Class Notes for November 25

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I picked up the page 311 Practice 2 homework assignment. We had some time in class and a week to fix up some proper citations from a reference list.

I also referred students to the ScienceDaily web site, where many science news stories include the properly formatted APA and MLA references on the page at the end of the news story. This story would be cited in a blog with a hyperlink (like I just did) but would be cited in a formal paper as

University of Utah (2009, November 24). Is global warming unstoppable?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­
/releases/2009/11/091123083704.htm

in APA format, or

University of Utah. "Is Global Warming Unstoppable?." ScienceDaily 24 November 2009. 25 November 2009 http://www.sciencedaily.com­
/releases/2009/11/091123083704.htm.

for the MLA format. (One mistake: It's not indented properly on this blog.)

I reminded students that the content of Chapters 8, 13, 14, and 15 will not be discussed in class, but they can review the contents independently, paying special attention to the review pages on pages 227 for adverbial clauses, page 141 for paraphrase and summaries, page 261 for participial phrases, and page 247 for adjective clauses. The exercises in the chapter (or similar exercises) could become quiz material.

I handed out a sample mindmap and outline for a problem-solution speech which I delivered to students in a speaking class as a model. I never wrote the script for the speech, but just used the outline to guide my mind as I speak. However, the form of it is the same as the written form. I ask whether a problem solution paper is a kind of argumentative essay, and I conclude that it probably is, since I am arguing a point of view, or a course of action. However, I did not spend much time discussing another point of view in my problem-solution outline. You may consider that a weak point, but problem-solution usually focuses just on the problem and the proposed solution more than an argumentative essay would, since it has to deal with the other point of view.

I am accepting revised versions of the first research paper. If you turn it in as a complete folder, I can re-evaluate it and give it a new (higher!) score.

We went through the beginnings of Chapter 9 in order to know more about the argumentative essay. We are up to page 145, and we previewed the chapter. I assigned students to create a mind-map (diagram) of their ideas for the argumentative essay as a first step and homework.

Class Notes for November 18, 2009

I posted some content from last week below, and collected the homework assignment of page 212 practice 1 A and B from anyone who didn't turn it in last week. Compare/Contrast Papers were returned to all students who had done them with evaluation worksheets attached. Some of these papers had no Outline, no References list ("Works Cited" list) and other parts missing. For that reason, I asked some (and all) to make any changes that you can to improve the paper and earn more points as you perfect it! You may make corrections to your final draft and produce a Corrected Final Draft and turn it in to me. I will happily accept a Corrected Final Draft and will re-score the Project Folder with your new work!

Page 311 Practice 2 was given as homework, and some peoplestarted working on it in class. I will pick it up next week. It is acceptable to use a "citation generator" to help you learn to format it properly.

As I said last week, you should try to review Chapters 8, 14, and 15 outside of class. We are looking forward to Chapter 9, the Argumentative Essay as a large final assignment, so begin to prepare by thinking of topics you would like to write about, and by doing some research.

"Citation Machines" or "Citation Generators"

Are you having trouble remembering how to format a reference in your Reference List ("Works Cited" list)? If so, try out these Citation Generators.

http://citationmachine.net/

http://www.palomar.edu/dsps/actc/mla/

http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php

http://www.amacite.com/http://www-aws.easybib.com/


You just enter the data and let the computer format it. Isn't that easy? Actually, I think it is a little bit slower in some ways than just doing it yourself. It also makes some small mistakes sometimes. Give it a try anyway if you want to check your References or get used to the style.
Below is more about MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association) citation styles.

APA CITATION FORMAT

http://library.rit.edu/pubs/guides/apa.html

http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/citation/apa.html

in-text citation
http://www.byui.edu/english/mlaguide/MLA_intext_citation.htm


MLA Bibliographic Style--A Brief Guide

http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/mla.html

http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/mla.html

A.P.A., M.L.A., H.E.L.P.!

As I mentioned last week, you may find it confusing that last year's textbook used APA style, this year's textbook uses MLA style, and other teachers use another style of citation and reference!

In this class, either MLA or APA will be acceptable. Interestingly, the Wikipedia also has a similar policy, requiring that each page be consistent within itself. This is true for your paper as well. Do not mix and match the styles (if you can avoid it)!

Here are some online links I thought were good. The information on this site is also available in a print booklet,

Research and Documentation in the Electronic Age, Fourth Edition, by
Diana Hacker
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/
MLA in-text citations
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s1.html
MLA list of works cited
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s2.html
APA in-text citations
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c09_s1.html
APA List of References
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c09_s2.html

When to cite sources

Most students have still not ever cited any sources. When do we cite sources? The short answer is that EVERY FACT gets a citation. A longer answer can be found in the Wikipedia.

When to cite sources
Wikipedia is by its very nature a work by people with widely different
knowledge and skills. The reader needs to be assured that the material
within it is reliable.

The purpose of citing sources is:
. To ensure that the content of articles can be checked by any reader or editor.
. To show that your edit is not original research and to reduce editorial
disputes.
. To avoid claims of plagiarism and copying.
. To help users find additional information on the topic.
. To ensure that material about living persons complies with biography policy.
. To improve ...credibility .... Since each fact presented by an
article must be concretely verifiable, at the editor's discretion it is
possible and appropriate to include as many proper and
correct citations as desired to affirm the statements made. However
citation is only required as specified in the following list of
circumstances. And whether a citation is added in a required context or at
an editor's discretion it must be accurate and should comply with the rules
set forth in this guideline.When adding material that is challenged or
likely to be challenged.

"All quotations and any material challenged or likely to be
challenged should be attributed to a reliable, published source using an
inline citation."The need for citations is especially important when
writing about opinions held on a particular issue. Avoid weasel
words where possible, such as, "Some people say ..."
Instead, make your writing verifiable: find a
specific person or group who holds that opinion and give
a citation to a reputable publication in which they express that
opinion. .... Opinions, data and statistics, and statements based
on someone's scientific work should be cited and attributed to their
authors in the text.

When quoting someone...

I hope that helps!

Class Notes

November 4, 2009

Return old papers
Checklist (p. 328)
.....My Essay Checklist
.....(Based on the Chronological Essay)
.....(Modify a little for Comparison and Contrast)
Samples
.....Title Page
.....Reference Page
Self-Editing finished? (Have you examined your work for obvious mistakes?)
Peer Editing (Exchange papers with another student)
Final Proofreading (last-minute changes or additions)
Pick up the essays to evaluate

Ch. 13 Adverb (Adverbial) Clauses
Homework: Type (or write up) Practice 1, A and B, pp 212-213.

Look ahead to the Argumentative Essay (major assignment in Ch. 9)

Essay Contest at another university
http://2009w2.blogspot.com/
.....Sharing
.....Reading
.....Voting
.....Learning from others
Sharing essays
.....post it on your blog?
.....mail it to the teacher?