Research Essay Writing - Due February 10th
Essay writing is different than writing a memoir, a short story, or poetry. First, the mode of essay writing is generally "to inform" the reader about a topic. The organization of an essay will differ from that of a narrative piece. The types of details, and how we record them is also a departure from narrative writing. In-depth research, quoting and paraphrasing sources, and citing references are the biggest differences between narrative and informational writing.
However, essay writing and narrative writing do have some things in common. Writers of essays and writers of narratives both write for a variety of purposes and audiences.
The project overview is below:
However, essay writing and narrative writing do have some things in common. Writers of essays and writers of narratives both write for a variety of purposes and audiences.
The project overview is below:
The following documents are the rubric that will be used to evaluate your informational writing project, and an example of a "proficient" piece of student work. As you write, check in with the rubric from time to time to self-evaluate your work, or use the rubric to look over a classmate's work.
Tuesday, February 7th
Putting It All Together
So far, we've worked on several parts of our essays. Today, we'll put all of those pieces together into a cohesive draft. We'll use the work you've already done - lead, conclusion, subtitles, topic sentences, and paraphrased research - to actually write the essay. Look at the annotated draft of Mr. Swank's essay.
So far, we've worked on several parts of our essays. Today, we'll put all of those pieces together into a cohesive draft. We'll use the work you've already done - lead, conclusion, subtitles, topic sentences, and paraphrased research - to actually write the essay. Look at the annotated draft of Mr. Swank's essay.
Assignment:
Begin transferring your work to a Word document.
When you're done revising and editing, submit your writing on the Project Submission page. You'll have Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to complete the project during class.
Begin transferring your work to a Word document.
- Type your lead.
- Type your topic sentences and supporting details into single paragraphs.
- Separate your paragraphs by using the subtitles you came up with using the "Try Ten" strategy.
- Type your conclusion.
- Record your sources.
When you're done revising and editing, submit your writing on the Project Submission page. You'll have Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to complete the project during class.
Monday, February 6th
Come Up with the Right Ending
Have you ever watched a movie or TV show that started out strong but had a lousy ending? Have you ever read a book that did that? Think about it: the ending is the last thing that will linger in the mind of your reader.
Your conclusion should sum up the main points of your essay, and leave your reader thinking. Try one of the following:
Have you ever watched a movie or TV show that started out strong but had a lousy ending? Have you ever read a book that did that? Think about it: the ending is the last thing that will linger in the mind of your reader.
Your conclusion should sum up the main points of your essay, and leave your reader thinking. Try one of the following:
- Use humor.
- Make a prediction.
- Make a personal connection.
- Generalize to a broader topic.
Friday, February 3rd
Open with a Scene
When you write nonfiction, you can use many of the same storytelling techniques you use for fiction and narrative. One technique is to begin with a scene that lets your reader see your subject in its natural context. You can lead with a scene for any subject you're researching. To do so, stop thinking about your topic in general terms and imagine a single example that you can write a small story about.
Look at "Bad Hare Day" from yesterday's assignment. Fiona Sunquist had to imagine what just one lynx might do - in this case, hunt. In your notebook, draft one or two scenes about your topic, and then consider using one as the lead to your essay.
When you write nonfiction, you can use many of the same storytelling techniques you use for fiction and narrative. One technique is to begin with a scene that lets your reader see your subject in its natural context. You can lead with a scene for any subject you're researching. To do so, stop thinking about your topic in general terms and imagine a single example that you can write a small story about.
Look at "Bad Hare Day" from yesterday's assignment. Fiona Sunquist had to imagine what just one lynx might do - in this case, hunt. In your notebook, draft one or two scenes about your topic, and then consider using one as the lead to your essay.
Thursday, February 2nd
Using Subtitles to Organize Your Writing
Have you ever tried to find something in a messy closet? Imagine going in to find a pair of gloves. You open the closet and find everything jumbled together. How much easier would it be if all the gloves were in one box, hats in another, and sports equipment on a separate shelf?
