Vocational English 12 Research Paper Schedule

Vocational English 12 Research Paper Schedule

Date / In-Class Work / Due
Week1
M / Introduce Global Issues Research Paper
Research Topics-Select Topic?
T / Research-Create Working Bibliography, Practice Notetaking/Source and Note Cards Lesson
W / Research-Create Working Bibliography, Practice Notetaking/Source and Note Cards Lesson-Finish / Final Topic Selected
TH / Evaluating Sources Lesson, Research, Write Purpose Statement / Purpose Statement Due end of class
F / Research
Week 2
M
/ Research
T / Research, create Source and Note Cards
W / Persuasive Writing Lesson,
Research, create Source and Note Cards
TH / Research, create Source and Note Cards
F / Research, create Source and Note Cards / 7 Source and 30 Note Cards Due beginning of class
Week 3
M
/
MLA Outline Lesson, Write Outline
T / Write Outline / Rough Outline due
W / Write Outline, / Final Outline Due beginning of class
TH / Intro Paragraphs Lesson; Write Thesis StatementsBegin Rough Draft / Thesis Statement Due beginning of class
F / MLA Format/Quotes/Citation Lesson
Intro Paragraphs / Intro Paragraph Due beginning of class
Week 4
M / Drafting
T
/ Drafting
W / Peer Critique, Revising; Drafting / 1st Rough Draft Due beginning of class
TH / Works Cited
F / 2nd Peer Critique, Revising
Proofreading, Final Editing> Publishing / 2nd Rough Draft Due with Works Cited beginning of class
Week 5
M / Final Paper Due beginning of class
Writing the Persuasive/Argument Essay
What is a persuasive/argument essay? Persuasive writing, also known as the argument essay, utilizes logic and reason to show that one idea is more legitimate than another idea. It attempts to persuade a reader to adopt a certain point of view or to take a particular action. The argument must always use sound reasoning and solid evidence by stating facts, giving logical reasons, using examples, and quoting experts.
When planning a persuasive essay, follow these steps
1.Choose your position. Which side of the issue or problem are you going to write about, and what solution will you offer? Know the purpose of your essay.
2.Analyze your audience. Decide if your audience agrees with you, is neutral, or disagrees with your position.
3.Research your topic. A persuasive essay must provide specific and convincing evidence. Often it is necessary to go beyond your own knowledge and experience. You might need to go to the library or interview people who are experts on your topic.
4. Structure your essay. Figure out what evidence you will include and in what order you will present the evidence. Remember to consider your purpose, your audience, and you topic.
The following criteria are essential to produce an effective argument:
· Be well informed about your topic. To add to your knowledge of a topic, read thoroughly about it, using legitimate sources. Take notes.
· Test your thesis. Your thesis, i.e., argument, must have two sides. It must be debatable. If you can write down a thesis statement directly opposing your own, you will ensure that your own argument is debatable.
· Disprove the opposing argument. Understand the opposite viewpoint of your position and then counter it by providing contrasting evidence or by finding mistakes and inconsistencies in the logic of the opposing argument.
· Support your position with evidence. Remember that your evidence must appeal to reason. The following are different ways to support your argument: Facts - A powerful means of convincing, facts can come from your reading, observation, or personal experience.
Note: Do not confuse facts with truths. A "truth" is an idea believed by many people, but it cannot be proven.
Statistics - These can provide excellent support. Be sure your statistics come from responsible sources. Always cite your sources.
Quotes - Direct quotes from leading experts that support your position are invaluable.
Examples - Examples enhance your meaning and make your ideas concrete. They are the proof.

In persuasive or argumentative writing, we try to convince others to agree with our facts, share our values, accept our argument and conclusions,and adopt our way of thinking.

Start writing a draft!

Write your first paragraph
Start with an attention grabber: a startling fact or quote to “open our eyes”
Introduce the topic and the controversy
Inform the reader of your point of view!
Identify and acknowledge the opposing view
Entice the reader to continue with the rest of the paper!
Focus on three main points to develop
Provide a solution or recommendation for resolving the problem
Include a call to action
Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph
Keep your voice active
Quote sources to establish authority
Stay focused on your point of view throughout the essay
Focus on logical arguments
Don't lapse into summary
in the development--wait for the conclusion
Conclusion
Summarize, then conclude, your argument
Refer to the first paragraph/opening statement as well as the main points
does the conclusion restate the main ideas?
reflect the succession and importance of the arguments
logically conclude their development?

Sample Introductory Paragraph Elements:

Global Issues

Your introduction should begin with an attention grabber; an interesting fact or startling statistic (could be a quote) that will open peoples’ eyes to the problem you are writing about. Then identify the global issue and the controversy, and identify the two sides of the argument if your topic is debatable. Then highlight the problems that are the result of the global issue if it is not solved. If there are several possible solutions to the global issue, mention them here. Finally, write your thesis statement at the end of your introduction; this should state your idea about what you believe should be done to solve the problems that are a result of the global issue.

