Monday, January 9, 2012
TO NEXT YEAR'S ADVANCED ENGLISH III STUDENTS!
Congratulations everyone! You've finished your research paper! Now that you have gone through the entire process, I would like you to write a letter for this blog. Why a letter? Well, your audience is going to be next year's Advanced English III class. You are to write a letter for your blog with that audience in mind. Your task is to create a proper thesis (you know how to do this now). Your letter will explain to the next class of Advanced English III students what to expect when learning how to write the research paper. You can use any tone you choose. The letter can be humorous or serious. It should, however, show some encouragement to the next students who will face the task of writing an impressive research paper. Your letter should be about 1-2 pages in length (single space). You can explain the process or you can discuss the mental stamina that writing the research entails. It is up to you. Good Luck - and have fun with this!
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Dear Ambitious Junior Students whom I applaud,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to one of the most engrossing, yet beneficial classes you will ever take. You have been warned. You’re in for the long run.
So a research paper, to be completely honest was something I had absolutely no clue how to do. You always hear of upperclassmen having to do them, and it’s one of those moments where if you hear people discussing a research paper you kind of just nod your head in agreement so you don’t seem like an insignificant nothing. This Advanced English class teaches the process of a research paper in probably the easiest ways. Granted, this is the first time I myself have done a research paper so I don’t have much to go off, yet I found the daunting task of the paper to be less overwhelming with the way Dr. Pam breaks it down.
A research paper entails specific and thorough research, correct citations, different formats, developed thoughts, and a thesis. Now hearing that for the first time, my mind immediately shouted “Whoa! Wait, could you repeat that?” That’s probably how you’re feeling, but I can assure you it all breaks down into very simple steps. Dr. Pam prepares a point sheet with each specific step of a research paper separately. This way, you can do each thing on its own and watch your points add up along the way. Even if you have no idea what a bibliography card or a research proposal is, the process explains itself.
The mental stamina needed for a research paper really isn’t anything to worry about. Even if you don’t consider yourself that great of a writer, if you have a well planned and detailed outline, the paper pretty much writes itself. Don’t be afraid to throw your own style of writing into it though. If you feel like you don’t have a style, no worries. I don’t think I have a style either. Basically when I write, I just go. I confess. I explain things the way it makes sense in my mind, not how I think it would impress some worldly scholar or Professor “I’m awesome.” Just write. If you think too much about what you’re writing, it won’t flow and you’ll end up with a choppy paper that seems like it was put together with some scotch tape and rusty scissors.
Be prepared to do a lot of the work outside of class. I know my Advanced English class mentioned this to her about how we would have like more class time to work, but of course things happen and that in-class time is not always an option. So, as a warning, prepare yourself for working on it outside of class. If you don’t have great organizational skills, don’t fret. The research process and paper is broken down and taught so that even the messiest person can put together a sensational paper.
I myself did a literary paper, which doesn’t use the APA format (if you don’t know what that is, don’t panic. It stands for Armadillo’s Purple Artichokes… okay, maybe I was kidding about that one). A literary analysis uses MLA. MLA is the format you are probably most used to using, but talking to some of my other students who used APA in their papers they didn’t have a problem whatsoever. Also, if you plan on doing a paper that will use MLA, once again don’t panic, you will learn it also so that in the future you can use it.
The future, yeah that’s pretty scary. As a junior, you’ll be scared. I promise. Don’t worry though, it’s a good kind of scared; that’s how it should be. I can honestly say though that having this research paper under my belt, I am more confident. So don’t worry. You’ll be fine. You may still be scared, but hey so am I. We’re all scared, but that’s how it should be. It should be scary. Life is scary. This English class is scary, but it’s doable. It’s beneficial. It’s a lot of work. Sometimes, you may feel like you want to crawl into a whole and never come out, (on more occasions than one) but it is worth it in the long run. All of this is worth it in the long run. Life is worth it in the long run.
Dear Class of 2014 student,
ReplyDeleteYou are in for quite the experience to say the least. Before you think that this Advanced English III class is like your previous advanced English classes THINK AGAIN! This English class has more work than I have ever done in an English class, yet I feel so much more prepared for college already and its only half of the year! I would actually strongly suggest it if you are interested in making college a lot easier on yourself! But, this letter is not necessarily about if I think you should take this class, it is about a quarter long project that I just (thankfully) finished.
I’m writing to tell you about the difficult, stressful, yet extremely rewarding task of writing a quality research paper. This year the Advanced English III class was required to write a proper research paper including proper planning and citations, and let me tell you, it was one of the most time consuming and stressful school projects I have done yet. Freshman Biology leaf project has got NOTHING on this paper! A ten to twelve page paper was the assignment. At first, it sounds like such a huge and overwhelming task, but luckily Dr. Pam broke down the process over the course of a month or so. She gives you a paper with what needs to be due when and the amount of points. This paper will be your best friend! Keep it in a very safe place. Now to the actually process. First we had to select a topic. It had to be something we felt passionate about, yet it also had to arguable. This was so much more difficult than anyone could imagine! I went through about ten topics before I chose one. You will hear the words “too broad” come out of Dr. Pam’s mouth ten times too much! I finally settled on a topic that interests me and boy did that pay off. If I did not have a topic that I liked I know the process would have been ten times worse. Because I enjoyed my topic I actually wanted to do research and learn more about it. Next we had to do pre planning, which was actually a pretty simple task compared to selecting a topic. We learned how to write a proper thesis, which was beyond helpful, because as you know, our previous English classes never taught the importance of a thesis. Also for preplanning we gathered at least six sources (three internet and three non internet), and wrote a research proposal. What the heck is a research proposal?! Well, do not fret, it is all clearly explained with the help of handouts! Now, do not get to comfortable with MLA, because we were required to use APA. When I first learned this I wanted to cry! We spent all of middle school and high school doing MLA, now we have to change it?! But, don’t worry about that because you will be eased into it and it will become as familiar as MLA because of how much you have to use it. For preplanning we also had to write a sentence outline. This process was the most beneficial to me, because when I went to write my paper it was basically written for me. When I finally handed in my paper I felt SO proud of myself! I could not believe that I produced a paper that I was extremely proud of. It is a very rewarding time when you put that huge stack of papers on Dr. Pam’s desk. There are many positive aspects of this paper such as receiving an extremely rewarding ending and getting properly prepared for writing papers in college. Having Dr. Pam as a teacher for this was very comforting because she has been teaching research papers for awhile and is very knowledgeable about the process. She is also a college professor so she knows exactly what colleges are looking for in papers. This paper also prepared me for ignoring plagiarism. Although, I have never plagiarized before, the process of this paper makes you realize how much you need to credit the sources you are using, also a very good technique to have for college. Although writing a proper research with proper preparation is an overwhelming, difficult, and stressful process, the ending product gives tremendous satisfaction and preparation for your future in high school and university.
Dear Juniors of 2012/2013 Advanced English III,
ReplyDeleteAre you having fun yet? Well, wait until you start your research paper then answer that question. Right now you are thinking to yourself, “O man what did I get myself into?” Truthfully, you are about to start a learning process that could be considered one of the most useful for your upcoming university years. Dr. Pam has probably already passed out your grading rubric and when you first look at it all you want to do is cry, but don’t, save the tears for later in the process. Although writing a research paper may sound like a daunting task, with the help of Dr. Pam and the information that she provides you with, you can learn how to write a professional research paper with ease.
“Too broad, too broad, too broad.” When you first embark on you research paper this phase may be ringing in your ears every time you think of a new topic, but do not give up keep thinking. Find a topic that really interests you because you have to work on it for three months. So if you are like me and hate cars you probably shouldn’t do a research paper on “What Electrical Car Gets the Best Gas Mileage and Why.” So once you have your topic your about 1/14 of the way done with your paper. Not only do you want your topic to interest you but you want to be able to find information on the topic both internet sights and non-internet. I know what you are thinking, “Non-internet! What does that even mean?” But do not panic our school has this place called a library. It is full of books with millions of pages full of information, and yes you are actually able to check these books out (don’t feel bad if you didn’t know that many of the juniors in my class did not know either)!
Now for the most important part of your paper, a simple sentence that could make or break your paper, your thesis! By the end of the research process you will be able to say your thesis backwards, upside-down, right side-up, in your sleep, underwater, and with your mouth closed. Be careful because sometimes when it says “Name” at the top of your paper your may start writing your thesis, for three month you are one with your thesis. This is why you must make your thesis strong. Who wants something wimpy sentence following them around for three months? Writing a thesis may be something new but after you get the hang of it you will be able to write a thesis about what ever subject someone throws your way.
