Study Guide for Composition Quiz

Happy Halloween

A brief  study guide for the quiz:

1.    Transitions                                     

2.    Purpose                                                   

3.    Works Cited Page

4.   Internal Citations                                     

4.    Coherent                                        

5.    Active/critical reading                       

6.    Exemplification                                 

7.    Audience                                                   

8.    Annotations                                      

9.    Thesis                                          

10. Plagiarism    

11. Galileo vs. wikipedia

12. signal phrase

13. Argumentative vs. persuasive essay

14. Qualities that an argument should have

15. Why it pays to be a Vulcan: importance of reason/logic over emotions

16. Exemplification essay

17. Concrete examples/details vs. abstract/hypothetical examples/details

18. How examples can be used to support all types of essays

19. The comparison/contrast essay

20. Two different ways of constructing C/C essays (whole-whole or pt.-pt.)

AND MORE 

There will be matching, multiple choice, POSSIBLE modified true/false (explanation: If a statement is true, do nothing; if any part of the statement is false, correct the statement to read correctly; example: 

 The thesis statement is often best located and used as the opening sentence of an essay., a couple of paragraphs for you to read, with questions to follow--and POSSIBLY  short discussion

Research paper Rubric

Criteria

10 pts. - Point and position of argument is clearly stated in deliberate, thoughtful thesis statement  presented in the introduction

10 pts. - MLA format is correct and maintained from the first page to the last, including: ·       Margins ·       Fonts ·       Header ·       Headings ·       Spacing

20 pts. -Development and Organization: Evidence is logical, organized, relevant, representative, and sufficient; evidence includes details, examples and research; development flows smoothly with appropriate transitions

20 pts. - Conventions of Language: Paper is largely free of major grammatical or mechanical errors that would otherwise disrupt fluency and coherence, including, but not limited to: ·       Illogical or incoherent sentences ·       Incorrect wording ·       Fragments ·       Run-on sentences ·       Vague or incorrect pronoun

20 pts. - No Internal Citations = Failure ·       Use of signal phrase indicates quoted material ·       Research is explained and related directly to point it supports ·       In-text research incorporates each reference in works cited ·       Research supports points previously established in paper ·       Research, whether paraphrased or quoted, is incorporated smoothly into paper ·       ALL research is accompanied by correctly cited reference   20 pts. - No Works Cited Page = Failure ·       Name & number, upper right ·       Titled ·       Spacing ·       MLA format of references ·       Alphabetical order

Internal Citations - a.k.a. In-text citations - a.k.a. Parenthetical References

Internal Citations (also referred to as Parenthetical References)

IDEALLY--(ha)--you have  at least 3-4 POTENTIAL references that you might use in your paper, and have already gone to Easybib to begin your Works Cited Page

Internal citations and works cited work together. A works cited page is insufficient to avoid plagiarism by itself. The writer of a research paper, whether it is three and a half pages or seventy-three pages,  MUST incorporate research smoothly within the context of the paper and CITE the information--that is, indicate the exact page or source of the information. Failure to do so results in plagiarism. In other words:

No parenthetical citations = FAILURE

Period.

There is a great deal of available information on "how to" correctly include citations within the paper--but like all else, it doesn't become important or "real" to you until you are actually writing the paper. Then, the writer MUST know where to look for immediate assistance.

 FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE ON INTERNAL CITATIONS:

The Purdue O.W.L.: In-text citation rules

You Tube: in-text citations
  
Another You Tube video that can be helpful: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f49YwDkRc4&noredirect=1

Using internal citations will only become "real" to you when you begin to incorporate research yourself. Until that time, adding information will be hypothetical and abstract.

ADDITIONAL NOTES :

• Make certain you use a signal phrase to introduce any quote
• Make sure you follow up the quote with an explanation of its relevancy or explanation of how it adds to the topic under discussion - as an example, see page 1642, page 2 of the sample paper by Groulx, paragraph 2.
• If a quote is over four lines of typed, double-spaced text, it should be set off from the left margin, as in the above example.

How to Use Easybib - a Tutorial on YouTube

If you've never used Easybib.com this tutorial on Youtube  can help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6d8fc4_YnM&noredirect=1

There are MANY "how to use easybib" tutorials available on youtube. Find the one that helps you most.

That said, NOTHING will help as much as trying to use it  yourself.

If you make a mistake, get lost or become confused, it's okay. Keep following the cues on the website. Still need help?  Let me know. I can walk you through the steps. As with many things on the computer, it's much easier when you go through the steps together with someone.

DO NOT let Easybib--or anything else on the computer--intimidate you. (Hmmm. I suppose that means that I need to get back to work on D2L.)
It takes TIME more than anything to become comfortable with Easybib. It's just another learning process and YOU CAN DO IT.

