Research Papers Are Imminent

So get it in gear! I suppose you'd like information as to my general expectations and how you might achieve high marks, wouldn't you? Energise.

Due Date: Monday, September 13, 2010.
Late assignments will be docked 10% per day.

Format:
-2 Pages, Double-Spaced, 12 Point Font
-Must include Citations and a separate "References" page.
-Must answer the question: "What does this topic reflect about human behavior?"

General Expectations:
The research paper is a chance to select a topic of interest within social studies and become an expert. Your primary goal will be to explain the impact of your topic on human behavior. Each quarter, social studies class covers a major field of social science (History, Government, Economics, and Geography) and you will select your topic from within that quarter's field. The first research paper should cover a topic in World History. Your paper will be graded based on ideas/content, organization, use of citations/references, and conventions. Following these guidelines will ensure high marks:

Selecting Topics:
Your topic should be narrow, not general. For instance, "Ancient China" is a poor choice whereas "The Use of Drums as Seismographs in Ancient China" is a keen choice.

Research:
You should have at least two sources of research. I prefer print sources. While I do accept internet research, your sources must have an author and a date. Some websites do not qualify. Wikipedia is not a valid source. You may, however, use Wikipedia to locate valid sources through the "External Links" or "References" sections of its articles.

Organization:
The entire object of this assignment is to answer the question "What does this topic reflect about human behavior?" A standard 5-paragraph format is preferred. Ideally it may be outlined like this:
1. Intro with thesis. Example Thesis: By providing a stable food supply, ending nomadic behavior, and supplementing new technology, the invention of agriculture made a great impact on human behavior.
2. Support Paragraph on stable food supply.
3. Support Paragraph on ending nomadic behavior.
4. Support Paragraph on supplementing new technology.
5. Conclusion.

Citations:
At the end of each paragraph, you must include a citation. It will include the last name of the author of your source for that paragraph and the date of publication. A typical citation will look like this: (Holt, 2005). No direct quotes will be permitted this year. Papers without citations will be docked 5%.

References:
You will include a third page, titled "References." This will include the name, date, and title of each of your references. For example:

2005. Miller, Sue et al. World History.

Papers without references will be docked 10%.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the act of claiming someone else's work as your own. This includes failure to cite your sources. Plagiarism is detrimental to academic integrity and will result in a grade of "F."

Shakespeare

Here ye! I'm starring in a play this month and I implore you to partake in the reveling.

William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is running every Thursday-Sunday at 7:00 PM from September 16-October 3 at the Himmel Park Outdoor Amphitheatre. This is part of the City of Tucson's Shakespeare in the Park series. I expect to see parents, students, families and staff. This is a great opportunity to experience literature and share the canon of the immortal bard while spending a late-summer evening under the beautiful Tucson skies. Also, my character gets punched in the face: so you don't want to miss that.

So, convert all your sounds of woe into hey nonny nonny, and I'll see you at the show.

Social Science!

New school year. A lot of happenings are happening. Here are my general expectations, all of the due dates for the entire year, and an outline for what you can expect in my class. And, go.

Course Agenda:
We will take a holistic approach to the social sciences this year, covering areas of history, government, geography, and economics through multiple disciplinary lenses. Each quarter, students will be responsible for one visual project, one research paper concerning an approved topic of interest, and a journal. A quiz will be held every other Friday. Here is a look at your Course topics and assignment due dates:

First Quarter: World History
Research Paper Due: Monday, Sept. 13
Visual Project due: Monday, oct. 4

Second Quarter: American History
Research Paper Due: Monday, Nov. 15
Visual Project due: Monday, Dec. 6

Third Quarter: Government and economics
Research Paper Due: Monday, Jan. 31
Visual project due: Monday, March 7

fourth quarter: Geography and world culture
Research Paper Due: Monday, April 18
visual project due: Monday, may 16

Course policies:
Our class has the potential to be a fun, safe, and I dare say hilarious learning environment. However, this only stands true if student and instructor can develop mutual respect. If respect is consistently maintained, there are very few other rules necessary to apply to our class. Of course, there are the basics: no gum or food; drinks should be limited to covered bottles of water. Watch the dress code. Don't cheat (there is very little to cheat on, anyway). Let me talk when it's my turn, and expect that I'll return the courtesy. Other than that, simply ask yourself if you are following the pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. If not, expect a correction.

Assignments:
Research Journals- The main assignment in this course is to keep a research journal. This will be a log of several vocabulary words each day as well as notes and a weekly entry (Half page in length) regarding the topic of the week. You will be checked daily for notes and vocabulary.

Visual Projects- These are due near the end of the quarter and must be creative, relevant, and show that the student has researched the topic. The visual project is an opportunity for students to teach their peers through visual means.

Research papers- Also due near the end of the quarter, research papers are the functional tests of our course. Students will write a minimum of two-pages, double-spaced, in AAA format (the style of the American anthropological association) about a topic of choice relevant to the course material. Students must submit a proposal and have their topic approved. Plagiarism is a crime, and will result in a grade of "f," no exceptions.

Quizzes- every other Friday, a quiz will be given to test students knowledge of the course material. The Fridays in between will serve the same function. However, instead of a quiz, those dates will be reserved for a game of jeopardy.

Class format:
A typical class day will consist of three main sections:

1. Research journals- students will have time allocated toward defining the day's vocabulary and completing a weekly entry in their research journals. During this time, students may be asked to work on a small, cooperative learning assignment in their research journal.

2. Class reading- The class will complete a reading in social sciences together. Each student will contribute to class reading.

3. Class discussion- The day's objectives will be completed in the form of a forum-style class discussion.

The time allotted for each of these activities will vary, and it is possible to earn more time for research journals and quiet visiting.

I expect a most excellent adventure.

Happenings

Hello everybody. The end of the quarter is approaching quickly: a lot is happening.

A. I'm seeing a lot of holes in the grade book where Research Papers and Visual Projects should be. Tomorrow is the last day to turn in late work. After that, tough cookies.

B. I'm proud to announce the school play: The Play's The Thing: 4 Short Plays About Hamlet will take place on April 30 at 6:00 PM in the Lakeside Auditorium. LPA Drama Club has been working tirelessly at this production and it's going to be a blast! Tickets are 4 dollars at the door, 3 in advance.

C. After-school ensemble band is starting to really cook. Keep up the good work, kiddos. We're still looking for a name. Comment on this entry with your ideas!

D. Fourth Quarter is right around the corner. Here are the due dates for the final assignments of the year:

- Research Paper: Geography & World Culture: Monday, April 12
- Visual Project: Geography & World Culture: Monday, May 17

E. This year, the Summer Theatre Camps are expanding. We're doing three camps: Musical Theatre, Theatre, and a Rock and Roll Camp. More information (And updated pictures) can be found on the website: http://www.troubadourtheatre.com

That's all for now. Tune in next month: Same bat time, same bat channel.