Wednesday, November 9

CRITIQUE

Groups of 3:  Share your document with both of your partners.  Partners should each make a fresh copy and share the copy right back with you.



Analysis...

• Highlight what you believe to be the THESIS in yellow.  
• Comment in the margin if you have suggestions on how to improve the thesis statement.
• Highlight the TOPIC SENTENCE of each sentence in blue.  
• Is the topic sentence clear and does it establish the focus of the paragraph?  Does everything in the paragraph work to support the topic sentence?  Comment in the margins on these elements.
• Highlight where you see concrete EVIDENCE in green.
• Is there evidence missing?  Are they adequately connecting the evidence to the overall argument?  Comment in the margins on these elements.

***If you cannot locate these different elements clearly, comment such in the margins.

Feedback...

Review the Writing Rubric

Use the criteria in the rubric to give AT LEAST 3 substantial pieces of feedback in the margins on how the author can improve the essay.

When finished critiquing both, work on revising and drafting Part 3.

Tuesday, November 8

Announcements:
Think-tankers:  Let's check in today!

Modified due dates:  
Critique Part 2 on Wednesday, November 9
Critique Part 3 on Monday, November 14
Parts 1-3 due November 16


Starter:  Please write your thesis statement down on the mini-whiteboard


Mini-lesson:  Making claims
Revise your thesis statement based on these criteria!

Good claims…

• are debatable
• are specific and focused
• avoid stating the obvious
• are clearly and eloquently stated
• avoid the first person (AVOID “I think, I believe, My opinion is, etc.”)
• can be supported with sufficient evidence

Please get out your project plan (show me!) and use it to compose your draft.

Monday, November 7

Dear students:
Alas, I will miss you today, but I am confident in your ability to be industrious and do beautiful work.  At this point, you should have already turned in your research notes and be ready to draft Parts 2 and 3 of your I-Controversy.  I have decided to push the first critique back to Wednesday, November 9 to give you an extra day to work on the draft of Part 2.  You are welcome.


Exhibition Think Tank meeting tomorrow at lunch!


Today, please do the following:

1. STUDENT MODEL ANALYSIS

Make a copy of the STUDENT SAMPLE ESSAY.  Read through Part 2 carefully and annotate according the following instructions.

• Highlight what you believe to be the THESIS in yellow.
• Highlight the TOPIC SENTENCE of each sentence in blue.
• Highlight where you see concrete EVIDENCE in green.
• Answer as a comment on the document: How does looking at this model help you get a sense of what you need to do in your own project?

2. PLAN YOUR ESSAY 
If you have an outlining/planning system that works for you, by all means, use it!

Let your plans include the following:

• What is your thesis?  How might you craft an engaging introduction that leads into it?
• What claims will you make that support your thesis?  What will be the focus of each paragraph?  Craft topic sentences that capture the supporting claims for your thesis.
• What evidence will you use to support the topic sentence in each paragraph?  (Are you missing evidence to support the claims?  Do you need to do more research?)
• How will you connect your evidence to the topic sentence with your analysis?  (What does your evidence show?)

Here is an ESSAY OUTLINE TEMPLATE if it helps you.  Not required, but use it if you are so inclined.

3.  DRAFT PART 2!!!!!!!!  Be ready with a complete draft for critique on Wednesday.

Thursday, November 3

Starter: (on scrap paper) What are your goals for work time today?

PROJECT WORK
1. Try to wrap up research.  Please submit research notes by tomorrow at midnight.
2. Begin drafting Part 2 if you are ready. 
3. Use your time wisely!!!
4. Conferences

Exit ticket:  (on same paper as starter)  Where are you in your project process?  What do you need to do moving forward?

EXHIBITION THINK TANK MEETING TUESDAY AT LUNCH!  Thanks to all who are willing to participate in this!

Advisory: College Counseling Info

Reminders: Tonight! Jess is doing a Scholarship and Financial Aid Understanding Information Session from 5pm-7pm in the Commons. You and your parents should come.

FAFSA INFO! IMPORTANT INFO!!

1. The FAFSA is a free application you and your parents fill out  for federal aid for college.
2. This application determines two things: first if you qualify for the pell grant ($5,750 in free money) and determines what amount of student loans you qualify for. Second: it generates your EFC (estimated family contribution) the amount the federal government believes your family is able to spend on college.
3. Your EFC is electronically sent to each college you apply to and your colleges build financial aid packages based off of this number.
4. You always want to fill out the FAFSA even if you don’t qualify for the pell grant because the document will be used within your college and many scholarships.
5. The FAFSA opened up in October of this year and you will use your parents and your 2015 taxes to complete. Make sure to fill it out as soon as possible for the maximum amount of aid.

***Jess will go over more of this information in her information session this evening. ***

Activity: Uploading Schools Students have applied to in Naviance.

(Follow instructions in the link)

Wednesday, November 2

Project Work Time:  Keep on keeping on...
Follow yesterday's guidelines for work time.


Please be mindful that you are researching with RELIABLE SOURCES.  Here is a checklist to determine the quality of your sources.

Tuesday, November 1st

STARTER:  Google Form on project topic/question

EXHIBITION THINK TANK?

Please sign up on the board if you are interested in helping design a dope exhibition.  

PROJECT WORK TIME

1. Conferences:  Please check conference schedule to make sure you are on it.  If you signed up for today but did not turn in your essay, you will likely go Thursday.
2. Research this week for Parts 2 and 3.  If you have not already begun, here is the template for the research notes.  Research notes due on Thursday, November 4.
3. Review Model Essays for Part 2 and 3

HONORS: Preview Document-based Historical Analysis Essay

This link exists now on my project tab, for your reference….

CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE FOLDER OF RESOURCES FOR I-CONTROVERSY PROJECT