During the process you will make note cards and bibliography card, these are very helpful in the organization of paper. Be sure when you do them do not just do them to get them done, sit down and take your time. This will really help you when you are trying to write ten to twelve pages in three days.
Once you write your Research Proposal you are in the home stretch. Your research proposal will help you to organize your thoughts develop the basic form on your paper. And now the outline. If you had Mrs. Steele in the middle school when you hear the word outline you cringe, but in reality you should be thanking Mrs. Steele. Because of what she taught you, you will be able to do the outline with ease. Just like the other steps of the research process do not slack on you outline. When I did my outline I made it very detailed. When I was done I thought “Why did I waste all this time on my outline when I could have done other things?” Well when it came time to writing my first draft I realized how lucky I was to have spent so much time on my outline. I was able to just take my outline and add filler sentences and there was my paper!
(my Letter Continued)
ReplyDeleteOnce you have written your first draft everything else comes with ease. You must now peer critique. This will really help you are able to hear what other people have to say about your paper and they are able to catch silly mistakes that you did not catch. But one word of advice just because someone suggests something does not mean you must use it or that they are right.
Once you hand in your final paper you will breathe a sigh of relief. You will also feel a sense of accomplishment. This is when you are allowed to cry you can cry tears of joy!
I will conclude with some very important pointers that helped me make it through my research paper. Dr. Pam doesn’t bite. I was in her room asking questions almost every morning before school. This proved to be very helpful; she was able to explain what I was doing wrong or what she liked about my work. I would also encourage you not to wait until the due date to have Dr. Pam look at your work, if you email it to her or talk to her before the due date she will help with little errors that could cost you valuable points.
When working on the research paper you may stay up late some nights, cry, or not care at points, but pull through it will all be worth it in the end. When you print out your final draft for the last time and place it with all the other papers that you will hand you will know that you are now much more prepared for the coming years
Good Luck!
Fellow Research Paper Writer,
Taylor DaCanal
Dear Class of 2014 Advanced English III Students,
ReplyDeleteWARNING: This class includes long nights, hard work inside and outside of class, group collaboration, creativity, and good note taking. Symptoms may include headaches, hand cramps, anxiety, unexplainable urges to cry, fatigue, and a strong sense of accomplishment. This just about sums up the feelings several students experienced in the Advanced English III course during the 2011-2012 school year. Ask any student and they will easily tell you that the research paper was probably the hardest, yet most beneficial projects we completed. Even though this paper may seem like the source of all your unhappiness at times; if you work ahead, listen to Dr. Diiulio, and follow the rubric’s steps the report will be far more manageable than you first assumed.
Unlike with previous assignments in former classes this task does not progress from easy to hard. Picking a topic was probably the toughest and most stressful part of the project for me. I’ll give you a hint now, this paper is in APA formatting, not MLA. Translation, MLA is citing for works involving literature; APA is citing for just about everything else. My first three topics were rejected partially for this reason. It is common to have your topic rejected numerous times before a subject is finally accepted. One suggestion for picking a good topic is to discuss ideas with your family. Another respectable consultant is a friend who knows and listens to you well. My friend, Elizabeth, actually helped me with my topic. I had been swimming on competition teams for seven years at the time. I had been groping for an idea when she reminded me of the sharkskin suit controversy I had informed her of various times in prior years. I could believe how I had overlooked such a topic; it was the perfect issue for me. The best subjects are those that personally relate to you, so they will hold your interest. Nevertheless, you have to remember it needs to fill ten to twelve pages.
The length may seem like an unattainable feat now; however, if you diligently worked on you outline and other elements to the best of your abilities the paper will nearly write itself. The paper was hard for me to write. I am not a great writer; I am slow and unsure of my sentences. The benefit is I look over details well enough that the reader will learn true facts and not just my opinions. The two processes I regret most in this project are that I did not work as hard on my outline the first time around as I should have (this made my writing process a pain) and that we did not get enough time to work on our peer edits. Forty minutes is much shorter than you would think, especially when it involves critiquing another student’s research report. A strong edit is necessary for any written work, ask Dr. Diiulio. Try not to take offense to anything written in the peer edit. The other students are not trying to hurt you, they just pointing out areas that may need further attention to better develop the paper. Just remember, it is all for your benefit you do not have to make the changes suggested in your peer critics.
Everyone has their own routine and comfort zones, these were probably some of the most helpful choices I made concerning the research paper. After my serious last minuteness in picking a topic I made myself work ahead of the due dates so I could have the assignments complete before their due dates. I went in early and spoke to Dr. Diiulio before school on any hardships I was facing in writing the paper and any concerns I had. On occasions she would correct some mistakes ahead of time so I could revise it before handing it in the next day. Most importantly, I had people I could talk to on roadblocks I was facing in the process and rant to when the process was just taking too long and needed to end. It is okay, though. Just pull through and you will make it out in one piece, good luck and do not be afraid to ask for help.
Sincerely,
Maura Keyes
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKristin,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your letter very strongly. We have most of the same topics that we told the upcoming students it was important to know. I do strongly agree most with how you must be interested in your topic. I cannot imagine what it would be like to do all this work and get bored with it. One thing that I think should be added to picking a topic is that not only should you be interested in it but make it something that sounds interesting to others to read. When I first started my research paper and trying to find a topic I was trying to do topics that were way over my level. Some of them may have been good ideas but I would not have been able to find enough information on them with the resources that were available to me. I will however keep these ideas with me so that if the opportunity comes along later in life I will be able to do research on these topics that I found interesting. So all of next year advanced English students think hard about your topic, that’s half the battle. Kristin congratulations on finishing your paper and future students Good Luck!
Maura,
ReplyDeleteI love the way you started off your blog! Very creative and very true. Like most of the future students I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I entered Dr. Pam’s class room the first day of junior years. There have been days I have left that room with an overwhelming sense of happiness and accomplishment and there have been days when I just want to rip out my hair. But in the end I know how much this class will help me. If there is one thing that I think we should stress in these letters it is do not give up. Yes, it may be hard work now but it will all pay off in the end. A perfect example of hard work paying off is the research paper. I feel after going through each step not only did it help me to organize my paper but it has taught me writing techniques I can use in other classes. The same goes with blogging, as I am blogging right now I once again feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I made it though the research paper and tell others that they will make it to. I really do hope that next year Dr. Pam allows her Advanced English III class to revisit this post and read about our experiences with the research paper. Great letter and congratulations on successfully finishing your research paper.
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI loved how you started with thinking o man what did I get myself into?! Those were my exact thoughts! I like your information about the library. Because, honestly, I can't think of one time I have ever checked out a book before this paper, which is a horrible waste! I also agree very strongly about your paragraph regarding the thesis. The thesis really can make or break your paper and I think it is funny how you said you could read it upside down, in your sleep, and underwater because it is so true. I think it was very good of you to include the part about the peer critique. It is important to not take every little suggestion and change it in your paper, because we all make mistakes. I think you had a helpful and informative letter. I still can't wait to read your finished paper!
Maura,
ReplyDeleteYour WARNINGS were a great way to start of the paper. I love your humorous approach. I think we have all experienced at least three of your mentioned symptoms. I would have loved to hear your advice before selecting my topic about talking about it with other people. I didn't even think about getting suggestions from anyone else! I can't imagine how much more helpful that would have been. I agree completely that it is very important to create a good strong outline. It really is writing your paper. My outline took me about two more hours than writing my actual paper, and was a breeze. I agree with you on the peer edits, a point that I failed to mention in my own letter. Like you said, it was a limited amount of time, so you must correct the most important things first. I think having good friends and family to listen to you rant is also a great piece of advice. I know some of my closest friends and family members were probably sick of me talking about this paper. I am looking forward to reading the final draft of your paper!
Dear Future Advanced English III Students,
ReplyDeleteYou may have heard stories that have scared you away from this class. Stories such as the late nights, hours of homework, and the stress that comes with this class are very true. However, as with almost everything on this planet, we are only focusing on the bad.
We, and we are all guilty, forget to tell you about the good parts of that class. Such as, learning to write a research paper perfectly, having a teacher who is just an email away ready to answer your questions, and all of the things you learn.
