Research and Sources

If you are looking for resources for your persuasive research paper, check here periodically to see if there is anything useful!

Massage and Sore Muscles

Qaddafi's Weapons Used in Mali's Rebellion

Healthy Lunches at School: There is recent, up-to-date info that just came out about this topic

New School Lunches Requirements

LA Unified School District Ahead of New Requirements (abc local)

First Lady Obama's "Let's Move" Campaign (a MUST for this topic!)

Health Hazards and iPad Manufacturing in China (New York Times)

Poll on iPad and iPhone Gives Confusing Results (New York Times)

Web Protest Against Piracy (New York Times) (censorship, technology)

New Definition of Autism (New York Times)

Internet Censorship Protests (New York Times)

Log of 10 Possible Sources

since schoolloop is still not up and running, I am posting the assignment details here.

The Log of 10 Possible Sources:

What: A properly formatted MLA works cited page with 10 possible sources that you might use for your persuasive research paper.

The only difference from a normal works cited page: instead of titling the works cited list "Works Cited," please title it "Log of 10 Possible Sources."

Grading:

• 0 errors on MLA formatting: 50/50
• 1-3 errors on MLA formatting: 40/50
• 4-7 errors on MLA formatting: 30/50
• 8+ errors on MLA/formatting: 25/50
• Incomplete Log of 10 Possible Sources (fewer than sources): 0/50

Mentor Logs + Blogs

Welcome to 2012!

Are you using your blog to log your time spent with your mentor? Remember to keep track of everything for senior project! Stay tuned for dates to submit your mentor logs so I know you are working on them.

As your classmates work on their physical projects, you will be able to see their progress and comment! That is why it is VERY IMPORTANT you are following as many blogs as you can.

p.s. You can access all posts on my blog from the "Archive" list on the left-hand side. I will never delete a blog post, so if you need to reference something from before, you can search for it. The labels for the posts can also help you with that.

Some Articles

You might find these resources useful depending on your research topic. I'll continue to post more ideas as I find them online.

The Role of Youth in Times of Crisis: NY Times Article

Joaquin Luna Suicide (a young immigrant man commits suicide because of lack of hope)

Using TurnItIn.com

Day two: Using TurnItIn.com

First period readers- don't fret! You will have time to do this step when our class visits the computer lab again soon. So for now, these instructions only apply to second period. You are more than welcome to keep on reading though!

We will use TurnItIn.com for a variety of assignments, including the persuasive research paper for Senior Project. Today you will have the chance to upload an assignment to TurnItIn.com.

By the end of today, you will type a one-page (minimum) Word document that you upload to TurnItIn.com. Other people will (eventually) read and review your response. Please respond to ONE of the following prompt:

• What does Macbeth's ultimate failure and downfall show us about human nature? Using correct MLA formatting (visit the Online Writing Lab here), type at least one page in which you reflect on what is revealed to us by this Shakespearean tragedy.

• Choose one of the main characters in Macbeth, and compare her or him to someone you know (this can be anyone in your world, such as your best friend or the President.) Be sure to clearly explain your comparison. You must use correct MLA formatting (visit the Online Writing Lab here), type at least one page.

• Explain the moment in the play in which Macbeth chose his fate. Why do you see this moment so crucial (important) in his ultimate downfall? You must use correct MLA formatting (visit the Online Writing Lab here), type at least one page.
• 
  

When you finish, sign in to TurnItIn.com and upload your document to the assignment titled "TurnItIn Practice." If you need help, ask me!

If you finish with extra time, continue searching for Senior Project ideas on other websites so you can see examples and learn more about it.

Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving break!

Beginning Senior Project

Stop- don't go any further. Are you following my blog yet? If not, DO IT NOW! Ok, now keep on reading. (When I posted this, only 26 of you were following me!)

This post is all about getting started on choosing a topic for the physical project component of senior project. (This is where you spend a minimun of 15 hours learning something new.)

Since we are closely approaching the official start of Senior Project, you will now start to see more and more senior project resources posted to my blog. There are TONS of ideas out there for senior projects; have you ever googled "Senior Project ideas"? Try it...you may be surprised with the results that you find.

For many of you, this may be the first real opportunity you have had to sit down and really consider possible project ideas. You absolutely must consider the following guidelines when thinking of your physical project topic:

• It must be a challenge for you. Have you been a dancer for 5 years? Choosing a new type of dance to learn will most likely not be a big enough learning stretch.
• Think of costs and all resources involved. Are you really willing to commit to whatever it takes for the topic you are considering? Will you have to pay for expensive equipment?
• Ask yourself the following question: how will this topic challenge me to grow? How will I apply myself in new ways? If you don't have a solid answer, then consider other topics.

If you have already given some thought to potential topics, the time we have in the LIC will help you think of specific ideas, so keep an open mind. (Remember, I still need to approve your topic.)

LIC Day 1: Start Here

Below are two different resources for guiding students towards choosing successful senior project topics. Follow the steps below with your time in the computer lab today. Even if you are already sure what you want to do, complete all of these steps so you can be 100% sure that your potential topic will work.

1. Start by reading this short article about choosing a topic for your physical project: click here

2. Once you finish the article, start browsing around for new topics. I'd like you to first start here with this PDF document, which is a complete list of projects and possible paper topics. Browse through it and keep an open mind!

3. Now that you've had some time to look through materials that I've given you, try searching around on your own for a bit. Do some google searches for Senior Project topic ideas. You will most likely come across other schools' websites. This is an excellent way to learn how other high schools do Senior Project in addition to gathering ideas for YOU!

By the end of the period: You must post a comment on my blog with your top three potential choices for your Senior Project topic. (You don't have to chose one of these topics, but you should start to seriously consider some ideas at this point.)

Have fun and good luck!!

Ambition: Is it In You?

In class on Wednesday, we discussed the ambition article you read last week. Hopefully during Wednesday's class you had a brief opportunity to hear your classmates' thoughts about ambition.

I am asking that you create a blog post that has to do with ambition. You can think of this like a freewrite that we would have done in class, but instead you will create a post on your blog. Feel free to add any pictures or links to your post!

(In addition to this being a graded assignment, this will serve as a practice post so you can start getting used to posting and commenting on/following others' posts.)

This is what I'd like your post to be about:

To what extent is ambition a good thing? When does a person cross the line where ambition can cause harm? Is it even possible for ambition to harmful? If so, when and how? Have you ever seen this happen? If you believe ambition cannot cause harm, explain why.

Last thoughts:

Are you following other peoples' blogs yet? If not, ask some of your classmates what their blog URLs are. The next step to this assignment will be to comment on a few postings of your choice.