A piece of nonfiction writing is like that closet. You'll want to organize it so readers can find their way through it easily. Subtitles can can help you do this. They work just like a title, but instead of signaling to the reader the topic of the entire piece, a subtitle lets the reader know what each small section will be about.
Take a look at this article about the Canada lynx:
Have you ever tried to find something in a messy closet? Imagine going in to find a pair of gloves. You open the closet and find everything jumbled together. How much easier would it be if all the gloves were in one box, hats in another, and sports equipment on a separate shelf?
A piece of nonfiction writing is like that closet. You'll want to organize it so readers can find their way through it easily. Subtitles can can help you do this. They work just like a title, but instead of signaling to the reader the topic of the entire piece, a subtitle lets the reader know what each small section will be about.
Take a look at this article about the Canada lynx:
The subtitles make the reading easier by letting you know what to expect. You'll want to use the subtitles the way you use a title - to organize your writing and entice the reader to read on. Notice how the writer played with language to make the subtitles fun and interesting.
Assignment
You've already created sections for your essay by categorizing your research questions. Today, I'd like you to take those category titles and turn them into interesting subtitles.
In your notebook, write down a category title on the top line. Using the "Try Ten" strategy, come up with at least ten possible subtitles for that category. Be creative! Go through this process with each of your categories.
Assignment
You've already created sections for your essay by categorizing your research questions. Today, I'd like you to take those category titles and turn them into interesting subtitles.
In your notebook, write down a category title on the top line. Using the "Try Ten" strategy, come up with at least ten possible subtitles for that category. Be creative! Go through this process with each of your categories.
Wednesday, February 1st
Planning a Paragraph
So far we've chosen topics, narrowed the focus by anticipating what our audience wants to know, categorized our research questions, found information, confirmed its accuracy, and paraphrased the information. Now, it's time to start writing. But we don't want to just dive right in. We need to have a plan.
Using the categories we came up with yesterday, we'll begin planning our paragraphs and sections. A good paragraph has two key components: 1) a topic sentence (which often comes first and previews the information - but not always!), and 2) supporting details. These details can be in the form of paraphrased information, or direct quotations, and they always support the topic sentence.
Use the organizer (attached below) to begin planning your paragraphs.
So far we've chosen topics, narrowed the focus by anticipating what our audience wants to know, categorized our research questions, found information, confirmed its accuracy, and paraphrased the information. Now, it's time to start writing. But we don't want to just dive right in. We need to have a plan.
Using the categories we came up with yesterday, we'll begin planning our paragraphs and sections. A good paragraph has two key components: 1) a topic sentence (which often comes first and previews the information - but not always!), and 2) supporting details. These details can be in the form of paraphrased information, or direct quotations, and they always support the topic sentence.
Use the organizer (attached below) to begin planning your paragraphs.
paragraph_planning_sheets.docx | |
File Size: | 41 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Tuesday, January 31st
Categorizing Information
When we research a topic, we often end up overloaded with information. In order to make sense of the information, and to provide structure to our writing, it can be helpful to group the information to categories that demonstrate a common thread among the researched information.
Eventually, these categories become the different sections of our writing. By thoughtfully grouping the information into meaningful categories, the actual writing of an essay becomes much easier.
When we research a topic, we often end up overloaded with information. In order to make sense of the information, and to provide structure to our writing, it can be helpful to group the information to categories that demonstrate a common thread among the researched information.
Eventually, these categories become the different sections of our writing. By thoughtfully grouping the information into meaningful categories, the actual writing of an essay becomes much easier.
Friday, January 27th
Topic Selection and Beginning Your Research
The process that is outlined below will allow you to create a focused, audience-oriented research essay.
Step 1: Choose a general topic
Use your Writing Territories to help you select a topic to research and write about.
Examples: Nicki Minaj, J.K. Rowling, quicksand, Galapagos
Giant Tortoise, Spain, the Civil War, etc.
Step 2: Come up with possible research questions that will anticipate what your audience might want to know about your topic.
Begin with your audience in mind. Who do you want to read this? Your research questions will differ based on your audience. For example, the type of information a new hunter would be curious to know is going to be very different than what you would share with an experienced hunter.