Just like you, the thought of a research paper terrified me. Like isn’t that something college kids do? I’m only a junior. Well, this year I found that writing a research paper is not that daunting of a task. With a little hard work and dedication, you can breeze through it. Even though parts of the research paper are stressful and confusing, writing the paper is not as scary as it sounds because there is a lot of information handed to you through the process and you complete the research paper in very small organized steps.
While writing this research paper, Dr. Pam was very good to us and she broke up the paper into small little steps that really helped in the long run. You had time to focus on one little part of the paper, which made it that much better because you were not worried about the step after that. I know for me, coming up with a perfect thesis statement was stressful! You will hear the word “why” a lot! You may actually feel like punching something after you hear it for the five hundredth time. However, Dr. Pam only does it because she wants you to get the best possible thesis statement that you can make. Once you complete it, the sense of relief you feel is overwhelming. Also, when writing the outline, do not be lazy. That outline is your best friend because if you put work into that, you barely have to do much to make your research paper ten pages. It takes a long time to do yes, and you do a lot outside of class, but do not put off that outline. It will be your best friend when having to actually put that paper together.
My main point for you though is, do not be scared! Your head may be about to explode from just that little bit of information. This paper will be nothing like you have ever done before, and if you thought Mrs. Steele had prepared you for writing, think again! However, Dr. Pam makes this paper so extremely easy (well as easy as it can get). It prepares you for college in more ways than you will ever imagine. I feel that I could walk on to a college campus right now and be told I have to write a research paper, and I would not be scared at all.
The only thing I found hard about this research paper was the long hours. Besides Mrs. A’s classes, I have never had that much homework in my life. This research paper actually gave me more work than Mrs. A gave me. You may also feel like your hand is permanently cramped from all of the typing. However, the pain and long hours are completely worth it when you turn in that big fat folder with all of your hard work in it. I have never been so proud of anything I have ever written. Also, if you do as Dr. Pam tells you, it will really help your grade.
Love Always and Good Luck,
Stephanie
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI LOVED your intro. I think you hit the nail on the head perfectly. Honestly, we do only focus on the bad, but you're right; this paper was so beneficial. I think it was also very helpful to put in that Dr. Pam is always an email away. Shout out to Dr. Pam on that one! It really is so helpful! I also loved how you included the part about the thesis statement. It was stressful!! But like you clearly stated, Dr. Pam only does it so she can receive the absolute best out of you. This class definitely pushes you, but in the long run it is oh so worth it. I think the number one thing you pointed out was the "do not be scared." That is the main thing we as a class should point out to other students in the future, is that you shouldn't be scared. It's manageable. It's worth it.
Great letter!
Kristin,
I loved what you included about the leaf project! Remember how stressful we thought that was, and we complained and complained and complained? Yeah, that seems like nothing compared to this now, ha ha. I also like that you pointed out the fact that you will hear the words "too broad" a lot. She wasn't kidding future English students. That part is so true, yet in the end it works out to your benefit because you end up choosing a specific topic that you REALLY care about. I think that is what made the paper so easy is that I loved my topic. I know from other students that they loved theirs as well, and like you said you loved yours. I think that is very important for future students to know. Loving your topic will only make the paper easier.
Nice letter!
To: The next upcoming juniors
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that students take more classes than they can handle? For one reason, to show that they can. I’m going to tell you straight out that don’t do this class if you aren’t prepared to work for it. English is an enjoyable class, it is no longer about verbs and subjects and questions like, “should the comma go here or there,” but rather more about writing and critical analyses of the reading assignments. In this class you will have to complete a research paper, yes a research paper. Even though the research paper is one of the hardest and longest tasks a student will be forced to complete, it is one of the most beneficial and rewarding of accomplishments.
If this sounds bad now, wait until you actually start the process. First students will be asked to find a topic that they will want to write about. I was actually thinking “easy smeasy” but it didn’t actually turn out that way. It was harder to find a topic than I thought it would be, “this was to broad, that was to controversial, or can I seriously write a ten page paper on that without signs of insanity?” The biggest advice that I can give is that make sure you find a topic that is interesting to YOU. You are the one writing about it, no one else. The process of writing the paper will be more enjoyable if you like the topic you chose. After your topic is chosen you will be asked to create a thesis statement and find research on the topic. You will need both internet and non-internet. I first thought non internet was going to be hard but on the contrary most of the paper I had written had come from the non-internet research. I was actually surprised how easy creating a thesis statement was. After Dr. Pam showed the class examples I knew exactly what to do. After this the tasks start coming more and more. Research Proposals, Bibliography cards, Outline, and Introductions are right around the corner. I didn’t realize how much was actually involved in writing this paper because I’ve never written one before. After all this was completed it was time to start the actual paper. The paper itself actually wasn’t hard to write if you completed all the other steps correctly. It was just putting everything together and going through and reading it and re-reading it that was the most daunting task.
All in all, I didn’t like the research paper while I was doing it but afterwards it’s a huge accomplishment. Yes, I stayed up extremely late. I did not sleep a wink the day before the paper was due. Sometimes it happens and you just need to pull through because in the end, I promise you, everything will work out. My biggest advice is DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!! I seriously have a hard time doing this but just plan it out and take it one step at a time and it won’t be so bad. I can honestly say that after completing this, I know that when I go to college I can complete a research paper. It won’t be easy but I have acquired enough information that I can be able to complete it. I find this very rewarding.
Sincerely,
ReplyDeleteLaira,
A student to a student.
Sophie, I love how you opened by saying this is the most beneficial class you have ever taken. That is so true! In some classes, you learn a lot, but you never put it to use. Dr. Pam does such a great job of teaching us, but then applying it. I also loved your humor about APA. That is a very good fact though that it might be confusing. Until this year, I had no idea what APA style was. I'm glad I learned it though because that will really help me for college. I also liked how you explained what you had to do with MLA for your paper, especially that is all those sophomores have ever used. I also thought your letter was very encouraging and might alleviate some of the stress that goes with this research paper!
ReplyDeleteKristin, I like how you open with how much work this class truly is, but also how all that work is so rewarding. I also liked how you compared this to the bio leaf project. I remember freshman year thinking nothing was going to take more time or be more stressful than that. I will never assume that again. I agreed with how you said the rubic would be your best friend, because it is so true! My favorite part of your letter though was when you talked about plagiarizing. I have also never done that, but I have a new respect for why it is such a big deal. People write the papers we used for their job and they spent countless hours doing it. I know I would be so upset if I found out someone just copied my paper after the enormous amount of hours we put into it. I will never even think about copying another persons hard work!
Dearest Maura,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adored the warning and symptoms part of your letter. This made me laugh and really draw into your letter. I liked your more comical approach yet truthful at the same time. Maybe you learned how to write this good from the research paper? Hahaha. I agree with what you said about choosing a topic that really interests you. I also brought this up in my letter. I wouldn’t want to write about a topic that I hated. I don’t know if you remember those writing proms in middle school we would have to write and they would give us two topics to write about. I hated it because neither topic I choose from was interesting or something that I knew anything about. I disagree with what you said about you not being a good writer because you are. I agree how the research paper comes together nicely in the end, it just may not seem like it until you really get there. Congratulations on finishing your paper!!
Dearest Taylor,
I remember “to broad, to broad,” ringing in my ears as well. Again it seems like we all agree on not to write a topic that doesn’t interest you. I also brought this up in my letter and Maura did as well. I agree cars are boring to me too! I found your comment about the library comical because nowadays it seems that books are becoming forgotten. I usually just look to find everything that I need on the internet and tend to totally rule out the idea of using a good old fashioned book that can be checked out at the library. I actually found that the non-internet research was more beneficial than the internet research! Congratulations on the completion of your paper!!
Tenacious Advanced English III Students,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how far you have made it in your journey of Advanced English III, but regardless I would like to commend you for your desire to learn and to be challenged. My class and the AP English IV class have most likely complained more than necessary about our english classes. However, we all know that the class is making us better students. It also teaches you what you are capable of, and better work ethic. Yes, this class requires your best effort, and then some, but it is also more rewarding than you want to admit. Anyone who is in track or has had WeeJ as coach knows that “you get what you put into it”. This is so true when it comes to this class. Keep this in mind when you are given one of the most crucial projects of your high school career, a research paper.
