/19: CD Paper due; introduction of Annotated Bibliography

Tues, 8/25: Have GB selected for AB; bring 8 credible sources to class

Thurs, 8/27: Annotated Bibliography due; Thesis Exercise in class

Tues, 9/1: Prospectus due

Thurs, 9/3: Bring all sources/materials for RP to class

Tues, 9/8: Rough draft of RP due in class

Thurs, 9/10: Research paper due

A little something to help with research

In class, we mentioned that using the "subject specific" databases can be very helpful for your research. You can find help by subject here: http://guides.library.ucsb.edu/

Going in there and searching for your GB's can result in some very interesting sources! Don't just look in their field (say, John Coltrane in music), but also in their other connected disciplines (John Coltrane and Religion, or with Politics).

Hope this helps! See you Tuesday with two copies of your rough draft!

New schedule/exercise

Hi Everyone--


Thanks again for your understanding about today's canceled class.  As you can guess, we will need to re-arrange a bit, so here's the new schedule (and assignment for Tuesday).

1.  On Tuesday, please bring two copies of rough draft of the CD Paper.  It should be typed, and complete--just in rough draft form.  We will use class to discuss writing, and revise the papers.

2.  Then, on Thursday, the final draft of the CD Paper is due.  On that day, we will dive into the next project.

3.  To help create the rough draft, I suggest using the following exercise.  You don't have to do it, but I think it will help quite a bit.

Working in smaller steps makes the writing process much smoother, so tonight we will tackle the elements of the paper little by little…and suddenly, a rough draft will be before us. 

Take all of your materials and head over to the library.   Then complete the following steps:

1.  Locate your remaining three sources.  At this point, you have three credible sources for your paper.  Think about what you have so far—what does it teach you?  how will it support you?  Then, ask yourself what you don’t know about each GB, and find your additional three sources. 

2.  Once you have those additional three sources, take all of your things and head somewhere that you can write…and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.  Answer each question thoroughly (in paragraph form where asked) to create the “building blocks” of your rough draft.

            *  Who is your first GB?  In a paragraph, explain who he/she is.

            *  How does your first GB relate to a discipline outside of his/her own?  Explain.

            *  Locate at least one direct quote from each source about this person that you might use in the paper.

            *  Who is your second GB?  In a paragraph, explain who he/she is.

            *  How does your second GB relate to a discipline outside of his/her own?  Explain.

            *  Locate at least one direct quote from each source about this person that you might use in the paper.

            *  Who is your third GB?  In a paragraph, explain who he/she is.

            *  How does your third GB relate to a discipline outside of his/her own?  Explain.

            *  Locate at least one direct quote from each source about this person that you might use in the paper.

3.  Finally, go to the blog, and respond to the questions in the most recent post by midnight tonight.

If you earnestly organize your work like this, and tackle it in these steps, you can do well.  Take this work to create your rough draft.... 

           

IMPORTANT NOTE: Class for Thursday, 8/12 is CANCELED

You read that right--there is NO class tomorrow (Thursday).  I will post a make-up assignment (and new schedule) to the blog shortly.  Sorry for any confusion!

In class today...(and post your work here)

Today (Tuesday) we covered the following:


1.  The "weight" of sources.
2.  Tips for reading sources/taking notes.
3.  Tips for writing
4.  Sharing our "Four Groundbreakers" exercise
5.  The upcoming Cross Disciplinary paper.


On Thursday, we will complete a "building block" exercise...for class, be sure to bring:  

1. Your topic(s) for the CD paper.  Which groundbreakers will you discuss in the paper?  Which disciplines will you connect each to? 
2. At least one credible source per groundbreaker.  When I say to “bring the source,” I mean that you should bring a thoroughly read/digested piece that you can discuss in writing.  Please either bring the source itself (marked up/etc.) and/or your thorough notes.  (For your paper, you will need to have six sources, but I am only requiring three for Thursday.  If you have more by then, please bring them, too…)

Please email me with any questions at all.  I am a firm believer in completing tasks in steps, and Thursday’s exercise will be an important one in creating an effective paper…

And, as you know from class--please post some of your preliminary work in the comments section here.  By midnight tonight, please respond to the following:

1.  What three gb's will you use for the paper?  

2.  Locate at least one credible source right now.  What is it?  What does it say about the gb? 

Thursday's In-Class Exercise--Post responses here

With Writing 50, I find it is helpful to "dive right in" with our subject matter. Often, 25 students have had 25 different experiences with research in the past, so I like to take a bit of time during the first week to get us all on the same page.

Tonight (Thursday, 8/5), I lectured on academic research and credible sources, but for today, I would like you to complete the library's "Searchpath Tutorial."

The link can be found here: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/learn/

Please complete all levels (there are six), and then respond to the following questions in a "comment" below.  Simply click on "POST A COMMENT" to leave your answers.

1.  What is your name?

2.  List one thing you learned on each of the levels of the tutorial.  

Please note:

*  Make sure your name is in your comment, especially if you use this site "anonymously."

*  Since class time is being given for this, all responses must appear no later than 11pm tonight to receive credit.

Please feel free to email me with any questions at all!

Please print this presentation for Thursday's class

On Thursday, we will go over the basics of credible research. Please print out the powerpoint presentation found here:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/tvwi10

(Just follow directions for downloading)

...and bring it to class!

Welcome!

This blog will be a place for sharing research, posting helpful links, and listing important announcements. Please "bookmark" it and check back frequently!