November 25, 2008

DO NOW: In an email to me (franklin.pcs@gmail.com), please answer the following questions:

1) What would you consider an exciting project? If you were given a project to do for a grade, what would it be? The stipulation is that you would have to present it. This does not mean you would have to write a paper on it, but be able to talk academically/professionally about your project.

2) Create a VERY basic topic outline for the Christmas break paper. When you are finished, start looking for quotes that will work in each section.

11/19/2008

Using databases:
The goal for today's assignment is to understand how to use databases for our Passages. In order to be comfortable with the sites, we need to use and analyze them. When you start Passages, already knowing the sites will make researching easier.

Guiding Questions:

• What types of information can databases available to the school provide me?
• How do I use these databases?

What I want you to do:

1. Go to http://perspectiveslibrary.wordpress.com/
2. Select the tab, Library Resources.
3. Click on the "Electronic Resources..." hyperlink.
4. Use, explain, and evaluate the following databases:

• Student Resource Center Gold
• FirstSearch
• Newsbank
• ABC-Clio (Search one of the sites, then explain the differences with the others)

Answer the questions (BE SPECIFIC):

• When you log in, what does the database do?
• Are there hyperlinks that you can click on?
• Are there special searches you can do?
• What types of information can you get with this database?

11/18/2008

More articles about the Mayas to read and take notes on.

Guiding Questions/Thoughts:
1) Think of the assignment as a puzzle. Last week, you received the box that the puzzle went in. This week, you are given the first piece of the puzzle. For these new notes, you should incorporate the REFLECT sections.
2) How do the two articles relate to one another?

Assignment:
1) Read the articles and THEN take notes using the Cornell Note Taking System.
2) Write me an email detailing what about the Mayas you would like to know about. franklin.pcs@gmail.com

Homework 11/11/2008 - Classroom

Product: 750-word paper incorporating ONLY the information that you researched in class.

You will be given articles from various types of sources (electronic and print). In class, you will be reading the articles and taking notes on them. To complete your paper, you will use the notes that you take in class - nothing else.

You will write your paper during Christmas break. The editing process and final product will be turned in a week after we get back, January 15.

Everything that you do for this project (save the actual typing of the paper) will be done IN CLASS.

Topic: Mayas

Blogs!

Setting up a blog for Research Class.
1) Login to your gmail/google account.
2) Once you're logged in, open a new window/tab.
3) Go to blogger.com.
4) Since blogger.com is owned by Google, it might only ask you for your password.
5) Your display name is of no matter. Just make it "school-friendly".
6) The blog should be named "Research - (last name)"
7) Once you've finish, view the blog.
8) Email me the URL of your blog.