Persuasive Outline

Introduction (Thesis, 3 points, conclusion)
Introduce Topic, Attention Grabber-Startling fact, quote
Identify conflict/problem/controversy
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
Thesis Statement: Your Opinion/Solution to Problem/Call to Action
Topic Sentence of Point #1(IDEA) Note:Each Point may need to be divided into multiple paragraphs
Development of P1
Further explanation
Example/explanation
Quote with page # (Supporting Evidence/Facts/Statistics)
Explanation of quote
More Explanation
Connection to point, thesis
Conclusion
Topic Sentence of Point #2(IDEA)Note:Each Point may need to be divided into multiple paragraphs
Development of P1
Further explanation
Example/explanation
Quote with page # (Supporting Evidence/Facts/Statistics)
Explanation of quote
More Explanation
Connection to point, thesis

H. Conclusion

Topic Sentence of Point #3(IDEA)Note:Each Point may need to be divided into multiple paragraphs
Development of P1
Further explanation
Example/explanation
Quote with page #(Supporting Evidence/Facts/Statistics)
Explanation of quote
More Explanation
Connection to point, thesis

H. Conclusion

Conclusion

Summarize, restate Point #1
Summarize, restate Point #2
Summarize, restate Point #3
Summarize, synthesize, and connect points to Thesis
Concluding statement, call to action

Persuasive Essay Rubric Name ______Topic ______
Criteria / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
The claim / I make a claim and explain why it is controversial. / I make a claim but don't explain why it is controversial. / My claim is buried, confused and/or unclear. / I don't say what my argument or claim is.
Reasons and evidence in support of the claim / I give clear and accurate reasons and evidence in support of my claim. / I give reasons and/or evidence in support of my claim but I may overlook important reasons. / I give 1 or 2 weak reasons or evidence that don't support my claim and/or irrelevant or confusing reasons. / I do not give convincing reasons or evidence in support of my claim.
Reasons against the claim / I discuss the reasons against my claim and explain why it is valid anyway. / I discuss the reasons against my claim but leave some reasons out and/or don't explain why the claim still stands. / I say that there are reasons against the claim but I don't discuss them. / I do not acknowledge or discuss the reasons against the claim.
Organization / My writing has a compelling opening, an informative middle and a satisfying conclusion. / My writing has a beginning, middle and end. It marches along but doesn't dance. / My writing is organized but sometimes gets off topic. / My writing is aimless and disorganized.
Voice and tone / It sounds like I care about my argument. I show how I think and feel about it. / My tone is OK but my paper could have been written by anyone. I need to tell more about how I think and feel. / My writing is bland or pretentious. There is either no hint of a real person in it or it sounds like I'm a fake. / My writing is too formal or too informal. It sounds like I don't like the topic of the essay.
Word choice / The words I use are striking but natural, varied and vivid. / I make routine word choices. / The words I use are often dull or uninspired or sound like I am trying too hard to impress. / I use the same words over and over and over and over. Some words may be confusing to a reader.
Sentence fluency / My sentences are clear, complete, and of varying lengths. / I have well-constructed sentences. / My sentences are sometimes awkward, and/or contain run-ons and fragments. / Many run-ons, fragments and awkward phrasings make my essay hard to read.
Conventions / I use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. / I generally use correct conventions. I have a couple of errors I should fix. / I have enough errors in my essay to distract a reader. / Numerous errors make my paper hard to read.

Resources:Global Issues

List:

The United Nations

Global Education

Australia Foreign Affairs

Energy Global Issues-Chevron

Global Issues Gateway

Topic Selection

Your Topic:

Must be of Global concern.
Must contain controversy or difference of opinion; must be debatable
Must identify the two sides or opposing forces
Must have enough evidence for you to support your claim or argument
Must be narrow enough to cover thoroughly and in depth in your paper
Must lead you to a conclusion and solution to the problem

Do some preliminary research to make sure you will have enough information to make your claim. Write your topic below (World Hunger, Arms Control, etc.)

Topic: ______

Narrowed Focus (World Hunger is too broad, narrow this):
______

Identify the controversy:

______

Who are the two sides involved and who is affected by this issue?

______

What side will you argue, or what will your position (opinion) be?

______

Purpose Statements:

A Purpose Statement is a sentence telling the reader what the purpose of your writing or speech is. It must contain three elements: The Audience, The Topic, and the Desired Result.

Typically they sound something like this:

“The purpose of my research paper is to persuade my 12th grade class and teacher that the City of Washburn needs to adopt a ‘safe routes to school’ program to ensure the safety of all children as they make their way to school.”

“The purpose of my speech is to persuade my 12th grade class about the importance of proper nutrition for athletes.”

Notice that each purpose statement contains all three required elements- Audience (12th Grade Class, Mr. Kirsten), Topic (safe routes to school, nutrition for athletes), and Desired Result (persuade the city to adopt program, inform class about nutrition).