Additionally, try to keep your topic somewhat limited. "Basketball" is a HUGE topic. Depending on your audience, you might consider narrowing it down to the history of the sport, a biography of a particular player, or the rules of the game.
Let's say you wanted to write about quicksand. Here are some possible research questions:
Step 3: Prioritize your questions.
Information you find in your research can be interesting or important, depending on your audience. Which questions are the most important for your audience? These questions will become a rough outline for your essay. Star, underline, or circle the questions you plan to research.
Step 4: Use your research organizer to keep track of information and sources.
Use the organizer (attached below) to help you with your research. Record your research question in the first box. Then, use the next three boxes to confirm the accuracy of the information. Make sure you write down the direct quote, word for word; don't forget your source!
Once you've recorded the information, paraphrase that information by putting it into your own words. Then, if any new questions arose while you were reading, record them for possible future use.
The process that is outlined below will allow you to create a focused, audience-oriented research essay.
Step 1: Choose a general topic
Use your Writing Territories to help you select a topic to research and write about.
Examples: Nicki Minaj, J.K. Rowling, quicksand, Galapagos
Giant Tortoise, Spain, the Civil War, etc.
Step 2: Come up with possible research questions that will anticipate what your audience might want to know about your topic.
Begin with your audience in mind. Who do you want to read this? Your research questions will differ based on your audience. For example, the type of information a new hunter would be curious to know is going to be very different than what you would share with an experienced hunter.
Additionally, try to keep your topic somewhat limited. "Basketball" is a HUGE topic. Depending on your audience, you might consider narrowing it down to the history of the sport, a biography of a particular player, or the rules of the game.
Let's say you wanted to write about quicksand. Here are some possible research questions:
- What is quicksand?
- Where is quicksand found?
- How does it suck things in?
Step 3: Prioritize your questions.
Information you find in your research can be interesting or important, depending on your audience. Which questions are the most important for your audience? These questions will become a rough outline for your essay. Star, underline, or circle the questions you plan to research.
Step 4: Use your research organizer to keep track of information and sources.
Use the organizer (attached below) to help you with your research. Record your research question in the first box. Then, use the next three boxes to confirm the accuracy of the information. Make sure you write down the direct quote, word for word; don't forget your source!
Once you've recorded the information, paraphrase that information by putting it into your own words. Then, if any new questions arose while you were reading, record them for possible future use.
research_go.docx | |
File Size: | 43 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Thursday, January 26th
Informational writing is all about facts. When we do research to find those facts, it's important to find accurate, credible information - and then figure out a way to include that information in our own writing.
There are two primary ways for including information you find in your research in your writing. The first, quotations, involves conveying the information you find word for word. The second, paraphrasing, involves putting a passage into your own words. In both scenarios, it is important to give credit to the original author.
Purposes:
You might use quotations and paraphrases to. . .
There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text.
4 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing:
Original:
The organization [PETA] said it would announce plans on Monday for a $1 million prize to the “first person to come up with a method to produce commercially viable quantities of in vitro meat at competitive prices by 2012.”
from The New York Times: "PETA's Latest Tactic" $1 Million for Fake Meat, by John Schwartz. April 21, 2008
Paraphrase:
PETA has announced a $1 million prize for anyone who can come up with a way to mass produce in vitro meat at affordable prices. (Scwartz, 2008)
There are two primary ways for including information you find in your research in your writing. The first, quotations, involves conveying the information you find word for word. The second, paraphrasing, involves putting a passage into your own words. In both scenarios, it is important to give credit to the original author.
Purposes:
You might use quotations and paraphrases to. . .
- Provide support for claims
- Add credibility to your writing
- Give examples of several points of view on a subject
- Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with.
- Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original
There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text.
- A short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence.
- Longer quotations can stand alone.
4 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing:
- Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
- Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase in your notebook.
- Compare your version with the original to make sure that it accurately expresses all the important information in a new form.
- Record the source (including the page or URL if possible) with your paraphrase so that you can credit it easily if you decide to it in your essay.
