Monday, May 6, 2013

Week 34, Day 1
Objective: Research Project-Brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate a major research question to address the major research topic; formulate a plan for engaging in in-depth research on a complex, multi-faceted topic; follow the research plan to gather evidence from experts on the topic and texts written for informed audiences in the field, distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources and avoiding over-reliance on one source; systematically organize relevant and accurate information to support central ideas, concepts, and themes outline ideas into conceptual maps/timelines, and separate factual data from complex inferences; paraphrase, summarize, quote, and accurately cite all researched information according to the standard format, differentiating among primary, secondary, and other sources; modify the major research question as necessary to refocus the research plan; differentiate between theories and the evidence that supports them and determine whether the evidence found is weak or strong and how that evidence helps create a cogent argument; critique the research process at each step to implement changes as the need occurs and is identified; provides an analysis that supports and develops personal opinions, as opposed to simply restating existing information; uses a variety of formats and rhetorical strategies to argue for the thesis; develops an argument that incorporates the complexities of and discrepancies in information from multiple sources and perspectives while anticipating and refuting counter-arguments; uses a style manual to document sources and format written materials; is of sufficient length and complexity to address the topic; participate productively in teams, offering ideas or judgments that are purposeful in moving the team towards goals, asking relevant and insightful questions, tolerating a range of positions and ambiguity in decision-making, and evaluating the work of the group based on agreed-upon criteria.

1. No Bell Work
2. School Reform Project
1. 5 people MAX in a group
2. Look at the current system and tell me why the status quo is not working?
3. Look at research and what it says we should be doing.
4. Give me a proposed system to implement and make it relevant to Godley ISD.
5. Rubric and more specific criteria will come as we progress with the project.
6. I will give you time to work on your project in-class this week.  
3. Reminders:
1. "My Ethics, My Codes of Life" Essay is due tomorrow.
2. Finish Part I and Part II of Drive by Wednesday.
3. Four appreciation letters due Wednesday
4. SAT Quiz on Friday