The alternate how to:

1. READ. Begin to look for information on your topic; before you can use easybib, you have to have your reference information. This information can come from a website, book, newspaper, journal or any number of other places. The only way to determine if these references are any good is to READ. My suggestion is to go to Galileo, from the MGSC website. (Go to Quick Links and select Galileo. Use your MSGC email name and password to login.)  *More information on Galileo to come.
SO . . . find your information, then go to Easybib.

2.  Easybib is already set up MLA format! All you really need to do is fill in the information. The tabs going across Easybib indicate the type of reference--whether it's a website, a book, newspaper, journal, etc. If you have a type of reference, not listed on one of the light grey tabs going across, select the tab that reads : "All 59 options." Select the TYPE of reference you will be citing. For example, if you're using a Pamphlet, select that one, and you'll be given the screen from Easybib that asks you for information.

3. Fill in the information asked by Easybib. If it is a website, copy and paste the web address, also called the URL.  If we were to look for the URL for this blog draft, it would be: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5888907838811654616#editor/target=post;postID=3911220741687048549
The best thing to do is the copy and paste feature on the computer. It prevents your having to meticulously type every individual character, which can lead to errors.
Copy and Paste by highlighting the URL; Ctrl + C = copy; go to Easybib, and Paste: Ctrl + V
Clike "Cite this" on easybib. That will take you to the next screen, where you will fill in additional information.

Where Are at Mid-Term? Right Where We Need to Be (GASP!!)

For Tuesday:
Return argumentative essays (C/C are coming, but will be delivered on Thursday)
Discuss topics just a bit
Prep. for research essays -- pain and aggravation - detail - "grunt" work
Easybib.com for Works Cited Page

Assignment for Thursday:
Begin doing MORE reading on your chosen topic; become as well informed as possible; use Galileo, not Wikipedia (duh)
Begin preliminary bibliography using EasyBib
On Thursday, 10/17/- discuss citations--how to do them; how to introduce them into text; review their connection to the WCP (Works Cited Page)

For NEXT Tuesday, 10/22:
Check YOUR WCP - answer questions you have so far on research--whether it is in content, citations or WCP

For Next Thursday, 10/24: YOUR day for questions

Tuesday, October 29th: RESEARCH ESSAY IS DUE!!

• At least 5 pages, INCLUDING the WCP, which means the content should be approximately 3.5 to 4 pages
• At least 3 GOOD references, in addition to the original article that served as a springboard on U.S. News and World Report
• MUST be in MLA format
• MUST contain internal citations (or it will automatically FAIL)

Study guide in class for quiz on Thursday

Thursday, Oct. 31st - (sorry) QUIZ over composition -- from beginning of the semester - research -- NO--you will not be writing an essay, you'll just have to be knowledgeable about the writing process and the research process

Topics for the in-class Argumentative Essay

All topics except the first one came from: U.S. and World Report Debate Club.  Please feel free to read the informative article that presents the topic.  (Click on the link of the underlined title to take you directly to the article.)

Do the benefits of domestic surveillance by the NSA outweigh the harms?

Should the Plan B Morning After Pill Be Available to 15-Year-Olds?

 Should There Be Such a Thing as 'Reporter's Privilege'?

Should NCAA Athletes Be Paid?

Should Football Be Fundamentally Changed to Make It Safer?

Should There Be More Armed Guards in Schools?

Are 'Black Friday' Christmas Sales Starting Too Early?

Structure of the Argumentative Essay

Structure of an argumentative essay

1^st par. –serves to get the reader’s attention; presents the issue and the two sides of the issue and in your thesis you state your claim (or your position)—without using 1^st or 2^nd person….. EXAMPLE:

While many scientists feel there is no harm in using animals for experimental use, the truth is that many animals suffer unnecessarily and are treated cruelly in backroom laboratories. 

Body Par. – present rational, logical REASONS to support the thesis; along with the reasons, one provides evidence that is relevant, representative and sufficient. The evidence, whether fact or opinion, may be accompanied by examples and explanation

Next to the last paragraph – “some”???? could be some proponents; some members of the ASPCA; many other scientists; opponents – present the other side of the argument—not in-depth, but you MUST acknowledge that it exists—THEN, refute it with your own logic and reasoning, which is stronger than the opposing view

CONCLUSION – leave the reader with an deliberate impact – this may be the shortest paragraph in the paper; it may contain only 3 sentences—but it MUST contain more than one.

Key Points to the Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay:

·     Must deal with one side of an issue, but the issue MUST be debatable

·     There must be evidence

o Facts and expert opinion

·     Argumentative essays are not the same as persuasive essays

·     Argumentative essays written in class should be written in 3^rd person—without the use of “I” or “you”

·     Argumentative essays are based reason, with emotion being in the selection of words and (perhaps) at the end of the essay

·     Evidence must possess specific criteria:

o Relevance to topic

o Representative

o Sufficient

Thesis should state a claim (a definite position)