Original:
The organization [PETA] said it would announce plans on Monday for a $1 million prize to the “first person to come up with a method to produce commercially viable quantities of in vitro meat at competitive prices by 2012.”
from The New York Times: "PETA's Latest Tactic" $1 Million for Fake Meat, by John Schwartz. April 21, 2008
Paraphrase:
PETA has announced a $1 million prize for anyone who can come up with a way to mass produce in vitro meat at affordable prices. (Scwartz, 2008)
Tuesday, January 24th
Today we began our immersion into a variety of informational texts. All of the texts focused on invasive species, but the texts were from a variety of sources, including newspapers, magazines, and online articles. Our purpose today was to ask questions - potential research questions - while reading.
Today's assignment was to:
Today's assignment was to:
- read an article
- come up with at least two potential research questions
- do an Internet search using specific criteria
- ensure the accuracy of the information found by comparing it to multiple sources
Monday, January 23rd
On Friday, we talked about how to find the information we're looking for online using specific search criteria. While we were generally able to come up with the same information, there were a few instances when our answers to the hypothetical research questions differed. So what do we do when that happens?
In order to determine the accuracy of information, it's a good idea to confirm it by checking additional sources. It also helps to consider the credibility of the source - how do we know that this is good information? Can the author be trusted?
For today's research practice assignment, I've done the prework of finding a set of information for you. Use the documents below, which were found on three different websites, to confirm the accuracy of the information on your graphic organizer (attached below, if you lost yours).
In order to determine the accuracy of information, it's a good idea to confirm it by checking additional sources. It also helps to consider the credibility of the source - how do we know that this is good information? Can the author be trusted?
For today's research practice assignment, I've done the prework of finding a set of information for you. Use the documents below, which were found on three different websites, to confirm the accuracy of the information on your graphic organizer (attached below, if you lost yours).
determining_accuracy.doc | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Friday, January 20th
_
Research: Making Your Internet Searches More Effective
When doing Internet research, it’s helpful to know how a search engine like Google works. When you put in your criteria, the search engine scours the Internet for anything that might resemble what you typed, but it isn’t “smart” enough to know what you really intended.
In order to make your searches more efficient, avoid typing complete sentences or asking questions. Instead, use keywords that you think might appear on webpages that relate to your topic. Additionally, by formatting your searches in certain ways, you can help the search engine to narrow down what you’re looking for.
Let’s say your topic was “informational essay writing.” There are multiple ways to search for this topic. See the examples below:
When doing Internet research, it’s helpful to know how a search engine like Google works. When you put in your criteria, the search engine scours the Internet for anything that might resemble what you typed, but it isn’t “smart” enough to know what you really intended.
In order to make your searches more efficient, avoid typing complete sentences or asking questions. Instead, use keywords that you think might appear on webpages that relate to your topic. Additionally, by formatting your searches in certain ways, you can help the search engine to narrow down what you’re looking for.
Let’s say your topic was “informational essay writing.” There are multiple ways to search for this topic. See the examples below:
_You type...
Informational essay writing Informational:essay:writing “Informational essay writing” “Informational essay writing”+research |
_The search engine
looks for…
Sites with one of these 3 words Sites with these 3 words in this order, but other words may appear in between Sites with this exact phrase Sites with this exact phrase AND the additional word somewhere on the site |
_Remember, if you don’t get the results you want, try different
combinations of key words. The first website that comes up isn’t always the
best source.
A note about Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a great source for information, but because the content can be created by anyone, it isn’t always accurate. One good way to use Wikipedia is to help you narrow your topic. For example, instead of using “Spain” as a topic, you could go to Wikipedia, and look at how information is organized there. Then, use some of the sections to help you narrow your focus. You might decide to research Spanish culture, particularly art and music.
Assignment for Today:
A note about Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a great source for information, but because the content can be created by anyone, it isn’t always accurate. One good way to use Wikipedia is to help you narrow your topic. For example, instead of using “Spain” as a topic, you could go to Wikipedia, and look at how information is organized there. Then, use some of the sections to help you narrow your focus. You might decide to research Spanish culture, particularly art and music.
Assignment for Today:
internet_search.docx | |
File Size: | 113 kb |
File Type: | docx |