Journal #1

1. Journal #1 • Should school times start later or earlier? • Create a pros and cons chart of each one (one for later and one for earlier). • For an argument, one has to consider BOTH sides before deciding the best solution. • Finished? Take a side…

2. Conducting Research Things to be Aware of

3. What is a Research Report? • It is a type of writing that answers a question about a topic by presenting information collected from a VARIETY of sources.

4. What are Sources? • Sources: books, speeches, online articles, etc. that supply you with information as you are doing your research. • Two types of Sources: • Primary Sources: are firsthand accounts. Ex: letters, diaries, interviews, historical documents, speeches, etc. • Secondary Sources: are secondhand accounts based on primary sources. Ex: encyclopedias, history textbooks, biographies, analyses of literature, etc.

5. Credible Sources • Credible sources are ones the reader can trust. • We trust that the author’s ideas are his or her own and can be backed up with evidence. When writing a research paper, writers should ALWAYS use a credible source.

6. Credible Sources • Journals by authors respected and well-known in their specific fields are credible • Websites from credible institutions likeMayo Clinic, Department of Justice, and University-affiliated institutions • Materials published in the last ten years (when more recent information is available) • Credible Websites: • The more information available, the more credible the website • There is a specific author, the audience is clear, the purpose is informative not biased, and the information is regularly updated. • Also look for websites ending in .edu and .gov.

7. Non Credible Sources • Citing non credible sources can damage a writer’s credibility. • Non Credible sources: sources the writer cannot trust. • Keep in mind that the definition of a credible source depends on topic & audience • Ex: If you’re writing an essay about blogs, then of COURSE you need to read them.

8. Non Credible Sources • Ex: Blogs, Facebook posts, or other self authored sites • Articles without citations • Websites with information not from an author or governmental department • Materials published over 20 years ago or have theories that are clearly out-of-date • Websites: There is not much information available. If the purpose is not informative but may have other motives, like to persuade, the site may not be credible. The website is not regularly updated or the author is unreliable.

9. 5 Questions to Ask Yourself • Who is the author, and is he/she a respected/known person in his/her field of study? • Ex: Using Martin Luther King Jr. VS John Williams • When was the material published? • Anything from 1990’s & older could be out of date; there could be new information available • What is the purpose of this source? • Do they present unbiased information or are they trying to persuade? • How is the source proved? • Are there references and evidence? If there are claims without any support, is it safe to use? • Is the website from an author or organization that I can trust? (government websites VS Wikipedia)

10. Read the following and decide which one is credible • I believe that there is some good in this world. You can easily see it in the eyes of young babies, and you can identify it by the way puppies get excited just by being in your presence. There is good in the world; you just have to look for it. • Drinking large amounts of soda is not healthy. According to the Vanderbilt study in 2012, many scientists found one of the many problems with soda is that it could lead to tooth decay.

11. Ways to Cite Evidence in Your Paper • There are different ways to cite evidence to support your claims. • Example: According to the text “The Effects of Football,” the writer makes the argument that “football is a fun sport to watch, but it is also considered the most dangerous game to play.” • Ex: If this game is so “dangerous” (quoted), then why do we watch it? • Ex: According to the text “The Effects of Football,” the writer makes the argument that although football is entertaining to watch, it also has costly consequences for the players participating.

12. Plagiarism • The act of taking another person’s words or ideas and presenting them as your own. *It can also involve failing to give credit for words or ideas that you use. • Basically, if you use ANYONE’S ideas or words, you MUST give them credit. • Ex: According to Jennifer Stan, the amount of head injuries that can and will occur during a football season is devastatingly large.

13. Why It Matters • In high school, college, or even in your work place, you HAVE to know how to do research. Not only that, but you HAVE to know how to determine if a source is reliable. • Plagiarism has major consequences. If you plagiarize in high school or middle school, you are automatically given a zero. If you plagiarize in college, they have the right to kick you out of the university without refunding your money. If you plagiarize in real life, such as stealing someone’s song lyrics and claiming them as your own, you can be sued and/or thrown in jail. IT’S MAJOR.

14. Argumentative Research papers Let’s review how to form a good argument…

15. Steps to a Good Argument • Make a Claim • Claim – statement the writer is trying to prove is true • Support with evidence • Evidence – FACTS from reliable sources • Use Logic & Reasoning to explain evidence • *You cannot just cite evidence and leave it; you HAVE to explain what it means in relation to your argument. • In your paper, this should be 3 of your body paragraphs.

16. Steps to a Good Argument 4. Address the counterclaim • Counterclaim: the other side of the argument 5. Rebuttal the counterclaim • Rebuttal: a reason why the counterclaim is NOT as strong as the original claim; add proof to help prove your point. 6. Conclusion • Tie up loose ends WITHOUT REPEATING YOURSELF!! Call to action or give us something to think about.

17. Thesis Statements • A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. • THESE SHOULD COME AT THE END OF YOUR INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH! Thesis statement Example: “Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because a fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.” –Naomi Tepper

18. Expectations • Paper Outline (I have one for you to fill out) • Paper itself: Introduction, 4 body paragraphs (1 for your counterclaim), & conclusion • Bibliography (Works Cited Page) • Meet ALL due dates • MLA Citations (within and at end) • Paper is turned in on TIME!!! • Paper is submitted to turnitin.com • Check your printer before it is expected to perform…

19. Expectations • We will be in the Library every Thursday starting next week. Make sure you bring a USB drive, paper, pencil, and your research guide with you for help. • Possible topics can be found at the following site: https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/200-prompts-for-argumentative-writing/ • I’ll send the site out on Remind. IF you have a topic that YOU want to research personally, make sure I approve it first.