Wednesday, October 26, 2011
When You Get to Class: Write Me a Letter
Please write me an informal letter telling me how your research is going. Let me know what is going well, what is not going well, how you might need help, etc. I'm not grading this; this is just a way for me to check in and see what is happening with you and your research before you start writing your rough draft.
Outlining: Eating Insects
In Ch. 6, we learned about outlining, an important step in organizing your paper. Many students dislike outlining because they think of it as a commitment rather than a plan. In order to make outlining a little less scary, we're going to practice by outlining an article unrelated to your research.
Read this article on entomophagy, or eating insects. As you read, keep a running outline. This is an example of a running outline from an article on Lizzie Borden:
The police suspected John W. Morse, Mr. Borden's brother-in-law, but did not arrest him.
As you can see, this running outline gathers the most important pieces of information, though it doesn't put it in any kind of order or organization.
After you complete your running outline, read it over and organize this information into a more traditional outline. Here is a traditional outline for information found in another article about Lizzie Borden:
The goal of the outline is to make sense out of the information and to make it easier for you to see what is going on.
Read this article on entomophagy, or eating insects. As you read, keep a running outline. This is an example of a running outline from an article on Lizzie Borden:
Andrew Borden, 70, a wealthy and respected member of the community, and his second wife
Abbie, 67, were found murdered with an ax on August 4, 1892.
The Borden family consisted of Andrew and his wife, their two daughters, and a servant.
Lizzie Borden, who was outside in the barn, heard a cry from the house and found her father dead on the living-room sofa.
She went upstairs and found her mother dead in a spare bedroom.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Borden had been violently butchered.
The police suspected John W. Morse, Mr. Borden's brother-in-law, but did not arrest him.
As you can see, this running outline gathers the most important pieces of information, though it doesn't put it in any kind of order or organization.
After you complete your running outline, read it over and organize this information into a more traditional outline. Here is a traditional outline for information found in another article about Lizzie Borden:
I. Battered woman syndrome has been the object of much study lately.
A. It is, today, found to be quite prevalent.
1. The definition has been widened
2. It is underreported
B. Strong link between sexual abuse and parricide now taken seriously
1. Richard Jahnke case
2. Cheryl Pierson case
C. In the 19th century this link between sexual abuse and parricide was more prevalent than was generally known.
1. Christina Abbott case
2. Sigmund Freud's studies of female hysteria and his revision of his initial theory
3. Case studies in Linda Gordon's book, Heros of Their Own Lives
The goal of the outline is to make sense out of the information and to make it easier for you to see what is going on.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
When You Get to Class: Your Three Sources
I asked you to locate three good sources for your research for today. In your research journal, list those three sources and write a brief paragraph for each explaining how this source will be helpful in your research.
How to Evaluate Sources: The Death of Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp
To get a general idea about who Christopher McCandless (aka Alexander Supertramp) was, look at the Wikipedia entry.
There are a lot of different questions that could be asked about Christopher McCandless:
Was his death an act of suicide or an accident?
What was his exact cause of death?
How did his upbringing influence him?
How did his reading influence him?
Was he “crazy”?
How did his death influence others?
All of the following could be used for sources, but it depends on which direction you decide to go in for the paper.
There is a movie called Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn, which is based on the book by Jon Krakauer, which was originally written as an article for Outside.
There is also a documentary about Chris’s life called Call of the Wild in which the filmmaker, Ron Lamothe, follows in Chris’s footsteps and interviews many of the people from Chris’s life. He found a lot of things wrong with Penn’s movie and Krakauer’s assessments, which are detailed in part of his website.
Another book is in the works, due out the end of this year, called Back to the Wild. Here is the author's website.
Other sources:
“The Cult of Chris McCandless”
Chris’s S.O.S. note
“Mother Nature’s Restless Sons”
An interview with a man who met Chris on the road.
"Come to Alaska, but please don't go 'Wild'"
Excerpts from Chris’s own writing in his college newspaper:
“10 True Facts about Chris McCandless, or Alaska scores another point for natural selection”
“Into the Wild: The False Being Within”
In which situations might these different sources be useful? What might make you not want to use them? Think about what you have learned about different kinds of sources.
There are a lot of different questions that could be asked about Christopher McCandless:
Was his death an act of suicide or an accident?
What was his exact cause of death?
How did his upbringing influence him?
How did his reading influence him?
Was he “crazy”?
How did his death influence others?
All of the following could be used for sources, but it depends on which direction you decide to go in for the paper.
There is a movie called Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn, which is based on the book by Jon Krakauer, which was originally written as an article for Outside.
There is also a documentary about Chris’s life called Call of the Wild in which the filmmaker, Ron Lamothe, follows in Chris’s footsteps and interviews many of the people from Chris’s life. He found a lot of things wrong with Penn’s movie and Krakauer’s assessments, which are detailed in part of his website.
