March 27

Today, we wrote into the day about our writing processes for the Annotated Bibliography.  Then, we got into our inquiry groups and workshopped our papers.  If there were three people in the group, the paper was discussed for 20 minutes.  If there were four people, the paper was discussed for 15 minutes.  If there were five people, the paper was discussed for 12 minutes.  While groups worked, Megan passed around a notebook for each person to write down his/her current inquiry question.

Homework:

• On your blog, answer the questions on the "Workshop Reflection for Your Blog" handout before class on Monday.
• Post your second draft - five sources - to the blog (copy and paste) and to Moodle (a Word file) before class on Monday.  You will post your paper in the forum called "Post Your Annotated Bibliography Here."
• On your blog, answer the questions on the "Self Assessment Reflection for Your Blog" handout before class on Monday.

Note: On Monday, bring your Annotated Bibliography and your sources on an electronic device.  We will have some time to start working on the Joining the Conversation dialogue.

March 25

Today, we responded to a quote by Kenneth Burke for writing into the day.  (This quote can be found at the beginning of the Joining the Conversation assignment description.)  Then, we talked about the Joining the Conversation assignment.  The due dates are as follows:

• April 3 - Dialogue (Step 1) first draft due on the blog; workshop in class 
• April 10 - Academic Paper (Step 2) first draft due on the blog; workshop in class 
• April 30 - Inquiry Project Paper (Step 3) first draft draft due on Moodle and the blog

We analyzed the example Annotated Bibliography that was sent in an email on Wednesday.  Finally, we spent the last 15 minutes of class working on our Annotated Bibliographies.

Homework:

• Finish your Annotated Bibliography for the first three sources.
• Bring hardcopies of your Annotated Bibliography for your workshop group.

March 18

Today, we responded to one of two quotes about active reading for writing into the day.  Then, we talked about the uncoming assignment, Annotated Bibliography, and the schedule for the next few weeks.

After that, we used two active reading strategies (Annotating - Marking up the Text and Dialogic Journal).  We discussed and practice these stategies with the two articles we brought to class.

Homework:

• Pick the strategy that you like best of the two.  Complete this strategy on two articles you know you will be using for your Annotated Bibliography.  On your blog, post pictures, scan or a typed version of your active reading strategy for the first four pages of your source.  If your source is not four pages long, complete the strategy for the whole sources and post that.  (Example, if you are using a newspaper article, use the Annotating or Dialogic Journal on the whole article and post that.)
• Bring two articles to class on Wednesday.  You need to be sure that you will use these articles for your inquiry project.  Come to class having read and fully understood them.

February 27

Today, we responded to a quote about research on the Web for writing into the day.  Then, we discussed the Research Proposal.  The Proposal does not need to go on Moodle (as it states in the assignment description).  Instead, we will bring a hard copy to the conference.  The Proposal will still need to be posted to the blog before the conference.  It would also be smart to bring a daybook to the conference to take notes.

After discussing the Proposal, we read the "Finding Credible Sources" handout in small groups.  We watched a video about the Primerica Scam and discussed whether it was credible:

How is the video credible?

• A lot of people talked about their experiences.
• People make big money.
• They stated facts.
• It sounds desirable.
• People from high in the company spoke.
• There was a diverse sampling of people; this suggests that anyone can do it.
• It was all positive.
• They discredit the Internet.

How is the video not credible?

• The people seemed like actors.
• It was biased.
• They didn't say what the company does.
• They only read half of the quotes.
• They didn't say names.
• They didn't say where the money goes.
• They said you can't believe what you hear, so how can you believe them?

How could they make the video more credible?

• Show financial records.
• Show names.
• Show better statistics.

Then, we talked about why Wikipedia is considered an uncredible sources in academic (anyone can write on it) and how we can use it to our advantage.  Wikipedia is a good starting point.  It can give the reader a foundational understanding of a subject.  Then, the reader can follow (and use in a paper) the citations provided at the bottom of the Wikipedia article.  Make sure, though, that the source that it takes you to is credible before you use it in your paper.

Finally, we wrote about what participation grade we believe we deserved based on the following: participation in whole group, participation in small group, coming prepared to class, volunteering to read and staying attentive in class.  (If you were absent, please email this to me before Spring Break.)

Homework:

• Post the answers to the "Self Assessment Reflection" handout on your blog before Monday at noon.
• Post your second draft of your Exploratory Essay to your blog before Monday at noon.
• Post your second draft of your Exploratory Essay to Moodle before Monday at noon.  Post it in the forum called "POST YOUR EXPLORATORY ESSAY HERE." If you do not turn in the essay on Moodle before noon on Monday, you will receive a zero for this assignment.

Note: On March 11 (the day we come back from Spring Break), we will meet in Room 125 in the library.