ENGLISH 24 ASSIGNMENTS

As we discussed in class, it is important to be critical of information resources, especially those you find on the Internet. Knowing how to tell the difference between a web site that presents reliable information and one that presents someone's opinion can save you time and energy in the research process.

Today you will practice evaluating web sites.

You will access and evaluate 3 different web sites on the same subject. Please note that each web site will open in a new window, so that you can compare/contrast the content of each.

• FIRST Read Stanley Milgram's "The Dilemma of Obedience"

• THEN Read the Evaluation Criteria chart online at https://lfkkb.tripod.com/eng24/search.html#eval

• NEXT practice evaluating the following web sites on Milgram and his work:
  1. Stanley Milgram
     
  2. Obedience to Authority
     
  3. Milgram, Huxley, Golding

• Evaluate each of the 4 web sites according to the 5 criteria listed in the chart.
  
  1. WHICH OF THE 4 DO YOU THINK IS MOST RELIABLE?
  2. WHICH OF THE 4 DO YOU THINK IS LEAST RELIABLE?
  3. EXPLAIN WHY.

  Email your answers to me at eng24kcc@yahoo.com

• Begin with "The Research and Writing Step-by-Step" Web Site.

• Work your way Step-By-Step through each of the 6 pages that comprise this web site. Open Microsoft Word and do the exercises I've listed at each step. Type your answers into a file called myresearchstep#.doc, where # is replaced with the appropriate step. So if you are doing Step 1, you will name the file myresearchstep1.doc
  1. Step 1: Preparation
     • What do you already know about the topic you've chosen?
     • What resources have you already found? List book/magazine titles and the URLs of web pages.

  2. Step 2: Discovering and Choosing a Topic
     • Why do you want to do research on this topic? What elements of this topic most interest you? BE SPECIFIC.
     • What questions will you answer through your research?
     • What print, film and Internet resources are available on this topic?

  3. Step 3: Looking for and Forming a Focus
     • Take notes on what you read. Use individual note cards to categorize the various aspects of your research.
     • Identify the specific aspects of the topic that you will discuss in your research paper.

  4. Step 4: Gathering Information
     • Make a list of the resources that you find in the library or on the Internet. Remember that books, magazine/journal articles, Internet texts, and films, both popular and documentary, are all valid and useful resources for your research.
     • Be sure to document all sources. Write down all relevant information on EACH source you gather. REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO CITE ALL OF YOUR SOURCES IN A WORKS CITED SECTION AT THE END OF THE PAPER.

  5. Step 5: Preparing to Write
     • Analyze and organize your information.
     • Put your sources and notes into categories. These will form the various subsections of your research paper.
     • Construct your thesis statement. What is the main idea/thesis that will drive your research report?

  6. Step 6: Writing the Paper
     1. Prepare an outline of the various sections of your research paper

        Here is a model for a possible outline:
        

        • Introduction
        • Statement of the Problem
        • Thesis Sentence
        • Body: Paragraphs 1 and 2
          • History of the Problem (Include, perhaps, past attempts at solutions. Work in sources.)
        • Body: Paragraphs 3 and 4
          • Extent of the Problem (Who is affected? How bad is it? Work in sources.)
        • Body: Paragraphs 5 and 6
          • Repercussions of the Problem (Work in sources.)
        • Body: Paragraphs 7 and 8
          • Future solutions (not necessarily your own. More sources.)
        • Conclusion
        • Summarize your findings
     2. Write a rough draft of your research paper.
        1. Draft the Introduction. DUE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 23
        2. Draft the Body Paragraphs. DUE ON TUESDAY, MAY 7
        3. Draft the Conclusion AND the Works Cited list. DUE ON TUESDAY, MAY 14
     3. Get Peer AND Instructor feedback on your rough draft.
     4. Revise for your FINAL DRAFT.
     5. Proofread your work.
     6. COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECT IS DUE ON TUESDAY, MAY 28