Another book is in the works, due out the end of this year, called Back to the Wild. Here is the author's website.
Other sources:
“The Cult of Chris McCandless”
Chris’s S.O.S. note
“Mother Nature’s Restless Sons”
An interview with a man who met Chris on the road.
"Come to Alaska, but please don't go 'Wild'"
Excerpts from Chris’s own writing in his college newspaper:
“10 True Facts about Chris McCandless, or Alaska scores another point for natural selection”
“Into the Wild: The False Being Within”
In which situations might these different sources be useful? What might make you not want to use them? Think about what you have learned about different kinds of sources.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
When You Get to Class: Library Orientation Review
What are some of the things you learned during the library orientation last week? What are some databases that might be helpful for your research? Are there any questions that came up for you because of the library orientation?
Goals for the End of Class Today
If You Have Written Your Research Proposal:
You will be meeting in a small group with others who have written their proposals as well. You will read each other's proposals and make suggestions for how to improve your work. Please feel free to use the example on p. 97-98 and the checklist on p. 99 in your textbook as guidelines. After everyone has received feedback, please revise your proposals individually on your computers.
If You Have Not Written Your Research Proposal:
You need to do so by the end of class. Please feel free to use the example on p. 97-98 and the checklist on p. 99 in your textbook as guidelines.
After You Revise/Complete Your Research Proposal:
Please locate three sources to use in your research.
You will be meeting in a small group with others who have written their proposals as well. You will read each other's proposals and make suggestions for how to improve your work. Please feel free to use the example on p. 97-98 and the checklist on p. 99 in your textbook as guidelines. After everyone has received feedback, please revise your proposals individually on your computers.
If You Have Not Written Your Research Proposal:
You need to do so by the end of class. Please feel free to use the example on p. 97-98 and the checklist on p. 99 in your textbook as guidelines.
After You Revise/Complete Your Research Proposal:
Please locate three sources to use in your research.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
When You Get to Class: Roman Polanski Google Search
Do a Google search for “Roman Polanski.” Once you type in his full name, which searches are suggested by Google? For example, when I type in “Michael Jackson,” Google suggests the additional searches “Michael Jackson songs,” “Michael Jackson trial,” and “Michael Jackson quotes.”
Now, browse some of the sites that come up related to “Roman Polanski” to get a general idea of who he is and why he is famous. What are some of the things that you learn about him? What is different about the information from these different sites?
What happens when you add a space and another letter to your “Roman Polanski” search? When I add a space and an “n” to my “Michael Jackson” search, I see that Google suggests the additional searches “Michael Jackson net worth,” “Michael Jackson news,” “Michael Jackson number ones,” and “Michael Jackson not dead.”
Last Year's Topics: From General to Specific
Here is a list of possible research topics from last year's students. Choose three of these topics to examine. If you were using this topic for your research, how would you make this topic more specific? What other changes might be needed?
I remember I read part of the book “The Little Seamstress”, which talks about the culture revolution ofChina China China
1) How not to raise a bully:
2) Living is a Lie
3) America’s History of Fear
4) Whether the National id is a good idea or not?
1. Global warming affects on Antarctic animals.
2. Stroke recovery survey in adults 40-62 years old.
3. September 11 recovery workers health affects
4. September 11 recovery workers that have died from exposure at wtc
5. Bp oil spill environmental affects.
6. Bed bugs
7. Out of hospital resuscitation from sudden cardiac arrest.
8. Autism in children
9. Autism in Adults.
Sociologically related, Art related, Jewelry around the world, Museum & children workshops offered
Aftermath of world trade center, hurricane Katrina, suicide on college campus, teenage suicide, young children, teens on the internet(facebook) , what impact on learning a foreign language when you are young, euthanasia, what it is to be an African American women in the 21st century? Growing up in the 60’s inNew York City
Alcoholism
Over use of the internet and its sources
Transgenics
• Does technology have any effect on cancer?
• What type of food will give your dog longevity?
• Will you be a better parent if you have children at a younger age vs. when you are older?
-should a woman finish her career before or after having children?
Children Verbal/Speech Apraxia
Drug Addiction
Speech Disorders
Children and Communication
1. RESEARCH ON THE AMOUNT OF
STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE FROM CUNY
2. THE AMOUNT OF AAFRICAN - AMERICAN STUDENTS IN SCHOOL COMPARED TO IN
PRISON 3. THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF PRISONER RELEASED AFTER
SERVING 0-5 YEARS COMPARED TO PRISONER SEVING 5-20 YEARS
4.HIV/AIDS AND WHY IT EFFECT WHO IT EFFECTS.
