Monday,+January+31

Bell Ringer
Have you made a 3rd 9 Weeks shelf for your blog with Goodreads? goodreads.com blogger.com

Lit Circles
With your group, use your notes to have a 7 minute Socratic discussion (without the outside circle). (Here's an online timer if you need it.) Use the flip camera to record your group. When you finish, watch the video. Discuss with your group the positive and negative aspects of your performance. Did you refer to the text? Did you build off each others' ideas? Were there long awkward silent periods? Was everyone well prepared? Complete the grading rubric. Turn this in, along with your notes handout. Check out this sample post discussion report. Make sure you get a handout for preparation for the next lit circle!

==Your Job For the Day- Gathering Sources! == My research question: Is there a link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to people? My working thesis: Offenders in animal cruelty cases should receive harsher penalties and required counseling.
 * Teacher Sample**

Use Ebscohost: Student Research Center to find a source.

Mini-Lesson: Using an Online Database

 * Sign In to ebscohost
 * Notice search terms and keywords (AND, quotation marks, OR)
 * How to add articles to your folder
 * Order by date or relevancy
 * Narrowing the results


 * You need 10! ** Make sure they are on topic, which means they support your thesis statement and answer your research questions. Also, make sure they are reliable.

Useful Online Databases:
Ebscohost: Student Research Center ERIC

You do not have to find all of your sources through these databases, but you are not hooked up to a printer in the classroom. This is a convenient way to collect your data as you find it and print resources that you need when you have access to a printer. Popular search engines, such as Google, are also fine ways to gather research provided you understand how to recognize a reliable source. Documentary videos and websites of organizations, such as PETA or the ASPCA, can make powerful sources!

And While You're Working...
I need to see your research plan and conference with you on your idea.

Homework
Be researching your topic! I won't be here on Wednesday due to Lit Lab training in Searcy. I will ask you to work on a thINK using one of the articles on your topic. Be sure to integrate some quotations from the article into your writing!

Read and prepare for Lit Circles on Friday! The focus will be on author background and your own journal connections.