TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a great Veteran’s Day Assembly today with Mrs. Spalla’s son as the keynote speaker. He is a graduate of the Naval Academy and has fought in Iraq. I get very teary during this annual assembly as my late father, Philip Allen Farnham, served in the Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy. During his funeral, members from the armed services played “Taps,” so whenever I hear it, it really chokes me up. I wish that I would have told him how much I appreciated his service to his country when he was still alive. I love you, Dad!
SAT PREP: Today you took your other helping verbs quiz, then I checked your index cards for quiz #4 on Monday, then we discussed the strategy notes you took on the essay yesterday. HW: Study for Vocab. Quiz #4.
American Lit.: 1st period – We read half of Ben Franklin’s Almanac and disucssed an upcoming assignment with Ben Franklin. 3rd and 6th period, we discussed the paper more in depth. Here is a re-cap of our discusssion and the notes I gave:
Q. What is the difference between a thematic essay and a research paper?
A. The thematic essay is all your own thoughts on how your chosen theme functions throughout the play. You may not use outside sources for this one. The research paper is your narrowed down chosen topic, with three outside sources, and is all your own writing, using experts’ ideas.
Q. How do I get started on my research paper?
Here are my suggested steps:
1. Pre-research a topic. Start broad. Choose from: Salem Witch Trials, Arthur Miller, The Cruciblie, or Modern Day Witch Hunts. Read about your select topic and find a topic within your topic that you want to know more about. Plug that topic back into Google and then find three good sources.
2. Use your Determining Reliable Websites handout to figure out if you can use that source or not. If you can’t find all of the information from the website, then DON’T USE IT! Even if it has the best information in the world!
3. Skim your source to see if it has good information. If it does, print it out. Read it and highlight the important facts.
4. Then, paraphrase the important facts ENTIRELY in your own words in the margin.
5. Then, spread all three sources out in front of you and decide what kind of organization your paper needs. Chronological? By ideas? By different examples?
6. Make a mini-outline to organize your paper:
I. Intro. – Write out thesis
II. Body Paragraph #1 – Main Idea
III. Body Paragraph #2 – Main Idea
IV. Body Paragraph #3 – Main Idea
V. Conclusion
7. Write your rough draft BUT make sure to:
- Use parenthetical citation when necessary after each sentence of PARAPHRASED and SPECIFIC information.
- USE at least two DIFFERENT sources in each body paragraph.
- EXAMPLE of a parenthetical citation: Many people falsely assume that the people accused and executed were different than the societal norm, but in fact, they were Puritan conformists and fit very well into Salem Society (Burns 8).
I suggested to you that this weekend you complete your artistic portion and the rough draft for your research paper.
Remember to meet me in the media center Monday and Tuesday!!!
10th honors lit.: We finished our discussion through Ch. 24 and talked about our portfolio. HW: Ch. 28 and work on your research paper. I sent everyone an email. The research paper rough draft is due Tues. Your topic/thesis/sources are due Monday. We are in the media center for the last time on Wed.
Have a good weekend!
Email me if you have questions.
Mrs. B 