5. THE POPULATION OF CUNY STUDENTS THAT WORK, GO TO SCHOOL,
AND ARE PARENTS
The 25 year history of The Mario Bros: a basic illustration of a world famous pair of plumbers and how they came into being strode into the public eye and leapt into super stardom, particularly, the red capped Mario and how a middle-aged plumber fromBrooklyn was made into the everyman fantasy hero.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT: A study in adaptations, focusing primarily on the evolution of The Little Shop of Horrors from b-list low budget film, to cult classic musical, to a major studio production with a star studded cast.
NEW YORK STATE
Death of an Astronaut: Why did Nasa shut down the shuttle program.
The history of airplanes, the history of tanks, rap music, R&B music, the history of my neighborhood, the history of the Bronx, Asiatic Lion, how immigrants were treated in the 20th century, how it feels to be biracial, history of baseball, Akita dog breed, the history of video games, graffiti, cell phones, different neighborhoods of NY, jungles around the world, wars of the 20th century, Ebonics, attitudes towards immigrants around the world, attitudes towards Christians around the world, oil, dancing, singing, different types of governments, agriculture, industry, Siberian tiger, nomads, what the world was like during the year I was born, the architecture in NY,
1. Dog obesity
2. Animal cruelty
3. Animal therapy
4. Growing up with animals Vs not growing up with animals
Adoption for Gay Parent
Adoption
Growing up Diabetic to Newly becoming one at an adult.
How old is too old/young to retired.
Do video games really affect children?
Health care reform.
How hard is to grow in a bilingual word?
Child abuse
Adoption
Growing up Diabetic to Newly becoming one at an adult.
How old is too old/young to retired.
Do video games really affect children?
Health care reform.
How hard is to grow in a bilingual word?
Child abuse
Actually became very interested in Lizzey Borden
I remember I read part of the book “The Little Seamstress”, which talks about the culture revolution of
1) How not to raise a bully:
2) Living is a Lie
3) America’s History of Fear
4) Whether the National id is a good idea or not?
1. Global warming affects on Antarctic animals.
2. Stroke recovery survey in adults 40-62 years old.
3. September 11 recovery workers health affects
4. September 11 recovery workers that have died from exposure at wtc
5. Bp oil spill environmental affects.
6. Bed bugs
7. Out of hospital resuscitation from sudden cardiac arrest.
8. Autism in children
9. Autism in Adults.
Sociologically related, Art related, Jewelry around the world, Museum & children workshops offered
Aftermath of world trade center, hurricane Katrina, suicide on college campus, teenage suicide, young children, teens on the internet(facebook) , what impact on learning a foreign language when you are young, euthanasia, what it is to be an African American women in the 21st century? Growing up in the 60’s in
Alcoholism
Over use of the internet and its sources
Transgenics
• Does technology have any effect on cancer?
• What type of food will give your dog longevity?
• Will you be a better parent if you have children at a younger age vs. when you are older?
-should a woman finish her career before or after having children?
Children Verbal/Speech Apraxia
Drug Addiction
Speech Disorders
Children and Communication
1. RESEARCH ON THE AMOUNT OF
STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE FROM CUNY
2. THE AMOUNT OF AAFRICAN - AMERICAN STUDENTS IN SCHOOL COMPARED TO IN
PRISON 3. THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF PRISONER RELEASED AFTER
SERVING 0-5 YEARS COMPARED TO PRISONER SEVING 5-20 YEARS
4.HIV/AIDS AND WHY IT EFFECT WHO IT EFFECTS.
5. THE POPULATION OF CUNY STUDENTS THAT WORK, GO TO SCHOOL,
AND ARE PARENTS
The 25 year history of The Mario Bros: a basic illustration of a world famous pair of plumbers and how they came into being strode into the public eye and leapt into super stardom, particularly, the red capped Mario and how a middle-aged plumber from
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT: A study in adaptations, focusing primarily on the evolution of The Little Shop of Horrors from b-list low budget film, to cult classic musical, to a major studio production with a star studded cast.
Death of an Astronaut: Why did Nasa shut down the shuttle program.
The history of airplanes, the history of tanks, rap music, R&B music, the history of my neighborhood, the history of the Bronx, Asiatic Lion, how immigrants were treated in the 20th century, how it feels to be biracial, history of baseball, Akita dog breed, the history of video games, graffiti, cell phones, different neighborhoods of NY, jungles around the world, wars of the 20th century, Ebonics, attitudes towards immigrants around the world, attitudes towards Christians around the world, oil, dancing, singing, different types of governments, agriculture, industry, Siberian tiger, nomads, what the world was like during the year I was born, the architecture in NY,
1. Dog obesity
2. Animal cruelty
3. Animal therapy
4. Growing up with animals Vs not growing up with animals