Dr. Diiulio told my class that we would be spending the second quarter writing a research paper. I assumed that we would have the actual research part of our paper done in like two weeks, and then we would write the paper itself for the rest of the quarter. Well, it turned out to be the exact opposite.
We were given a rubric with each step of the research paper on it, from picking a topic to the final draft. At first the rubric was overwhelming, but as she explained it the paper already did not seem as intimidating. We spent almost the entire quarter completing our thesis, note cards, bibliography cards, research proposal, and others. We only started writing our papers like three weeks before the paper was due. As a result of all of the work that I had done previously, composing the paper was the easiest part. If you do the preparation work, the rest of the paper will just fall into place for you.
Picking a topic may seem like an impossible task, but this is a very important part of the paper. If you do not really care about your topic you will not succeed in writing this paper. My class started writing the paper a little before November, and the final draft was due January 9th. I could hardly read my paper by the end of the process because of how much time I had put into the paper. You should feel the same way when you are nearing the end of the paper. I could tell you more about how concussions affect athletes than you probably want to know, but that is a good thing, that is how I made it through may paper. I had a passion for my topic, you need to make sure that you do as well.
If you do not know how to use your gaggle account, I am one hundred percent that you will have it as one of your favorites by the time you complete your research paper. During the research paper I really had no idea what other people were doing. I mean we talked about our bibliography cards to see how others were doing them, but this process is really between you and Dr. Pam. She makes herself available to her students in many ways especially during the research paper. She is in her room at seven o’clock every morning. If you could not make it to see her in the morning you could always email her. She does a pretty amazing job of responding to each and every email that she receives in one night. I sent her six emails in one day. I sent her somewhere between thirty and forty emails. Not only did I bug her electronically, I bugged her in the morning. There was a point where Dr. Pam was concerned if I did not go to her room before class. If you do not email her or go to see her in the morning you are only hurting yourself. She will approve your work before class, so just in case it is wrong you can fix it before class. You need to remember to use all of the services provided to you.
More of my letter;
ReplyDeleteBasically, if you do the work at the beginning the end will be a piece of cake, many she will even let you bring some in! This research paper will cause a great amount of stress in your life. You will literally feel the weight come off your shoulders when you hand in your paper. All you need to do throughout the entire course, well I am writing this after the first semester so I do not know how the second semester will go but, if you remember to look at the big picture I am sure that you will not become discouraged like many of the prior students did at first. If you ever become extremely discouraged, ask Dr. Pam if I can come in and give you a pep talk to help you stick it out.
Maura,
ReplyDeleteI know that you will probably receive many comments, but when you are creative then you will receive a lot of comments. The WARNING was awesome, I thoroughly enjoyed the humorous part of your letter. The future students will be intrigued to read your letter. The benefits that you listed are so necessary for them to hear because since we complain so often they need to hear the positive points of the research paper and class in general. I also like how you talked about the peer critique. I forgot to mention the peer critique in my letter. They need to know that peer critique are to help not hurt. If I would have made sure that I did not drop all of my quotes in my paper like one of my peers told me to I would not have missed hardly any points. However, I only fixed some of my quotes so I lost points in that area of the paper. I hope that someone puts in there paper that they do not have to listen to all of the suggestions that their peers give them because it is their paper. You are right about the outline. Doing it right the first time makes the rest of the paper simple.
Also to the next Advanced English III class,
ReplyDeleteTry to impress Dr. Pam more than we did. That may be a challenge, but you should try. :)
Anyway,
Sophie,
I think that you will be an inspiration to some of the students next year. There might have been some students that would shy away from doing what they were actually interested in because they would be doing their paper differently than everyone else, but since they know that someone else has done they can do it too. You were very brave for sticking with your topic. Since you want to pursue English it most likely will not affect you too much later on. Plus, APA is not that difficult to learn, especially when most colleges have writing centers. I enjoyed the end of your paper. The research paper was scary, but so IS life. When we are faced with challenges in life, we cannot just drop them and go to something easier. We cannot just avoid adversity. We have to face it. Challenges are simply a part of life, and we need to embrace them because in reality they only make us stronger.
Dear Advance English III Class of 2012-2013,
ReplyDeleteAdvanced English III is not an easy class. First of all, I want to warn you that you will work really hard in the class and you will get a ton of homework. The main project that you will do in this English class is the research paper. You will get hand outs and many papers concerning the information that will be looked up and formatting of the paper. You may lose sleep and part of your mind while going through the entire research process, keep with it and don’t get discouraged. The most important advice I can give to future English students is to follow instructions carefully, stay organized, work hard and work ahead, and stay ahead.
As you begin the project it is wise to be organized. You will obtain many random papers dealing with the entire research project. It helps if you take notes sometimes directly on the papers while instructions are given because many times extra instructions are very important to your final grade. In addition to keeping the papers somewhat organized, use the papers they really do help. The Perdue website is also given; you will need this when it comes time to do your reference pages and the in-text citations.
The second tip is to work hard. Yes many students are in sports, band and other activities but you must work hard, use your time management skills. All the preplanning does help to write the final paper. Pick a topic that interests you because if you decide that you are bored of your topic and need a new one, you have to do all the work all over again. Don’t blow off the main preplanning papers; they will come in handy when you have to write your paper. I especially used the proposal and the outline. I had also done a little extra work and added in my outline where I wanted to put each of the bibliography cards. This was especially useful because I was able to see where I wanted to disperse the research throughout the paper. I had realized, especially when the first draft was due, that it is a good idea to have the whole entire paper written to hand in the first time. It really comes in handy for when the second draft comes around because you already have the paper written! All you have to do for the second draft is revise it. I know many of my fellow students only had parts of the paper written for their first draft and they had a hard time finding time to finish the other half. So, get it the paper fully written as soon as possible.
The next tip is to work ahead. Procrastinators, this will be hard for you! If you get behind with your work on the research paper, it is really hard to catch back up. Work on getting a topic right away because it takes a while for it to be approved. Work ahead on anything you can, because the sooner you get it done the better. After you finish early you can go up and Dr. Pam can give you her opinion on what you can do to improve it before you hand it in. It is a very satisfying feeling when you get something approved early because then you have time to relax a little or work on the next project on the check list at your leisure.
Don’t get discouraged. This class is a ton of work but in the end you will feel very accomplished and prepared for anything a college or university can throw at you. The research paper is a challenging assignment but you will use it again as you continue on with higher education. By doing the entire process you are able to find what works best for you and what “preplanning” steps work best for you and what steps you may not need. The research paper will pay off in the end if you do it properly. As for the whole research process, tough it out and work hard. Good luck!
Sincerely, Elizabeth Nicklas
Taylor, I really enjoyed your letter. What you said about the thesis is very true. Students need to enjoy their topic so they can have a strong thesis to use for the 3 months it takes to write the paper. I also agree that it is important to consider what peer critiques you are given, if it be in the form of a blog or a formal critique. Another good point you made was that it is a good idea to see her in the mornings or during lunch or email so you can constantly make your paper better. Also, Taylor made a good point about already learning the outline. But, unlike what Mrs. Steele taught, be careful because the introduction is labeled with roman numerals as a paragraph but all the other sections are not the roman numerals, so don’t get confused.
ReplyDeleteMaura, I loved your introduction, it made me laugh, and it has so much truth to it. Like you said the project is possible, especially with all the rubrics and notes that you are given to write the paper. Another good point is that you do need a good topic that you feel passionately about. The more work a student puts forth while doing the preplanning, outlines and proposals, the easier it is to write the paper. Another point you made is that the paper cannot be opinionated, it must be research. It is important to get ahead and stay ahead, so you don’t fall behind.
Dear Student of the Future,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I’d like to congratulate you for deciding that your love for English is great enough to enroll yourself in Advanced English III. Although you’re probably used to getting satisfying grades, that will most likely change. Not only have you signed up for a tough course, but you’ve pretty much signed your own death slip. I’d like to use a phrase most commonly used by Lemony Snicket. “It is one of life's bitterest truths that bedtime so often arrives just when things are really getting interesting.” Though many high school students get to bed at a decent hour, those in Advanced English classes have no idea what a bedtime is anymore.