Rough Draft of your Purpose Statement (This will need to be typed and submitted on the due date):

______

Summarize, Paraphrase, or Quote?

A summaryis a relatively brief, objective account, in your own words, of the main ideas in a source passage.

Summarize to:

To condense the material. You may have to condense or to reduce the source material to draw out the points that relate to your paper.
To omit extras from the material. You may have to omit extra information from the source material to focus on the author’s main points.
To simplify the material. You may have to simplify the most important complex arguments, sentences, or vocabulary in the source material.

A paraphraseis a restatement, in your own words, of a passage of text. Its structure reflects the structure of the source passage. Paraphrases are sometimes the same length as the source passage, sometimes shorter. In certain cases-- particularly if the source passage is difficult to read--the paraphrase may be even longer than the original. . . . Keep in mind that only an occasional word (but not whole phrases) from the original source appears in the paraphrase, and that a paraphrase's sentence structure does not reflect that of the source. Paraphrase to:

To change the organization of ideas for emphasis. You may have to change the organization of ideas in source material so that you can emphasize the points that are most related to your paper. You should remember to be faithful to the meaning of the source.
To simplify the material. You may have to simplify complex arguments, sentences, or vocabulary.
To clarify the material. You may have to clarify technical passages or specialized information into language that is appropriate for your audience.

A quotationuses the exact words of the original. Use Quotes to:

Accuracy: You are unable to paraphrase or summarize the source material without changing the author’s intent.
Authority: You may want to use a quote to lend expert authority for your assertion or to provide source material for analysis.
Conciseness: Your attempts to paraphrase or summarize are awkward or much longer than the source material.
Unforgettable language: You believe that the words of the author are memorable or remarkable because of their effectiveness or historical flavor. Additionally, the author may have used a unique phrase or sentence, and you want to comment on words or phrases themselves.

Note-Taking Practice

Below is a portion of an article on world hunger. We will read it, and use it to learn to take notes, create note and source cards, and use the information to create a list of works cited. 1. Read article and highlight, underline, and write down main ideas or notes in the margins. 2. Use the Cornel Notes form on back to transfer notes (facts, ideas) from what you highlighted. 3. Write down main ideas in the left column. 4. Summarize the main point on the bottom.

U.N. officials criticize U.S. restrictions on aid to Somalia

By Sudarsan Raghavan

Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, February 18, 2010

NAIROBI -- U.N. officials on Wednesday ratcheted up their criticism of U.S. policy in Somalia, declaring that recent restrictions intended to prevent al-Qaeda-linked Somali Islamists from gaining strength are holding up humanitarian aid to some of the world's most desperate people.

In recent months, the United States has withheld millions of dollars in funding to Somalia, citing concern that some humanitarian aid was being diverted to al-Shabab, an insurgent group that Washington deems a terrorist organization. But on Wednesday, the United Nations' top humanitarian official for Somalia said that aid groups have seen little evidence of such diversion.

"What we are seeing is a politicization of humanitarian issues," Mark Bowden told reporters here. "No U.N. agency has paid any money to al-Shabab."

Bowden's criticism of the United States, the largest source of humanitarian aid to Somalia, comes as conditions in the chaotic Horn of Africa nation appear to be worsening. U.N. officials said Wednesday that 100,000 Somalis have fled their homes since January amid an uptick in fighting and reports that the U.S.-backed transitional government is preparing a fresh offensive against the Islamists. Many more are suffering from malnutrition and drought-related food shortages; according to recent U.N. estimates, 42 percent of Somalis require aid.

Date of access: February 23, 2012
Here are the practice assignments we will do:

1. Take the second paragraph (starts with “In recent months”) and rewrite it in your own words. Change words that are difficult, simplify concepts, and make it understandable to you. (paraphrase)
______2. Now turn this paper over and if you can, without looking back at the article, put the main ideas of this article in a brief 3-5 sentence summary (summarize). Peek if you must, but don’t copy down ideas.

______

Next, write down all the important facts and ideas in this article. You must come up with at least five important facts, and as many as ten if you can. You should use the article to do this.

______

Now we will practice using a direct quote to support an idea in an essay. Below is a topic sentence and a supporting idea from a paper on world hunger. Find a quote to support this idea and insert it below the written passage.

Sometimes, in fact, governments help to fuel the fire of global hunger by either restricting funding, or not monitoring how the funding is spent. The United States, on several occasions, has refused to send aid to countries in need of hunger assistance because of those countries’ ties to terrorist organizations.
Quote:
______

Let’s learn to create source cards and note cards for our article:

First, copy the source information below, using examples from the MLA handout. Then we’ll create a note card of one important piece of information from the article.

Making Note Cards

Note Card System from English Works:

Making Note Cards form LatinSchool

Your research note cards should include all the information necessary to write your term paper. You should take extreme care as you create these note cards.