List of Mistakes found in Rough Drafts

• paginate
• margins
• space between paragraphs
• internal citations--also known as parenthetical citation. IT'S NOT JUST FOR QUOTES!!!!!
• "p." is not needed for page numbers
• YOU--never, ever, write in the second person (unless you are writing a letter).
• italics are only to be use for titles
• paragraphs: should never be longer than 3/4s of a page
• periods and quotation marks: either behind (89). or inside "blah blah."
• big font is the oldest trick in the book. Seriously?
• Times New Roman or Arial, size 12. Period.

Drafting in 407

Welcome to drafting! This means the hardest part of your senior paper is behind you. You've already

• Reasearched
• Formed an opinion
• Organized your information
• Started writing

All of this means that with some diligence, you will soon be finished drafting your essay.

Today, you should continue writing where you left off. Remember, you should have 3 pages when you arrive in class. At the end of the period, please print what you have (even if you stop mid-sentence) and turn it into the substitute. Understand that I am assuming, from experience, that in a 45 minute period, you can write about one more page.

I will briefly go over these tonight and return to you tomorrow.

I am avaliable after school today. At 4:30, I will be at the front desk. Until then, you can find me in 306.

Please note that any misbehavior will be recorded by the substitute and will result in points lost off this assignment (3 page check-in, worth 25 homework points).

Introductions and Teacher Meetings

For the next three days, you'll be working independently (either in the lab or classroom) while I meet with you each about your outlines.

Your task today, in our 26 minute class, is to write the first draft of your introduction. Remember the triangle diagram--your intro should start with a broad statement. Each subsequent statement should get closer and closer to the point (which, for some of you, is your thesis--others, it will be the beginning of a necessary history).

It should be at least one paragraph and typed by the end of class. Print and hand in!

Here are some websites to help you--
http://www.ehow.com/how_2192068_write-introduction-essay.html
http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/intro.html
http://www.gradschools.com/Article/essay-intro/123.html

Practice: Identify and evaluate the logical fallacy in each of the following statements. Then change the statements to correct the logical fallacies.

1. I've never favored our high school's adopting a uniform dress policy because I've always disliked the idea.

2. Either we choose the kind of clothes we want to wear to school, or our rights as citizens will be demolished.

3. No one wants to wear the same outfit every day.

4. The only reason people want a dress code is to try to control our tastes.

5. Those who support the idea are unimaginative and controlling.

Hi seniors!

I miss all of you and can't wait to see you next week. I hope you're keeping up with your senior paper...today I want you to spend time doing the following things in the lab:

First--check your email. Check whether or not I asked you to revise your thesis. If I did, please work on that first. There are some student who *gasp* have not emailed me a thesis. Some of these student have even told me that they LOVE my class. How could you miss such an important assignment? If this is you, please send me your thesis immediately. The grade is going in today and breaking grade news letters go out Friday.

Second--work on your Annotated Works Cited page. I have given you an example and you can find helpful information at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ A reminder that this is due March 5th, a week from Friday.

Finally, I am very sorry I haven't been able to meet you at the Harold Washington Library. However, I'm here to tell you that it isn't a scary place. Furthermore, most of you have been there before (remember the History Fair?). I might be able to go with you next week, but I can't commit to that right now. If you haven't gone yet, here are some ideas--

• Go to www.chipublib.org. It's a great site. You can search the card catalog there. That way, you know what books you want before you go to the library. If you have a library card, you can even put the books on hold (they'll be there when you arrive).
• Go immediately to the 3rd floor. That is where the circulation desk is located. Once you're there, you can determine what floor the sources you need are on--there are maps, just like the mall, to tell you what is on each floor. Also, the card catalog will tell you what floor the book you want is on.
• Ask for help: The librarians there very helpful. If you are polite, they'll most likely be of service. Ask for help in groups of 1-3. Try not to show up with ten students all needing help.
• There is a new area of the library, solely for high school students. It's called YOUMedia. Once you have your materials, you can go in there, listen to music, eat, use computers, sit on couches, hang out while you read, etc. It's a new initiative to get teens to the library. Check it out.

Email me with questions!

Research in the lab

Hi Seniors,

NOTE: Read all of the long letter below.

