Research Paper: Thesis and Indirect Quotes

Please share your thesis statement for your research paper. Your thesis statement should be worded so the reader knows what kind of essay you are doing: compare/contrast, cause/effect or problem/solution.

I would also like you to share an indirect quote from your research paper with the correct MLA citation attached to it. Please label it as your indirect quotation.

Don't forget to comment on two of your classmates. Look at the thesis formation and don't be afraid to offer an opinion or suggestion. I also bet you might find an essay that sound interesting. Enjoy


Meredith Arabas

Research Paper Topics

Some of you had trouble on Tuesday accessing the online database at the college for your research paper. The way to get around this is to go to the college web site, www.pccc.edu and go under the library tab. You get to the online databases through there. Concentrate on EBSCO Host and CQ. Their articles are all reliable and really easy to find. These two databases also have a really convenient feature where they automatically give you the MLA works cited for whatever source you are reading. It is very cool and so quick. You just have to look for MLA citation or citation tab at the bottom of the article.

If you have research questions or comments about the research process, please post them here and we can all respond. Please refer here throughout the research process. Some of you please respond to this post to varify that you can remotely access the databases. Please post if you are having a problem accessing them.

Meredith Arabas

News Article 2 With Transitions

It is important to build background knowledge so that you can think and practice your critical thinking skills in relation to what is happening in the world today. When posting, please abide by proper grammar rule etiquette. You need to start your sentences with a capitol and end it with a period.

Assignment:
Read the headlines on Yahoo News, the newspaper or any other news source. Select an article of interest and write a two to three sentence summary. Then write a 5 sentence response. You must also use at least 3 different transitions in your paragraph. Some things to think about are the following: What is your opinion on the topic? Do you have any solutions? Dig as deep as you can. Remember to activate your schema on the topic. What do you know about it already, what did you learn and how do you feel about it.

Remember to respond to at least two other people's articles as well. Your response must show critical thinking, not just a sentence. Lastly, don't forget to sign your posts at the bottom so that you can receive credit.

Meredith Arabas

Thesis and Topic Sentence - Argumentative HW

In your groups, post your best thesis and topic sentences from your advertising essay.

Meredith Arabas

Topic Sentences for First Essay

Your thesis tells what your entire essay is about. I prefer it to be your last sentence of your introductory paragraph.

For more information: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

Topic sentences tell what that particular body paragraph is about. I prefer at this stage in your writing that you have your topic sentence to be the first or second sentence of your body paragraphs. Topic sentences help keep the writer and the reader on track. Your topic sentence usually has a word from your thesis to keep the cohesion of the essay together.

Please refer to this site for more information.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/

Assignment: Write your thesis for your first essay and then your three topic sentences. You are not required to comment on your peer's post but it is helpful to read other posts to see what others are doing. Remember sign your posts at the end if you want credit.

Media Assignment

Using the information discussed in chapter 2, locate an ad, a photograph, or a cartoon strip on Google Images that appeals to you ( Go to Yahoo Search or Google and type Google Images). Save the image and then add the image in, print it out, or include the address in your response so that we can see it. If possible create a hyperlink in your response. Write a brief paragraph stating your initial reaction to the image. Then decode the image by applying the questions identified throughout chapter 2. How did your initial impressions change after a careful study of the image?"(Mims 43) I want descriptive, well written answers. As usual, please respond to two of your classmates.

For example:

This image is very colorful and keeps the viewer's attention. It appeals to the family unit as a whole as the mother, father and kids are all included. The ad pushes the stereotype of the man always controlling the remote and drinking his can of beer as his big, fat, beer belly protrudes over his pants. The ad is also giving the message that Dad owns the couch and remote and that family should give him space. This can be observed by the annoyance in the father's face that can only be perceived as being mad at having to share the couch and TV.

My initial reaction is that this is the sad state of family now where Dad needs his space and doesn't want to interact with the rest of the family. The plus side is that the family is watching TV together, but clearly the dad is not happy with having the family with him. To me, this shows a disconnect with the dad. I also think that TV plays too much of a role in the lives of youth today and that it is breaking down their communication skills as well as our communication with them. It also shows our youth and their inactivity and over consumption of soda as well as their lack of respect for sitting properly.


Meredith Arabas

News Article 1

It is important to activate and build background knowledge so that you can react and think critically about the world that we live in. The news assignments are assigned to help you in that process. If you are late posting, try and give a different spin on an article that was already talked about. When posting, please follow the rules for correct grammar and usage. That means starting your sentences with a capitol and ending with a period. Try and write complete sentences. Lastly, make sure you sign all posts so that you can receive credit. You may do Obama's State of the Union Address on Thursday night at 8, but you will need to mention three major points and what you think about them.

Assignment:
Read the headlines on Yahoo News, the newspaper or any other news network or site. Select an article of interest and write a two to three sentence summary of what it is about. Then write a 5 sentence response to it. Try and think about the following: what is your opinion on the subject? What solutions can you recommend? Try and find articles of interest.

Remember to respond to at least two other people's articles as well. Your response must show critical thinking, not just a sentence. Lastly, don't forget to sign your posts at the bottom.

Meredith Arabas

Introduction - Week 1

This is your blog. Welcome. Please complete assignments by the end of the week. This is a big part of your homework grade. After answering the question in complete sentences, please respond to at least two other people. I recommend doing it in Word, spell checking and then pasting it in the blog.

Please start by introducing yourself to everyone. Here are some ideas as to what you could write about: What are your hobbies? What other responsibilities do you have besides school? Where are you from? Why are you at PCCC? Is this your first semester at PCCC? What kind of student are you? What do you hope to do after PCCC? Is there anything else that you would like to share?After posting, please respond to at least three other posts. Remember to please sign ALL posts at the end.

Meredith Arabas