1. Read the text of both sites, paying especially careful attention to the examples of thesis statements provided.
2. Using the examples as a guide, begin to formulate YOUR thesis statement. To do this you must think carefully about how you will FOCUS your research.
   • FOLLOW THESE STEPS AND HAND IN/EMAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO ME BY THURSDAY. BE SURE TO LABEL AND IDENTIFY EACH STEP CLEARLY
     1. Write down your topic in a general/broad way. For example: "The World Trade Center Attacks"
     2. Now step-by-step begin to narrow the focus of your topic by adding phrases that specify which aspects of the topic you will research. You should write several sentences as you progressively narrow the focus of your topic.
     3. Finally, write TWO statements:
        • The first states the focus of your research; in other words, what your actual topic will be.
        • The second states your thesis. Follow the examples given in the web sites listed above as a model.

Today we will learn how to use different types of search engines, so that you will be able to gather information for your research project easily.

1. You should begin on the Search Engines section of our web site.
2. Read Four Nets for Better Searching
3. Read Seven Steps of the Research Process
4. Now practice using EACH of the search engines contained on our web site. Type in the same keyword(s) in each--Write down the total number of hits you get. Determine how many, if any, of those hits are useful for your research.
   • When you find a useful, or potentially useful web site, DON'T FORGET TO WRITE DOWN THE COMPLETE URL AND THE FULL TITLE, AUTHOR, ETC. You will need this information for your Works Cited list.
5. YOU WILL HAND IN / EMAIL A LIST OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU FIND TODAY. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE TO ME BY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27. BE SURE TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION IN PROPER MLA FORMAT. See A Guide for Writing Research Papers based on Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation to find the proper format for each citation.

6. Complete Step 4: Gathering Information
   • Make a list of the resources that you find in the library or on the Internet. Remember that books, magazine/journal articles, Internet texts, and films, both popular and documentary, are all valid and useful resources for your research.
   • Be sure to document all sources. Write down all relevant information on EACH source you gather. REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO CITE ALL OF YOUR SOURCES IN A WORKS CITED SECTION AT THE END OF THE PAPER.

• You will begin with A Guide for Writing Research Papers based on Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation

• You will go step-by-step through the following five sections of the Guide and then complete the assignment, which you will find at the bottom of this page:
  1. A Statement on Plagiarism
     

     This section explains in detail WHY you must carefully document all of the sources you use to prepare your research project. It defines plagiarism and describes the penalties for it. The bottom line is IF YOU WANT TO GET A PASSING GRADE ON YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT AND IN THIS COURSE, DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!!

  2. Parenthetical Documentation
     

     This section teaches you how to document your sources within the BODY of the text of your research paper

  3. Preparing a Works Cited Section
     

     This section teaches you how to gather the information you will need to document your sources so that you can cite them appropriately in the Works Cited page

  4. A Sample Works Cited Page
     

     This section provides you with a section of an actual typed Works Cited page, and it also provides you with examples of actual citations. You can use this examples as models and plug in the appropriate information for your own resources

  5. Types of Resources
     

     This section provides you with an extensive list of many different types of resources, including books, articles in a book, periodicals, films, and many more. If you click on the name of the resource, it takes you to a page with explanation and examples.

• ASSIGNMENT: Type up and either email or hand in to me by THURSDAY, APRIL 11 the correct citation for the following six types of resources (I suggest that you use the resources you have found for your research paper for as many of these as possible):
  1. A book
  2. A periodical (i.e., a magazine or newspaper article)
  3. An online resource [BE CAREFUL WITH THIS ONE--IT'S TRICKY]
  4. An electronic media resource (i.e., a film, a CD-ROM, a CD recording)
  5. A radio or TV broadcast
  6. An interview

To prepare you to write the Introduction to your research paper, please read the following articles:

1. How to Write Introductions from Taft Community College
2. The First Draft: Writing an introduction-from the Purdue OWL
3. Introductions and Conclusions--from The Writing Center
4. The Structure Of An Introduction from The UVic Writer's Guide
5. Sample Introductions from The Writing Center

Now go to the exercise, which you will complete and submit ONLINE. To access the exercise, click on this link:

Begin by reading the following texts. They are subdivided into sections:

1. Outline
2. The Structure of the Outline

   ---

3. The Body of the Essay
4. Body Paragraphs

   ---

5. Methods Of Organizing Your Essay
6. Evidence
7. Logic and Argument--Explore the links that are relevant to your research project
8. Audience and Tone
9. Paragraph Unity
10. Everything you ever wanted to know about Paragraphs--Explore the links that are relevant to your research project

ASSIGNMENT: Now open Microsoft Word and begin typing. Prepare an outline of the body paragraphs of your paper. You will hand in this TYPED outline in class on Thursday. Be sure to refer to the texts listed above as appropriate.

Read the following texts and complete the online parenthetical documentation and citation exercises:

1. Strategies for Writing a Conclusion
2. Conclusions
3. Ending the Essay: Conclusions
4. Writing a Conclusion
5. Parenthetical Documentation
6. English 24 Parenthetical Documentation Exercise--You should complete and submit this exercise online.
7. English 24 Citation Exercise--You should complete and submit this exercise online.
8. PLEASE NOTE: You will have a quiz on Stones from the River in computer lab next Tuesday, May 7. To prepare for this quiz, you will need to access and read articles dealing with Kohlberg's and Gilligan's theories of moral development. You should download, print out and read the articles linked to the end of this week's assignment for next Tuesday:

   Some background information: Lawrence Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan both developed separate theories of moral development. The basic criterion for moral development in Kohlberg's view is judgment. Kohlberg believed that moral development and moral judgment have a profound influence on important historical and social events in our lives. Carol Gilligan was Kohlberg's student. She believed that Kohlberg's theory was flawed because it was based primarily on the moral development of men. Gilligan maintained that women's moral development and moral judgment did not follow the same principles. Her theory attempted to present a more universal viewpoint on moral development.

   Moral judgment is a key element in our novel Stones from the River. Be sure that you understand the principles of Kohlberg's and Gilligan's theories for next Tuesday. Remember to bring the printouts to class, along with your novel Stones from the River.

   1. Kohlberg's and Gilligan's Stages of Ethical Development
   2. Chapter 5: Socialization--Chapter Overview from the text, Sociology by John Macionis.--SCROLL DOWN AND READ ONLY THE SECTIONS ON KOHLBERG AND GILLIGAN
   3. Men and Women: Justice and Compassion
   4. Gilligan's In a Different Voice with Reading Questions

Today you will take a written quiz on an issue presented in your novel. You will type your essay directly into the form on the computer screen and submit it when you are finished. You should use your printouts on Kohlberg and Gilligan and your novel, Stones from the River. To access the quiz, go to https://lfkkb.tripod.com/eng24/quizonstones.html.

1. Strategies for Writing a Conclusion-Review this page
2. Ending the Essay: Conclusions--Review this page
3. Presentation
4. General Proofreading Strategies
5. General Strategies for Editing and Proofreading
6. Five Editing Principles
7. Editing and Proofreading Strategies for Revision
8. Revision: From First to Final Draft
9. Self-Help Documents on the Writing Process--This is a good, general resource for all aspects of writing--BOOKMARK THIS SITE FOR FUTURE USE!
10. ASSIGNMENT:
    • Read Sample Essay 1
    • Read Sample Essay 2
    • COMPLETE THE READER RESPONSE EXERCISE AT https://lfkkb.tripod.com/eng24/readresp.html

In preparation for your final exam, today you will do some research on Viktor Frankl and his theory about the meaning of life.

You should go to either Google OR Vivisimo and do a search.

1. Use the following keywords in your search: Victor Frankl, logotherapy, Frankl's theory of the meaning of life
2. Create a computer file in which you cut and paste the URLs of the sites you find. Email those URLS to me at eng24kcc@yahoo.com
3. Write a concise, but complete summary of Frankl's theory of the meaning of life. Bring your summary to class on Thursday, when we will discuss this topic.

You may access the final exam question at https://lfkkb.tripod.com/eng24/spring02finalexam.html

GOOD LUCK!