Most of you who read this would much rather stop right here and rethink your schedule a little bit. I’m here to tell you that it isn’t as bad as we make it sound. Yeah, we like to complain about every little thing and make situations seem worse than they really are. Actually, I think the class is one of the most beneficial that I’ve ever taken. Most of my classes are boring and not much learning goes on, but mostly memorization. You’ll learn so much in such a little time by taking Advanced English. Three months ago, I’d look like a babbling idiot trying to explain what all goes into writing a research paper. As of now, I’m pretty much an expert. (Some may understand the humor in that last sentence.) Anyway, I can already see a huge improvement in the way I use words and transform those words into something very satisfying. I was so distraught at the beginning of the school year. All I wanted to do was to drop out of the class and into a lower English class. I realized that I’m smarter than that and I shouldn’t have to lower myself because of the fear of failing. Honestly, if this class has taught me anything, it’s the fact that one bad grade doesn’t matter. I can get a 13/25 and think to myself, “whew, that’s better than I figured I’d do”. I know that sounds awful, but it’s so true. You have to learn to push yourself harder for what you know inside that you deserve.
So, about this research paper… I’ve never actually had to write a paper that was longer than five pages. When Dr. Pam told the class that it was required that we write ten to twelve pages, my heart literally left my body. I felt like I needed to perform CPR on my own self to bring my mind to gather what she was saying. Again, it’s not that bad. With the help of the rubric, time management and planning ahead is actually pretty easy. When you first look at everything you have to get done, it can be a little overwhelming. The end result is so worth all the tears and frustration that went into it. I thought it was going to be awful, but now that it’s all over, I’m so glad I had the chance to write my paper. It made me feel like I was actually smart when I’d talk to people about their topics. We could hold conversations that had meaning to them and not just ramble on about how often chicken is served at lunch.
The moral of this letter is to not listen to what the upperclassmen say. You’re all very bright individuals who feel the need to go above and beyond what your peers do. Don’t let what you hear psych you out. Go into the class with determination, an overload of sleep, about three notebooks, and a big box of Kleenex. You’ll need everything you can get.
Sincerely,
Kristy Hanes
Sophie,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with the way you worded your letter. I think it was fantastic! I fell in love with the humor that was used, but also how you tied that into the more serious ideas. I think when information is given with a hint of humor, people relax a little bit and open themselves up to difficult situations. If I were a student trying to decide whether or not to take Advanced English next year, I'd definitely lean more towards the positive side based on what I've read from you. You made it seem inviting and you included your personal feelings. I think you most definitely have the ability to connect with people on a personal level and make them feel comfortable.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you explained each step of the process. I think you gave a great overall description of what the research paper entails and you made it seem less stressful that many would perceive. I agree that the hardships of the class have proved to be beneficial and well-deserved in the end. I couldn't agree more with your invitation to the class.
Dear Advanced English III,
ReplyDeleteLife just got a little bit harder if you are reading this. The class you signed up for is like no other at our school. This class is by far the most challenging class I have ever taken. But as far as it being too challenging, too hard, and your chances of failing? RELAX. Everyone felt that way after sitting in their desk for the first week of class. It gets easier, and right around the time you get ahold of it, it changes. Of course right? In the second quarter the research paper starts. And the final due date is months away and you’re working on perfecting the art of procrastination, so face it that’s not going to happen. However, Dr. Pam makes it easy to get started right away. The key part to starting the paper is picking the topic, you like.
When I first started researching ideas, I read over tons of articles that were all very boring. I wasn’t looking forward to reading anything more. So I decided to keep going and found a topic I really love and actually looked forward to learning about it. Then it became an easier task. At first the many little things that make up all the different parts, seem pointless but then when you get to the real writing of the paper, it really helped to do all the little things the right way. The points keep adding up, and it feels good to receive points for all the hard work, long nights and moments and near breakdowns. When I started off the class I wanted nothing to do with all the work, after all I want to go into medicine not English. Then I thought why not make the best of it. I used the paper as a chance to relate the two. After picking a topic, finding sources becomes a priority. Surprisingly, it is hard to find one that is reliable. Then you build a thesis. This statement should describe the whole paper. After bibliography work is finished, you move on to notecards. You remember when you wrote a paper for Mrs. Young and she made you use notecards? I certainly do and I remember thinking when am I ever going to do this again? Well, I was wrong, it was one of those things that come back and haunt you. Just like those moments when you start day dreaming about summertime, and the teacher calls on you, and you got not any clue what is going on. Avoid all of those moments as much as you can during your English class, the work suddenly becomes easier when you know what to do. Paying attention, normally works like that. If you really thought you could glide through this class, then you are not going to get anything out of it. I seriously recommend you stop complaining and start working because that moment when you hold ten pages that you typed and you know it’s your best, you know the work paid off. If I had to go back and do it all over again, I would absolutely make sure you don’t wait until the night before everything is due to start it. When you have to chance to get work pre-approved, not taking advantage of that is just crazy. I also seriously underestimated the how important it is to just write, and stop overthinking every word. Using the synonyms button to write your paper won’t do. It becomes choppy, unorganized and inconsistent. It is not going to be easy, but try your hardest to just let the words flow out. When the words come together your paper becomes better.
If you aren’t seriously stressed out at least once, you are not trying hard enough. I’m not saying to freak over every point. If you do your best work, you will impress Dr. Pam. The papers not easy but it’s worth the process. I hope you take it seriously and remember that no one ever got anywhere by slacking off and just getting by.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Laura Buchheit
Kristy,
ReplyDeleteI like your opening, but I really like your honesty. he class is not what I thought I was signing up for at all. Telling the students not to listen to us, is probably the best thing to do. We do complain and whine quite a lot. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who never wrote a long paper before. Also I'd like to see you attempt the CPR on yourself.
Elizabeth,
Way to be blunt. I agree with what you said about two things. First, staying organized, I really got my act together and everything got a lot easier when I knew where things were. Second, staying ahead! It is so hard, but well worth it. I wish that could be stressed more in my own letter.
Taylor, I really liked your letter. It was lighthearted and got the facts out. You were very thorough in explaining all the parts of the research paper. Your “too broad” quote was so right, when I saw that it reminded me of my fourth visit to Dr. Diiulio about a topic. I felt you laid out the hardships but gave solid, reassuring tips. Like, “Dr. Pam doesn’t bite” that was very cute and true. Congratulations on finishing your paper, and good luck with the next semester. We’ll all need it.
ReplyDeleteLaira, your letter was so true. Our English classes have changed a lot compared to when we were in seventh and eighth grade (probably the last time any of us had written a research paper). Picking a topic was the hardest part for me too. I also felt like the process was a nice pace at the beginning and then the work seemed like it was due every other day. Your advice to not procrastinate is by no means an understatement. I suffer from it on occasions as well, but in completing the work I always feel ten times better.
Hello Future Advanced English III Students,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard the expression “It hit me like a ton of bricks”? Well when I saw the syllabus for this class, it hit me more like a ton of bricks falling from the top of the empire state building. I was beyond stressed out. It was unlike any class I had previously taken. I’m really glad I stuck it out though. It gets better once you get used to it, I promise.
One of those “bricks” was the ten page research paper we had to write. The one you’re probably about to start or already in the process of writing. Have fun with that. When we were told about this wonderful project, the expression “I’d rather be set on fire” came to mind. Okay so maybe it wasn’t that bad, not really at all that bad, but the way I saw it at the time was that I had to sit down at my computer and write ten pages which would have been so much worse than what we really did. I was dreading it with every fiber of my being. As we started, I realized it was much easier that I had anticipated. It was set it steps that really helped to keep your research and ideas organized. The steps made writing the paper so much easier in the end. I don’t even remember having trouble writing ten pages once I got started. My biggest piece of advice, and I can’t stress it enough, is get your work done and don’t procrastinate! I did at first and I regretted it so much. Getting things done ahead of time is so much easier than staying up late to finish something that’s due the next day. Assignments are much better quality when you’re not rushing to complete them.
My second piece of advice to you is to pick a topic that is interesting because you’re going to be working with it for a long time. Also, keep in mind it should be interesting to your audience as well as yourself. The paper will turn out much better if you are actually interested in the information you are writing about. For example, how fast bricks fall from the empire state building. That’s interesting. Anyways, after you choose a topic that interests you, you have to come up with your thesis. Don’t get discouraged is you have to revise it one, or two, or twenty time. A good thesis has to be strong or the paper will fall apart. The reader has to be able to only read the thesis statement and know exactly what the paper will be about. One way of creating is stating an objection, and then arguing your point. For example, the format for a possible thesis statement could be “While it is true that (state the objection), (state your position) because (state a supporting fact).” I’m sure Dr. Pam will explain it in more detail. Just make sure you turn in your thesis ahead of time to be sure it is strong and matches your topic.