I miss you! I'm so sorry I've been gone. I wouldn't miss this many days if it weren't necessary. Please do your best today and I will answer all your questions when I return.


You should have recieved your topic request from the substitute. The topic highlighted in yellow is your topic. If you have two topics highlighted in yellow, it means you can choose--I probably did this to encourage you to choose your #2 choice, however you are free to choose either. If you pink highlighting on your paper, it means you and I need to talk when I come back. Go ahead and start researching anyway. It's early enough that what you find will still be useful.


Your assignment today is to find 3-5 useful web-based sources. Look for webzines (Time and Newsweek have one), online newspapers (newyorktimes.com), news shows (CNN, The Today Show, Dateline, etc), databases with articles, images, videos, etc. Don't limit yourself to putting your topic into google. [Remember, if you want to gain some background knowledge, feel free to use Wikipedia, but remember it can't be a source. Check out the reference links at the bottom of the article.]

You may print up to five pages from MS Word. Do not print directly from the web. When you copy and paste, be sure to find your bibliographic information to copy and paste it too. Always copy the website. Save these MS Word documents to your H://, in which I hope you've created a "Senior paper" folder.

A key element to finding these sources is reading them. Make time to find them in class, and read at least one thoroughly in class. Before printing, you should be scanning for key words. Don't underestimate the use of the "ctrl F" !! Ask the person next to you if you don't know what this does. For homework, read the rest of these sources and begin highlighting key infomation. You will get credit for them when I get back.

Do not use the time to talk to your friends. We are not moving any due dates because I've been sick.

Please email me with any questions!
Get work done and be good for your substitute teacher!

Tolstoy Ch 1-3 Response Questions

Chapter Two begins with an important claim: "Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace-and most horrifying." Why might Tolstoy consider Ivan’s "simple and commonplace" life to be "horrifying"?

As Ivan rises in his career, he fails in his personal life. What might Tolstoy be suggesting here? Why does Ivan find so much pleasure in playing bridge?

Several times over the course of the novella, we find statements very much like this one: "So that on the whole Ivan Ilyich’s life proceeded as he felt it should-pleasantly and properly" (p. 52). One’s first, instinctive reaction to such comments might be, "Well, what’s wrong with that?" What, according to Tolstoy, is wrong with that?

What sort of person is Praskovya Fyodorovna? Why did Ivan Ilyich marry her? How would you characterize their relationship? Does his attitude toward her seem justified by her personality and behavior?

At the beginning of Chapter 3, we are told that 1880 was "the most difficult year in Ivan Ilyich’s life" (p. 53). What difficulties does he face, and what does he seek by way of a solution to them? How is the situation resolved, and what are his reactions to that resolution? What does this whole experience tell us about Ivan Ilyich’s character and his values?

Leo Tolstoy

Read "What Men Live By" available online at:
http://www.online-literature.com/tolstoy/2735/

Then answer the following questions, also available in our World Literature Books, page 995
http://www.amazon.com/Language-Literature-Houghton-Mifflin-Company/dp/0618601414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263398550&sr=1-1

1. What is your reaction to Michael’s explanation of what men live by?
   
2. skip
   
3. In your own words, explain what the three lessons are that Michael learns and how they are related.
   
4. Besides love, what are some other virtues illustrated by the characters in the story. Support with evidence.
   
5. Do you think Michael deserved to be punished by God? Why?
   
6. skip
   
7. Taking in a stranger can be dangerous in our society today. What do you think would happen if Michael appeared in your neighborhood in need of food, clothing and shelter? Do you think it would be possible for him to learn the same lessons? (remember Tim’s grandmother and his last talk at retreat. Use his story as a comparison).

Cyrano de Bergerac Resesarch and Presentation

Project update: each group needs 3-5 sources. At least one print source and 2 valid internet sources.

Homework Q2 Week 8

1. Unit 7 Quiz tomorrow
2. Finish Act 2 of Cyrano de Bergerac
3. Choose 6 questions off the study guide and answer (Spread them out! A student who only answers the first six questions, didn't read the rest of the Act. Five students who answer the same six questions are making hard for me not to accuse them a cheating.)
4. Presentations will begin on Tuesday, December 1st. All groups should be ready and have their materials on the Y:// or a flash drive.