Ms. Olbrych’s Blog & Blab

Hey Students!

I am going to show off your wonderful work.

Today’s the day you will be turning in your long -worked -on research paper.  Please print out one copy of the following:

• cover page   (You may take some time to create an interesting title page, but it cannot be in color.  You could color it yourself with pencils if you wish.  I have them with me in the lab today.
• report with numbered pages and standard heading and title
• works cited page

Once you have your copy in hand, assess your report according to the rubric.  Place this on top of your work and turn it in.  No need to staple as I will be printing another copy to become a part of a class book.

I have so enjoyed doing this project and hope that you have too.  We need to discuss what it is we should now do with the blogs.  Should they remain as they are?  Consider them yours to do as you wish?  Would parents be okay with this?  Use them for another purpose before the year is over?  There are many things to consider.  Let me know your thoughts on this.

I am so looking forward to seeing your parents again at conferences.  And remember, you are the most important person at conferences, so you need to be there too.

Ms. Olbrych   :) 

Today is the last day you have to edit.  I strongly recommend that you read, backwards works best, through your work four times with the following focuses each time:

• punctuation
• capitalization
• spelling
• grammar

Don’t forget to write an interesting title and copy your work, report and works cited page to a word document for printing out.  You may want to do this before you edit, so you can make marks on the report itself.  You may also ask your writing partners to look for specific things, like spelling or grammar.  Don’t expect anyone else to edit your work to perfection; this is your responsibility.

Tomorrow you will have fun creating a cover sheet.  You may want to include pictures and frames, etc. to enhance the effect.

The final draft is due tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the official end of our third quarter.

Let’s enjoy the 60 degree weather we will be having today. 

Ms. Olbrych 

The process of writing a research paper is nearly over.  These last few days are for editing, adding an interesting title, and fine tuning your “Works Cited” page.  Being that Edublogs does not allow you to format the works cited page in the required manner, it is necessary to create the page on “Word” and cut and paste it to the blog.  In the end you will need to have all three parts: title page, report, and works cited on “word” anyway because you will need to hand in a hard copy to keep in your file and I will be putting together a book so others will be able to read everyone’s report in the classroom. 

So, today is the day you really need to edit carefully.  I have provided you with a checklist to use.  Don’t simply assume that your work is perfect, rather consider it imperfect so you can find mistakes.  An editor reads text backwards one sentence at a time to isolate each and every sentence.  I know you are good editors as your have shown this to be true each day as we did our editorcises.

Lastly, experiment with titles.  See the examples on the editing checklist and come up with something interesting for your work.  Is there a term you would like to highlight, or a sense of importance, or joy, or sorrow, or anything else?

Today during class there will be no commenting on the work of others.  Last week, I am sorry to report, some students were not taking the task of offering constructive advice seriously and were using the comments for personal information.  I can’t allow you to use our valuable classtime in this way so let’s keep to the important work you do need to do to make your report the best it can be.

Remember, if you find yourself without a handout you may need, it is your responsibility to ask me for copies so you have the tools you need to do your best.

The end is near!  The due date for the report is Wednesday, the last day of the quarter.  Our last day in the lab is Thursday and that will be a day for sharing.

As usual, if you need help with anything just ask.  Mrs. Courcelle and I will be there for you. 

Oh, let it be spring soon!

Ms. Olbrych 

My only message to you is keep up the good work.  On Monday I will be checking for the following: 

• draft of report with all parts: intro, body, conclusion
• highlighted topic sentences
• works cited page
• responses, it is not the writer’s responsibility to make sure that you have comments and suggestions from those assigned to you, it is the person who was assigned to give you feedback responsibility.

If you ever forget a direction for a page check out my blog for instructions and use the handouts I gave you as examples and guides.k Works Cited pages are tricky, use the example and copy and paste the citations provided on websites and our library’s system.

If you are ever in the position of losing work, copy and paste to a word document.  You may want to do this with the report anyway so you can read and comment as you go.

Have a nice weekend and hope for spring!

Ms. Olbrych

As we come to the end of the process of writing a research we reach the most important step, that of revision.  All writers are reluctant to honestly assess their work,  but it is critical to producing the very best work one can do.  Rework your introduction so that it is strong and draws in the reader letting them know  how passionate you are about the subject.  Try something creative and set the scene, or write a reflection, or dialogue even.  This may sound familiar because we practiced different introductions when you wrote narratives.  It is possible to begin in a creative manner and then hit the readers with your strong thesis.  Try to stay away from: “I am going to tell you about…..” or  “Do you know about…..?” 

• Check carefully that each paragraph has a topic sentence.  I want you to bold the topic sentence in each paragraph to make them stand out. 
• Check to see that your final sentence in each paragraph is a transition to the next one.
• Reread your final paragraph and make sure you have included one or more of the thoughtful closings suggested on the “Writing: Ending Your Research Report” handout.
• Lastly, organize your “Works Cited” page.  You have information about that too.  Be sure to alphabetize the resources you used.  As far as an interview, rather than “Personal interview” you can write “E-mail interview,” without the quotation marks.  that should be a matter of cut and paste if you kept track on your notes page.