My final piece of advice is to talk to Dr. Pam and ask her for help. You can always go see her one on one outside of class and talk to her about how to improve your paper or about any questions you might have about the class. She’s always more than happy to help. I went to her for advice many times and I feel that it helped my research a lot. I also e-mailed her back and forth about parts of my paper to make sure I had everything done correctly before I handed it in so I wouldn’t get points taken off. Even though this project is stressful and time consuming, there is such a feeling of self-accomplishment when you get it done. Handing my final paper in was such a relief I was so glad I managed to produce a paper I was proud of. I’m still waiting to receive my final grade however, so I still have my fingers crossed on that. Good luck to you all! Pretty soon you’ll be the ones writing these letters, it will be over before you know it.
Greetings Erudite Junior,
ReplyDeleteIf you’re reading this then you are most likely panicked and scared of what is to come. You may like writing or you may dread it. You may be passionate about English grammar or (most likely) it’s something that you apathetically tolerate. Whatever the case may be, you’re here, happy or not, you have a job to do. Obviously this task is not to be taken lightly. Although it appears to be a daunting task, the research paper process can be rewarding in a multitude of ways, including writing well constructed thesis statements.
The class this year started our papers at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and ended them at the end of the 2nd quarter. As I recall, the first step was due early November. The final due date (January 9th) seemed like a lifetime away. Time went on and it didn’t seem all that bad. That mere fact that assignments were due in increments, as opposed to all at one time, led for an easier, more efficient way of getting it done. I believe it provided for a better learning experience too. Because, in reality, we will be doing the same exact thing during college when one can argue that it is most crucial. Truthfully, I feel substantially more prepared for college and writing in general.
The ability of writing an attention getting, exciting topic sentence is sought after among students of both high school and university levels. Was that good? Or maybe it was not so much? You know what they say, perfect practice makes perfect. Or is that just Weej? Well, regardless, by writing this my writing skills improved considerably. I would hope so considering it’s ten pages. One of the main points that Dr. Pam stresses is DETAIL. If you remember from middle school or past English classes, you could make information up and slide through just fine. Rambling on and ‘BSing’ will get you nowhere in this class but more importantly life. Detail provides the reader with the knowledge that is necessary for them to understand the topic.
Another aspect to realize and contemplate is that this may help with high school writing and college writing but also with life. It’s likely that you will have to write papers for your profession. You may have to conclude your findings from a scientific experiment, or state your profits from a certain sales period, or even report upon your student’s behavior. It’s important because with a job, if you mess up then it is your job. You may possibly lose it! That means no money! With the research paper, Dr. Pam provides us with opportunity to better ourselves with the writing process.
Procrastination is a horror that seems to demonize all of us. Sometimes, we simply choose to allow distractions to come before our work. Everyone has done it and if you think you haven’t, then you’re lying. Once diagnosed, Dr. Pam can subscribe medication so one gets better. For me, this medication was the research paper. At first, I would wait until the last possible night to accomplish what was due the following day. The amount that I waited was a direct correlation to the grade I received. The longer I waited the worse grade I would then receive. About halfway through the process I had an epiphany. I began to be more proactive and therefore I started to earn better grades. My advice to you, don’t take half a research paper to realize this. It may seem like no big deal early on but when you see that “A” on the final graded rubric, it is golden. It is absolutely priceless.
So, in review, write this paper seriously. I mean the grade is plenty nice but the skills gained are even better. I’ll be honest with you, I received a 93% on my research paper. I was and am thrilled to get the grade that I did. I put a more than sufficient amount of work in. I was up late at night, I stressed out about it, and I wanted to assure that everything was perfect. I am pleased with a 93% because of the work that I put in. Admittedly, I could have put 7% more work in. I did not. I regret it.
(Continues)
(continued)
ReplyDeleteDo you want to be like me? Someone who got a decent grade and regrets it? Or do you want to be someone who goes for the jugular and wants the elusive yet attainable 100%? The decision is all yours; it’s not Dr. Pam’s, not your parents, not your peers’. It is yours. As Uncle Ben said to Spiderman, “with great power, comes great responsibility.” So use what God has given you and strive to do your absolute best!
The best of luck,
Ryan Detsch
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed your line "I seriously recommend that you stop complaining and start working." That's the truth about it. When you fret and worry, everything gets worse. A positive outlook is key is all facets of life. I think it's interesting how you said that one is not trying hard enough if they do not have a breakdown. Being a man (tough), I did not cry during this process. By no means does that entail that I was never stressed out. Class is 2nd period. Now if I did something that I needed clarified by Dr. Pam, I would think about it (and be stressed out nonetheless) until the lunch period when I could talk with her. Although stressing out is bad, it is inevitable. As much as I was passionate about my topic, I sort of regret not choosing one that is affiliated with my (probable) major. I possibly could have done something with renewable resources versus fossil fuels or a topic concerning climate change (FYI, it is no longer termed 'global warming')I don't know if you remember but it dealt with violence in video games. This concerned my hobbies. So, along with learning the research process and everything I mentioned in my blog post, you learned important information dealing with your hopeful occupation. All in all, it was a rewarding process.
Maria,
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, before I forget, 'anyways' is not a real word. It's not that I care but it's that a college prof will most likely! The correct term omits the 's'. It is 'anyway'. Now that I got my grammatical banter out of the way, lets get down to business. Your thorough explanation of the process and the terrors of procrastination will definitely be helpful to our successors as Advanced Scholars. Your use of the two analogies made the reading more interesting. It kept a good flow. Including the fact that Dr. Pam is there to help us is indispensable. At first my pride got the best of me and I figured I didn't need her help. Then, as time went on, it dawned upon me. She is the expert and I'm some measly high school student. From then on I sent her my materials with the idea of getting them preapproved. Preapproval = better grade. It is a very useful tool that the following students should utilize. Finally, I shall say that I got 'the chills' after reading your final sentence. I don't know exactly why but it just left me with a feeling after I read it. It doesn't even deal with me and I felt affected by it. That's great! One of my dreams is to be able to give people 'the chills'. I liked the blog post, Maria.
P.S. Good luck on getting it back! Hope you are satisfied!
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI remember how important picking a topic was, I think that’s what took me the most time because I was tired of reading about stuff that didn’t interest me. I agree with what you said about gliding through the class. It really takes hard work to do well. When we started the papers, I can remember thinking of writing a much smaller one for Mrs. Young. The process of this paper was so much more thorough. What you said about being stressed out is so true. I stress over everything and this was by far no exception. I think it’s good advice to take a break from the work once and awhile so you don’t have an anxiety attack or anything. So much stress was lifted when we finally handed our papers in!
Dear Aspiring Advanced English Students,
ReplyDeleteAs you most likely know by now, you have been given what may seem like an immensely huge task: writing a research paper. You may be scared, apprehensive, daunted. And to be honest, you should be; to a point. Writing a research paper, no, writing a great research paper is something not done easily. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, a strong will, the desire to complete such a task, and a whole lot of your time. However, even if you are feeling very daunted by such an immense assignment, you must look on the bright side. First off, for even signing up and taking Advanced English III you must either be quite ambitious, have a great love for English and writing and grammar, or just want the class on your transcript to make yourself better looking to colleges. Whichever reason, the fact remains that you must have had some strong desire to be in this class and you must use that desire to fuel your fire so to speak, to help you along the long road to come.
