Word on the Street

Friday students went to the computer lab to do online research. Students were to search for and read sources to find credible sources with useful information. Students made source cards for the sources they want to take notes from.

Homework:

• Using source cards made in class, print online sources to take notes from next week.

Thursday students went to the computer lab to do online research. Students were to search for and read sources to find credible sources with useful information. Students made source cards for the sources they want to take notes from.

Homework:

• Using source cards made in class, print online sources to take notes from next week.

On Wednesday, students had direct instruction on how to create source cards and guided practice creating sample print source source cards and online source cards.

Homework: None

On Tuesday, students went to the media center for a presentation on evaluating sources and how to access school databases.

Homework: None

Today students did Caught’ya Sentence 22.  We had direct instruction reviewing summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. Students had guided practice on all three using a worksheet that should be finished for homework if not finished in class.  Students submitted research questions to me, and we conferenced on these to help students start with appropriate research questions to guide their research.

Homework:

• Paraphrasing vs. Plagiarizing  and  Summarizing (if not finished in class)

On Friday, students revisited the many ways plagiarism can occur and how to avoid it. Students watched a video detailing how plagiarism can occur then identified how plagiarism happened in a variety of scenarios.

Now that the 8th Grade Writing Assessment is behind us, it is time to get started on the research unit! Woo hoo!!!!!

Today in class we introduced the project with the Research Paper Adv 2012 handout that includes requirements and important due dates. Then we brainstormed possible research topics by using Possible Research Topics.

Homework:

• Students should bring in 3″x5″ lined notecards on Monday.
• Students will also need a two-pocket portfolio-type folder on Monday.
• By Monday, students need to be ready to propose a topic to research. Be sure you have checked to make sure that you can find enough reliable sources before proposing topic.

I hope you all had a great break! Now it is time to hit the ground running and get ready for the writing assessment on January 18.

Today in class we did Caught’ya sentence #16, students reviewed their practice essays and we discussed the domains. We also looked over and discussed an essay that received all “5′s.”

Homework:

• Bring a blue/black and red pen to class everyday
• Bring highlighters in three colors to class all month
• Bring literature book AND grammar book to class tomorrow (Friday)
• Have score sheet signed

Today students began watching The Diary of Anne Frank.

Students took the end of semester final test.