Today's Class

Hi Jack & Ahmed,

Today we'll be talking about how to use sources in an essay; that means we'll be considering what is the purpose of sources, why they are necessary and the value they add to your essays. We'll be talking about these point in particular:

• How sources provide context
• How they strengthen your argument
• How sources make your paper more interesting
• Sources give you new ideas for your paper
• Sources reveal controversy--disagreements--about certain things
• That sources can help you understand how reasoned arguments work

We'll also look briefly at how to select sources. Now that we've got some general experience looking for sources in the library, we'll start focusing on how to find the best sources for your specific topics. This skill is particularly important because your homework that is due in class today was to have a completed draft of your essay. It is necessary to have the best sources possible in order to revise and expand your essay to its full potential by the end of term.

See you soon,

Ben

About Outlines (homework for 10 November)

Ahmed and Jack,

Don't forget to update your outlines tonight, including details about each of the bullet points you showed me in class today and a sentence or two about your sources and references for the information.

Ben

Outline Link

http://www.sthelens.k12.or.us/174320825162539897/lib/174320825162539897/Essay_Outline_Sample.htm

08 November Class

Jack and Ahmed,

After reading your posts, I am confident that we are ready to move into the next phase of essay writing: outlining and then--yikes!--drafting.

Based on what I have read and seen, both from your research and blog posts and in class, your projects are progressing very well.

Here's what we are going to cover in class today:

1. Thesis Statements and Outlines
2. How to Organize Data
3. Quoting Sources
4. Documenting Sources--MLA Style
5. The OWL at Purdue

Your homework for tonight will be to outline your entire essay and both print a copy AND post a copy to this blog: Composition Research Source.

Be sure to check this blog regularly from now until the end of term. I will be posting updates and assignments here so we'll be able to keep on schedule.

See you soon,

Ben

Homework, due 08 November (MONDAY)

Ahmed and Jack,

Here is your homework for the weekend. It is due on Monday before class.

Your assignment in class on Thursday was to find two new sources. If you did not complete the assignment in class, it is homework for the weekend to do so.

Once you have your three sources (two from Thursday and one from the week before), write summaries of each of them. Your summaries can be about the entire source or about the parts of the source you plan to use. Write around 150 words for each article summary and post them to the class blog (this one). I know we have already summarized the older source; perhaps it would be a good idea to update it and model your two new summaries after it.

It is also homework to catch-up on anything that you might not have completed this week; you can also use this weekend to revise and edit anything you'd like to improve upon. Right now, I think you should work on: introduction, thesis statements, conclusion and the outline of the body (as well as the three summaries, which are mandatory).

Have a good weekend, and, as always, contact me if you need any help working,

Ben

Your In-class Assignment for Today (04 November)

Ahmed and Jack,

Today in class, you have an assignment that will help you improve your library-based research skills.

The first thing you will do is take today's class time to find two printed resources that will help you with your research topics. Get them from EKU's library before the end of class. The two sources must be printed, but they can be in the same book. That means if Jack finds a book called "A Collection of Awesome Essays about American Movies" and it has two interesting articles in it, he can use it for both sources. Same goes for you too, Ahmed; if one book has two good sources, it counts as both of them.

After you have your two sources, make a post on the class blog (Composition Research Source) with the title of each source.

The second thing you'll need to do is go to this website and browse around. The website is called the Online Writing Lab and is published by Purdue University. It is a very, very helpful source for learning how to document your essay. For now, just read it. We are going to be learning MLA style in class.

See you soon!

Ben

The OWL at Purdue

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

As the semester progresses, it seems to me that the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University might be particularly useful to you all. Click here to go to the website; it has information about writing college papers, including how to organize a paper and how to write in MLA and APA styles. It's all free, too.

Homework, due 04 November 2010

Jack and Ahmed,


Like we discussed this afternoon in class, the homework which is due tomorrow is: a draft of your introduction (and thesis) as well as a draft of your conclusion. Post these on your personal blog. Also, please make a comment on each other's work.


I will post the sample outline soon.


Ben

Homework 03 November

Jack and Ahmed,

Keep in mind that your homework is to do the following:

First, you should write your thesis statements and the beginning of an outline for your essay. Post it on YOUR BLOG.

Second, post a comment on the other student's blog. Jack, you'll post on Ahmed's blog; Ahmed, you'll post on Jack's blog.

See you this afternoon,

Ben

Homework, due 01 November 2010

Hi Ahmed and Jack,

Here is your homework. It is due on Monday.

#1--write the introduction to your essay (a draft) and post it to YOUR BLOG
#2--find a book that is relevant to your essay, check it out at EKU's library
#3--write a summary of the book that is around 100 words and post it to THIS BLOG
#4--bring your library book to class on Monday


Ben