The research paper as I’ve already said and as I’m sure you know by now is comprised of many parts. Dr. Pamela really does a great job of breaking down the otherwise massive project and making it just a little bit easier for you. You will start out with the basis of your paper: coming up with a topic and a research question, then moving on and writing your thesis statement, and doing all the ins and outs, odds and ends. And never fear, for Dr. Pam is there for you. She is always around and willing to help you out if you need it. So you may be facing a difficult journey, but you do not have to face it alone. The next thing you will do is write your first and second drafts of your research paper. These will be critiqued, reviewed, and otherwise scrutinized by two of your fellow Advanced English III students. They will come up with many helpful suggestions as well as necessary revisions for your paper. This to me was one of the greatest parts of the process because it gives you that truly necessary extra set of eyes looking over your paper, and giving you a different perspective. It really helped me out on my paper, so make sure to keep an open mind about it, and don’t get all defensive if someone who critiques your paper makes some changes. They may just be giving your paper some extra edge that it really could use. The final part of the process comes soon after this: submitting your final paper. All of your hard work, all of your time, and all of your effort put into one folder and given to Dr. Pam for grading. It all comes down to this, and hopefully all of that hard work pans out and you get that good grade that you aspired to receive so much. I know I did, but admittedly, I feel like maybe if I had put in just a little more here and there I may have gotten an even better grade. But that doesn’t matter now, for my chance is done and over with, but you, you on the other hand have all the chances and opportunities you need to succeed. So be like Eminem, and say to yourself, say to Dr. Pam, say to your classmates, and say to the world “I’m not afraid”, and go out and write the best research paper anyone has ever read, and when you get that paper back and see that amazing grade that you strived so hard to get you will feel so much relief in knowing that your work finally paid off and better yet, that it’s all over. And almost even better than that, is that you now have the skills and knowledge you need to go off to college and into the workplace and when there comes a time when you need to write another research paper, or any paper for that matter, you can breathe a sigh of relief. You know why? Because you already have all that you need to get the job done. So break a leg Advanced English III class of 2012-13. (Not literally of course).
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I really, really like what you said about how back in middle school we could “BS” our way through papers, but how in Advanced English III with Dr. Pam and in life that is no longer possible. I agree in that detail is what truly gives a reader a real understanding of a topic. Even if a reader is completely new to a topic, a paper with great detail can really give that reader a fairly good understanding of the topic. I also enjoyed the WeeJ reference, about his like catch phrase, “perfect practice makes perfect”. I agree with you also on the waiting until the last minute to get parts of the paper done. I did that so many times, however, I almost always seemed to get a good grade on the parts. I guess I got pretty lucky, unfortunately that was not so for many others in the class. I would suggest to any new student going into that class to make sure you at least start working on assignments several nights in advance if possible. Ryan, I am also in agreement with what you said about how you feel like if you would have worked just a little bit harder you would have gotten a better final grade. I, too, feel if I would have worked harder, maybe put just a little more time into it I would have been able to get a better grade.
Dear future Advanced English III Students,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to what I’m sure will serve as a little wakeup call for you. In your previous English classes I would assume that the brunt of your workload has been memorizing vocabulary words, or reading the chapters to a novel. In Advanced English III you will be doing a lot of the same, you will be expected to read Novels and write chapter summaries, along with reading short stories followed by quizzes. For the first couple weeks of the class you will do fine, and you may say to yourself “I don’t see what the students were complaining about last year, this English class isn’t that hard!” Then the dreadful day will come when you receive the infamous “grading rubric” a little sheet of paper that will set the schedule of your life for the next nine weeks. You will look at the paper and read down the list of due date after due date, you will see the point totals 10 points, 25 points, 40 points, all tallying up to a ominous 500 point total, and your head will start to spin. Now, don’t think that just because you have started your research paper that the rest of the work will slow down. While working on your paper you will still be expected to read novels like American Tragedy and the Grapes of Wrath. Now how does it feel to be such an advanced student?!
If you have thoughts of transferring out of the class my only advice is to you is to, “Get out as fast as you can!!!” I am only kidding Dr. Pam... Future students, if you have signed up for this class you feel some need to enrich yourself academically, for whatever reason that may be. Maybe you want to be a writer, maybe you want to be an English major when you go to college, or maybe you just want to excel above all other students in your class. Whatever the reason is, let me tell you that Advanced English III and Dr. Pam will push you towards that goal. One of the major ways this class betters you is through the intense work load of the Research Paper. This daunting 12 page project that you have heard horror stories about will leave you with a great sense of accomplishment and it will better prepare you for papers that you will soon write in college. If you want to better yourself for college, you are in the right place, no matter how horrible it may sometimes seem.
(cont'd Mitchell Vallone)
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who are prepared to take on the challenge, I will give you a little heads up on how this research paper goes down. When you first start off you have to do the easiest, but most crucial task of the whole process. This is picking your research question, do NOT blow this off! If you just mindlessly pick a topic that first pops into your head the next weeks of writing will be pure torture. Take your time and pick a topic meaningful to you so you are inspired to write! You will need to develop a question pertaining to your topic, so you can answer it with your thesis statement. So say you are a Steeler’s fan who was angered by the new playoff rules, your research question could be, “Do the new rules of the NFL playoffs really increase the competitive atmosphere of an overtime situation?” Then your thesis will answer this question. Please do yourself a favor and make a great thesis! It will be included and graded in multiple steps of your future assignments. Now you will do some easier steps such as handing in research copies with bibliography cards, and note cards. Do your bibliography cards correctly because they will make up your reference page, which Dr. Pam will grade very strictly! Now that your research is done you will write prepare a Research Proposal and write your introduction and your paper will be on its way. Then will come the day when you must write your first copy of your paper that must include your abstract, your title page, and your reference page. You will peer critique each other’s first copy, you may think that your classmates are not as great of a writer as you are, but trust me their peer critiques will help you. They will find small mistakes that you have made regarding the overall rules of an APA paper, and they will locate small grammatical errors and paragraph errors. This process will be repeated again with a second draft, and then you will be to the point when your paper is due. The whole thing, 12 pages of perfectly formatted APA research, along with everything you have done before hand. When you turn in that sealed folder, or box you may be the happiest English student in the entire country, as you should be because you have just completed a very daunting task.
The best advice I can give you is to take your time, and thoughtfully perform every step on the grading rubric. Everything that Dr.Pam has put on there will help you greatly in the pursuit of a good grade on your final copy. I was lazy throughout the whole process of doing my paper, I would write down sloppy things the night before they were do, and in the end it just made my paper ten times harder to write. As you are writing it may feel like you are spinning your tires, and you may feel like you should just get it over and hand in some quick garbage, stick with it and do great work. This will be one of the greatest accomplishments you do in your Junior Year of High School, embrace the challenge, and enjoy the success it brings to you…
Good Luck to you!
Mitchell Vallone
Maria,
ReplyDeleteI am in complete agreement with your statement about the amount of work involved in this class hitting you like a ton of bricks. I was completely unprepared for the amount of work that would be in the class. It has been nothing like any English class I have ever been in before. However, that may be a good thing. It has been like a wakeup call, saying “hello, welcome to the real world”. Your right though, in saying that as time has gone by it has gotten a little easier to handle. I agree with what you said about how no matter how many tries it takes, do whatever it takes to get your thesis statement right, because your paper can only be as good as your thesis because your thesis is like the foundation of a house. Strong foundation, strong house, which will stand for ages. Weak foundation, weak house, which will fall over in a strong storm. The same idea carries over to the research papers. A really great thesis statement helped build and support great research papers.
Scott,
ReplyDeleteI think your opening paragraph is really great, it basically matches my opening paragraph of my blog! I really like the point you made about the students being in the class for some reason, such as having a love for English, it is important that the kids remember that they picked the class for a very positive reason. I am not quite sure how you did it, but you incorporated and Eminem quote into your blog, which I commend you on immensely!! That was a great sentence you came up with there. To be honest the end of your blog was really encouraging and inspiring! Great Blog!!
Kristy,
ReplyDeleteTrue that to the part about not knowing what a bedtime is anymore. I agree with what you said about us making the class seem worse than it really is. It is very beneficial. I love the last paragraph of your letter when you say, “Go into the class with determination, an overload of sleep, about three notebooks, and a big box of Kleenex.” It pretty much sums up the way we all felt. This explains why we decorated tissue boxes for bonus! All joking aside, I think this class has helped us out a lot and has started to prepare us for college. Your humor in your letter made me laugh, it was a good read.
To any possible Advanced English student,
ReplyDeleteYou will have to do research papers in English class, no matter what level you take. It is basically just a bigger paper than you’ve done in the past. The research paper is a long and daunting task, though persistence and only persistence will get you through it.
The process starts with picking out a topic. For your first research paper you should be able to pick any topic that you want. The only problem with this is that the topic must be broad enough to cover at least ten pages, though it apparently has to be “narrow enough”, so you aren’t writing about too much. Make sure to pick something that interests you, as the paper is bad enough that you don’t need an awful subject to try and come up with ten pages. The topic must be controversial, and a question must be able to be asked about it. There must be at least two sides to it, and it cannot be about the Catholic Church. Once you have done this, you must write your strong points of the paper in a spider web, with at least a few details coming off of each of the main points. This is where your outline will be based.