I know this will take longer than one day, so the due date for all of this is Monday.  Remember that you also need to provide feedback to the writers in your virtual group through comments. 

Your blogs are the talk of the school and beyond.  Many people are interested in what we are doing.  Keep up the great work!

Ms. Olbrych

Today is the day you should have a first draft written.  Yesterday I gave you a set of questions for revision.  Before you share your writing with others it is extremely important that you consider all the ideas in terms of your work.  Don’t worry about #6 just yet; we will have eding conferences next week, concern yourself mostly with content.

I will provide you with 2 names, write them down and you may choose another one with which to share drafts.  The process will be as follows:

• Read the writing once to get an overall feel for it.
• Then read it again, focusing on what you like and record any questions you have.
• Lastly, or while you are reading, record on the writers “comments” section your reactions.  Ms. Courcelle will have a lesson on that today. 
• It is important that you are specific.  “I like it” is not helpful, but “The way you defined the words as you introduced them helped me understand what you were talking about.”
• The writer may request specific help with their work.  Perhaps a person is not sure about the introduction, maybe it does not grab the reader, or the thesis is not clear, you might receive a comment that you need to respond to on your comments section.   

Today is the day I will check to see if you have your first draft.  Yesterday’s work was to write a conclusion.  If you are much later than tomorrow, you will miss out on receiving valuable feedback from your peers.  Next week we will focus on editing.  The final draft is due next Wednesday. 

Have a great day!  ; )

Ms. Olbrych 
 

By now you should have completed many steps in the process of writing a research paper.  I will be checking for the following today:

• Reorganized notes with topic sentences and closing statements
• Paragraphs of the body of your paper.  (the reorganized notes will guide you)
• The paragraphs and experimental opening should be on the home page.

You only need to research if you still need information.  Remember, if you were not able to interview an expert, you must still have 6 resources.  Consider the media option and view an informational film, or listen to a podcast on line.  There are many options for you to learn about your topic. 

Today you will work on a closing.  I have given you a handout with advice and examples to help you on your way.  Experiment with more than one and see which ending appeals to you the most. 

Once you have done all of this you are ready to begin revising.  On the back of the handout on closings you have tips on how to effectively revise.  Read and do the first 5 tips.  We will begin to edit later in the week.  Only after you have seriously considered your own work are you ready to let another reader give you feedback.  You will be creating virtual writing groups tomorrow. 

The steps in the process are extremely important and none can be skipped.  Your writing grade is dependent upon completing all the steps in a timely manner.  If you need help all you have to do is ask.  There are also opportunities to work individually with me after school, or during guided study.  I am not available in the morning as I presently have cafeteria duty.  

If you forget what to do you on the different pages, you can go to my site and reread the directions for each page.

Have a great day and hope for spring!

Ms. Olbrych

District Network Services has isolated the problem with Edublogs!  The problem was with our end.  Apparently, our system blocked any thing having to do with Edublogs as spam, making it quite impossible to get any work done.  That is over.

I assume there were no problems at home because you wouldn’t have the filters our school does so you should have been able to reorganize your notes and turn them into paragraphs.  Remember a paragraph includes the following:

• Topic sentence
• Details about the topic
• Closing sentence

Today we will work on writing beginning paragraphs.  I have a handout with guidelines.  What is most important is that you include your thesis somewhere in the beginning paragraphs.  It is possible to be creative and really write a “hook” or an engaging beginning to draw in your audience.

Please print out your reading log so I can see that you have been reading and documenting your effort daily.

If you haven’t reorganized your notes, you may wish to print them out so you can have them in view as you do so and then eventually compose your paragraphs.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to keep up with the process.  Your writing grade greatly depends on your effort and keeping on top of your daily assignments.  This is the week you are actually writing your research paper.  There will be times to read others, give and receive feedback and revise, revise, revise, and eventually edit.

Know that I am here to help you when you need it.  We will be in a lab every day this week and into next week. 

Stay productive!

Ms. Olbrych  

Now that you have a few ideas for your focus, which will become your thesis for the writing, and have considered all the organizational patterns and have selected one, you are ready to begin to consider how you will put all your information together.  If you haven’t carefully chosen one of the patterns and have a few ideas for your thesis statement, you are n ot ready for today’s work.  Do this first then work on today’s assignment.  Remember a thesis, or focus statement is the following:
subject + your emphasis/opinion/voice = thesis statement

THEN

Follow these steps to organize the body of your report:

• on your notes page notate the organizational pattern you will use: description, sequence, comparison, cause and effect, or problem and solution
• label the parts: these depend on the pattern you will use (see descriptions on the handout)
• copy and paste information into sections that belong together
• write a topic sentence for each section

This activity will carry over and become homework for tonight.  Tomorrow we will begin to think about how you will open your report.

I am looking forward to reading your focus thesis statements.

Ms. Olbych

P.S. I hope you are having success in interviewing an expert.  There are numerous ways to to this: email, phone, in person.  I am beginning to get emails from those I sent yesterday for students.  Annie, yours is in.  : )