Research Paper INTRODUCTIONS

You are to write a one-page introduction to your research paper.  Be sure to have a good opening - some kind of an attention-getter for your audience. Start with a general background of the thesis and move closer and more specific until the end of the introduction, where you will write your thesis (and underline it). 

In your reply to your peers, be sure to reply to two peers who have not already had two replies.  If you do, you will be asked to do a third one to someone who did not get two replies.  Try to get your introductions done early so that you do not hold anyone up until the last minute on Sunday night.  Be sure to critique the introductions, making suggestions for both mechanics and for content.  If there is a need to improve sentence structure, be specific.  If the introduction is chaotic, then please offer suggestions.

            BE SURE TO HELP YOUR PEER WRITE A BETTER INTRODUCTION

A Dilemma

You discover that your neighbor has lost his job.  His wife is ill and cannot work.  They have six children ranging in ages from 1 1/2 to 8 years of age.  There is no money for Christmas gifts.  A few of the local churches have provided the family some charity but it is not enough to satisfy their many financial obligations. One of the children suffers from diabetes and the medical expenses are eating this family.

You are riding along the turnpike and decide to use the restroom facilities at one of the rest stops.  As you enter, no one else is around.  You are alone.  You see a nice looking bag sitting in the corner.  You open it.  There is a note claiming that the money in the bag is a total of $10,000.00.  The note also says "whoever gets this bag of money and this note, you must either keep all of the money or give it away to one person."  You have no idea who left the money there. What would you do?

Research Assessment

Since you are in the midst of writing your research paper and still investigating the various types of credible research that you can use to support your paper and to give credibility to your position in the paper, I would like to ask you to choose what you consider your BEST piece of research. 

First, write the thesis to your research paper.

Space

Now, write the reference to the piece of research you think is the BEST of what you are using.

Finally, write 1/2 page explaining why you consider this reference so important to your paper.  Annotate the reference (you can use the annotation from your assignment last week if you want). But add your own input as to how this will specifically help you either in your subpoints or in refuting one of your objections.

Be sure to respond to two of your peers also with substantial input.

OBJECTIONS TO YOUR THESIS

Your task for this week's blog is to post your revised thesis first.  Use 14 pt. font to do this.  Skip a space and then list 3-4 possible objections that you might expect in a debate against your thesis.  Be sure to number each of them.  After each objection, skip another space and explain how you plan to respond to the objection (your refutation).  At this point if you have a piece of research to help support your refutation, you can use it here too.  Be sure to cite it though.  

Make sure you skip a space between each section to help your peers read it better.  You can also color code everything.  For example, you can use red for your thesis.  Use blue for each objection.  Use purple for each refutation.  This really helps anyone who reads your post to know exactly what you are doing.

Be sure to respond to at least two of your peers.  Choose someone who has not already had two responses to their post.  Good Luck 

Annotated Bibliography

Ok we are going to practice in this blog on how to follow instructions on writing an Annotated Bibliography (instructions in your research packet).  You will need to have three sources from the regular Internet and one non-Internet source for this assignment.  Don't worry about the title for the page - just list the references properly and using the instructions, write out your annotations and bibliography. Good Luck   Please remember to provide feedback to at least two of your peers (preferrably those who do not already have feedback given).

Introduction to Research

Let's get an early start.  Your research question will be due shortly.  How many topics have you researched or considered?  Your task here is to provide at least three topics for consideration (be sure you love the topics and are passionate about them).  Explain what you would like to learn about each topic.  Then write at least one (maybe two) possible research questions about each of the three topics.  Be sure to use proper grammar and punctuation.

Finally, respond to two of your peers.  Choose a peer who has not already had two responses from someone.  This will ensure that each of you will get advice, comments, suggestions from two of your peers.  Post early enough that you do indeed get responses early.  If you wait until the last minute to post, you may not get any suggestions.  Good Luck

The Fall of the House of Usher

After reading background material on Edgar Alan Poe and his short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher," explain in your own words how this story relates to the author and the darker side of the American Romantic Era.  Also, choose 2-3 events in the story itself to expand and discuss.  You should use your own perceptive minds to complete this exercise. How does he create that "one single emotion early in the story?  Credit will not be given to blogs that use outside sources for this particular assignment. 

Emerson and Nature

After reading the background on Ralph Waldo Emerson, and his "Nature" - discuss why you believe he is referred to as a transcendentalist (use should research information on transcendentalism).  Whenever using secondary information, be sure to cite it at the end of your blog. 

PREPARATION FOR RESEARCH PAPER

In preparation for the Research Paper Project in Quarter 2, you will need to start thinking of possible topics (search the internet, library, magazines, etc.) that pose some kind of an argument.  In this blog, you should list two argumentative topics (underline each of the two topics) that you would like to explore for your paper.  In thinking about a topic, make sure you are passionate about the topic because you will be with it the entire 2nd quarter.  Some of last year's topics dealt with the following:  Marcellus Shale - good or bad for the area?  Do sports programs in high schools enhance or detract from the academic agenda?  Are schools, universities, and professional sports programs dealing with the seriousness of concussions?  Is attending university, with its extreme financial burden, really relevant today or would attending a trade school be more lucrative in the end?  Should the current political system be revamped to eliminate political parties?  Should politicians be restricted from accepting gifts from lobbyists?  Does music therapy benefit stroke victims?

After deciding on two potential topics, write a paragraph on each, explaining why you are particularly interested in these topics.

Christlike Figure in Grapes of Wrath

Critics often suggest that Casy emerges as a Christ figure in this novel.  Think of the historical Jesus and how He has gone into the desert to figure things out, was an organizer of people, how he tries to gather disciples, and when he is killed he says "You don't know what you're a-doin'."  Although the landscape may be different and the culture and century may be different, can you make a parallel between Casy and Jesus?

Grapes of Wrath

As we have begun the reading of Steinbeck's famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath, and after having been introduced to the dust bowl, hoovervilles, the Okies, and the fertile valley of California, we can appreciate the vivid details that have helped readers to a part of this Westward journey.  It was extremely rough as many people died or got ill during the long trip.  They were subject to robberies, and women were sometimes mistreated.  However, these people were survivors.  The question is:  Although many people survived the move westward in hopes of finding their dreams, the disappointments were many.  The disillusionment was horrifying when they discovered that their dreams were not waiting for them as they expected.  Think of another situation that might compare to this - either from fiction or from real life that you can relate.  What were the hardships?  How were the dreams realized or were they dissolved?

Thanatopsis

Please review some of your favorite lines in Bryant's "Thanatopsis".  Then use those lines to compare to other pieces of literature (poetry, short stories, novels, or non-fiction) that can be connected in some way.  You will be putting your analysis of the lines by relating them to other literature.  Good Luck!  This should be fun!

Relevancy of the Pilgrim's Experience

First, read "An American Story" on page 34.  Then take into account the experiences of the Dinh family from this story.  In what ways might the Pilgrims' experiences be relevant to contemporary pioneers or refugees?  Besides the Dinh family, what others can you suggest as relevant to the Pilgrims' experiences?