You must write a thesis, which is the main argument of the paper. It tells your side of the story, and is usually found at the end of the introduction. You usually have at least a week to get your thesis approved, though it has to be completely perfectly structured. It must not be too wordy, though it has to be long. The word “and” is not usually used, but there have been exceptions. The thesis must be clear, and provide the strong and main points of the paper, as well as the main objections. This must all fit into a sentence, and be grammatically correct. Most of your drafts will be turned down.
The introduction is very different than what you have done in the past. It can be more than one paragraph, and is usually five hundred to six hundred words. What we are used to writing is a medium sized paragraph which gives a little background on the paper. Now the introduction must contain your main points, objections, and at the end a thesis statement. It must start out very general and work into the main topic of your thesis. The introduction can be more than one page, and usually is. Exactly the same as the introduction is the abstract. The only difference between the two is that the abstract is about one hundred and fifty words to two hundred words, and is usually about half a page. The abstract outlines the main points of the paper, tells the objections, and gives background on the material. The abstract goes on a separate piece of paper, and does not count for the ten pages that are required. As Purdue OWL puts it, “Your abstract should contain at least your research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions.” And squeeze this all into half a page. All of the parts mentioned are included in the introduction, so you paper has two introductions.
The main paper must be clear and concise, and have lots of examples. Make sure to have adequate transitions, and make the paper flow smoothly. Make sure to correctly cite everything in the paper, as you will receive a “plagiarism test”, in which a computer checks for copied words and incorrect citations. You will receive a score, and depending on how picky your teacher is, the score can only be so high. This also picks up quotes, which if cited correctly, should not cause alarm to the teacher.
The main thing to remember is pick a good topic. If you actually like what you are writing about, the paper will be a lot easier.
Sincerely,
Linnea Stager
Laira, I really like your statement about not procrastinating. Sometimes this is harder for some people, though everyone needs to learn not to do it. Doing a big part of homework the night before its due is hard, and will never get you a perfect grade. Everyone needs reminding of this once in awhile, and you said it very well.
ReplyDeleteMaura, I like how you put about picking a good topic. It must relate to you, and you must like it; “… they must hold your interest.” You cannot just pick one out of thin air, and you must be able to find research on it. This last part is crucial too, as if there is no research you won’t have a paper.
Hello Incoming Advanced English Class,
ReplyDeleteWe are writing to you with just a few words of wisdom learned in our writing process. Now, everything I say may seem silly but it's more than worth it. If you listen to the advice of anyone who has done this before, it'll be a great help. We know what we are talking about purely from experience.
So the first thing you need to know is that you will end up doing this paper whether you like it or not. It counts for a large part of your grade. Now, don't let that number scare you. It's just another number on a piece of paper. In the long run, it doesn't matter what grade is on the paper. It's about writing something you can be proud of.
Now, you are going to look at the requirements. One of those is the amount of pages. I know I personally stared at it and just thought it would be impossible. But trust me, it's not. Once you really get started, stopping becomes the problem. After you get enough details you can just go on and on. There's one really important part to this though. Pick a topic you are passionate about. It'll be so much easier to write like that. You can't pick the overused ones but you'll find that if you think hard enough you will find the perfect topic for you.
So look at those deadlines. See them? Yeah, you will really want to follow those. When you are going through the process, it may seem tedious and totally overrated but you will not be able to believe how much it helps out in the end. If you follow all the steps and get them done on time, you're basically writing your paper as you go. If you fill in the outline and use the research proposal you have everything that you need.
You just need to follow deadlines and if it seems too intimidating, take a step back and just look at it. You'll realize that there is a lot less to it than you initially thought. A good piece of advice I can give you is to not carefully watch your page count like a hawk. You will have more done than you know before you realize it.
The best part about the whole thing is that the research process is one you'll need more often than not in college. This is a really good way to get started on it. It is the best practice you can get because you learn in steps. By separating the process into steps, you can hone down on one detail and get it as great as possible.
Remember, don't be scared. We've all done it and so can you.
Alexandra Coppolo
Mitchell,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the fact that you addressed the fact that prior to this year. Were mainly doing vocabulary cards for English. It was nowhere near as terrifying as what we recently faced. I also like that you covered the things that will be graded more strictly, like the bib cards. The humor in your letter makes it very easy to read. Great job!
Linnea,
I love that you covered the fact that research papers are a must. They just are a part of education these days. I also enjoy that you said persistence is the only thing that will get you through it. It's very true. If we had just lost determination we would have all failed. You also bring the letter back to a main point at the end, pick a good topic. In my eyes that is the most important part. I loved the letter!
Dear Advanced English Students of Next Year!
ReplyDeleteThis quarter you are to write a ten to twelve page research paper, it is worth 500 points, and it can make or break your grade if you do not try. After hearing those words immediately many of you will begin to panic, I know I was worried at first. Well calm down! Panicking is unnecessary and will cause you more stress than you need; junior year is a lot tougher than your sophomore year, and it is a lot to adjust to. After following some simple steps, you will have your first true research paper turned in and given back in no time. This assignment is not as ghastly as it sounds, and in the end it deems to be extremely rewarding and beneficial.
The research process is simple if you put it into steps and do not attempt to cram everything in. The first step to one of your first real research papers is to pick a topic. A research paper requires the author to propose a question that is many times able to be argued with or has more than one opinion. For example, my topic was animal testing. I found this to be one of the most stressful parts to the research paper because many of the topics that you will come up with at first may be too broad. Too broad you may ask? As long as a ten page research paper may seem, a more challenging topic will create a better research paper and will most likely end up giving you a long enough research paper. Many topics I chose were out of fear that some of the more specific ideas that I had would not be long enough. In the end, my topic on the negativity of animal testing turned out to be a good idea. I could have gotten fifteen pages out of the paper if I would have needed. The next item on your list to developing a research paper is developing a thesis. This part is complicated, but once the process is learned it becomes easier. When Dr. Pam is going over in class the process of making your thesis statement take good notes and use the recommended websites, it helps out a lot. After these processes are complete, you are ready to start developing your research paper.
Now its time for the RESARCH portion of your paper. Personally, throughout the entire process I was finding new research. However, having well rounded scholarly research will make up for the basis of your paper. The research paper cannot be strictly internet research, so it is beneficial to check out not only the public library, but the school library as well. Once you have most of your solid research, make bibliography cards and note cards using the instructions Dr. Pam gives you. Depending on your topic will depend on which form of citation you will use. Most likely you will be learning the process of APA formatting to do your paper. The MLA form is not commonly used for this type of paper but it still may be used in some cases, such as a literary analysis. Be sure to know how to use both, and try hard to learn APA formatting. Once your note cards are written it is time to develop a research proposal. This portion of your research process discusses: your thesis statement, a little bit about your paper, some of the objections to your topic that can be made, and your rebuttal to the objections. After the research proposal, it’s outline time! This is a beneficial skeleton to your paper. A sentence outline makes writing the actual paper fairly simple, because most of the information is there. After the outline is created it is time to write your paper. Fill in the gaps to the outline, be sure to have good topic sentences and make sure all of your information is cited. You now have a research paper! It is a good idea to have as much done for your peer critique, because this is what will help you to develop your paper better by being read by someone else. After all of your corrections are made, be proud! You’re mostly likely done till college as far as research papers. The quarter goes by fast, and you will not be working on this research paper the entire quarter, novels and other works are done along with this process.
This class will really help prepare you for the future. Follow all of the processes, take good notes, and take Dr. Pam’s advice when it comes to development of your paper. This whole paper will be less difficult if instructions are followed and you try to everything approved early, it leaves time for improvement. Good luck next year, you’re going to need it!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Abby Wittman
Responses:
Maura,
I like the way you started out your paper, it really caught my attention in how it is portrayed as a warning label. I also enjoyed how you mentioned that the research paper did not start off easy and get hard, it is exactly how I felt about this research paper. The only real criticism I have is that you only explained the beginning part of the research process. I thought after explaining the topic you would have went into more detail about the research paper. Overall, if I were in next year’s class, I would have found your blog to be very helpful.
Stephanie,
I am glad that in your letter that you wrote about the positive things about this class. I know that even though it is the hardest English class we all have ever taken, in the end it will serve to be beneficial. Your letter really reinforced to next years students not to become frustrated and stay positive. You also picked out some specifics that may frustrate next year’s juniors. In their position, I would feel prepared for the research paper next year! Well done.