November 21, 2013 - Thursday

Class Work

The final copy of the cause/effect/solution essay is due today. Post in MyCompLab

Hand me the paper copy of your draft along with the peer editing sheet from Tuesday.

This is what we started on Tuesday.

We discussed the PowerPoint presentation! You will be using the information from your essay to prepare a PowerPoint presentation.
Slides:
1 Title Page to include your name , date and  title of your presentation
2-3 defining and/or describing the problem. Prove that a problem exists.
2-3 sharing the causes of the problem.
2-3 explaining the effects of the problem
2-3 giving solutions and calling us to action!
1 Works Cited page.


Remember that an effective PowerPoint presentation should follow these guidelines.
Create three slides for your presentation.
Have two students "proof" your work using the chart like the one below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORxFwBR4smE Short how not to do a PowerPoint

Layout · Photographs, graphic design, and clipart are useful and enhance the presentation · Title, author, and course identification are on the first slide · Works Cited page is the last frame and is in MLA format

Fonts · Font size is at least 16 · Footless Font is used · Color is of a deep enough contrast to be easily read · Font colors are limited to three or four throughout the presentation

Text · Bulleted points are limited to no more than six per slide · Six or fewer words per bullet are used · Headlines are effective · Spelling is correct · Punctuation is correct · End punctuation or no end punctuation is consistent when using bullets · Upper and lower case is used correctly · Animation is limited and necessary · Sound is limited and effective

Content · A work of art is included · Point/thesis is clear · Supporting elements are evident · Introduction captures the attention of the audience · Conclusion contains a strong message · Clear steps for a “call to action” are obvious

Watch, laugh, and learn...
Tips for effective presentations...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENOvAGQ5UlU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whTwjG4ZIJg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXILI9Q1jIw Two minute how not to give a speech - find the errors

Sign up for your presentation slot.
1. We begin on Tuesday.
2. You must have your presentation on a jump-drive. E-mailed projects take too long to find. Be ready. Also, your presentation must be submitted in CANVAS. It is possible to pull it up from there.
3. Your presentation should be no longer than 5 minutes and no shorter than 2 1/2 minutes. (Yes, this is a change.)
4. If you are absent when it is your turn to present, you may be docked 10 points from the final presentation grade unless you contacted me in advance and made other arrangements.

Questions?

Let's practice. You will be given an object to use for a 45second presentation. Enter the "stage" and talk to us about the object.
1. Tell us what it is.
2. Show it to us.
3. Tell us a "story" about the object.
4. Look at us.
5. Speak up. We need to hear you.
6. Stand professionally.

November 19, 2013 - Tuesday

Class Work

This was the homework:Write your draft. Bring a paper copy to class on Tuesday. Do not post! Print here if you are short on ink.

This is where we left off on Thursday and where we will begin today.

A. Do you have problems with any wild critters? Read what deer can do! It's hard to believe that "Bambi" is a menace!
Essay #2 "Practical Wildlife Management"

B. After reading the article, we will peer edit your work! You need to be in groups of four.
C. The power of humor - "So Earth Had This Boyfriend ..." Yes, humor can be used to convince others.

D. A final word from Al Gore - "The Plan That Saved the Planet" - 2009 - (Read the article. What is the claim? What are the reasons? What evidence is given? Is there a "call to action?" Is this a present, past, or future essay?

Homework
It is final copy time! Polish your draft and post the final copy of your cause/effect/solution essay in MyCompLab. Be sure that the MLA formatting is correct on your original and that the Works Cited page is correct as well. This is worth 100 points. Give me the paper copy of your draft along with the peer editing notes on Thursday. The draft and notes are worth 30 points.

If time permits today, we will discuss the PowerPoint presentation! You will be using the information from your essay to prepare a PowerPoint presentation.
Slides:
1 Title Page to include your name , date and  title of your presentation
2-3 defining and/or describing the problem. Prove that a problem exists.
2-3 sharing the causes of the problem.
2-3 explaining the effects of the problem
2-3 giving solutions and calling us to action!
1 Works Cited page.

Presentation Date: November 26

November 15, 2013

Class Work

1. How is your research coming along? (Share) Write your topic/issue on a post-it note and post on the board. Groups will be formed according to interest.

2. What proof do you have that a problem exists? What are your sources? (Write on post-its and post below your topic.)

3. What are the causes of the problem? (List and post above the problem.)

4. What will be the effects if this problem is not solved? (Take about 15 minutes to look for solutions. Keep track of your sources. (EasyBib - perhaps?) Write at least two effects on post-its and post under the problem.

5. Solutions . . . take a few more minutes and find at least three possible solutions. People are very concerned their time and money. Be sure to tell the readers how doing what you are asking them to do to solve the problem will not be a horrible problem for them when it comes to their time and money. Clearly tell the readers what they need to do to make a difference.

6. Write your solutions on post-its and post under the effects.

7. You just created a wonderful "outline of this essay!" You are ready to write your draft.

8. Let's take a look at four sample essays. Are there any fisher-folk in the class?
Essay #1: "Evening the Odds"

9. Do you have problems with any wild critters? Read what deer can do! It's hard to believe that "Bambi" is a menace!
Essay #2 "Practical Wildlife Management"

10. The power of humor - "So Earth Had This Boyfriend ..." Yes, humor can be used to convince others.
11. A final word from Al Gore - "The Plan That Saved the Planet" - 2009 - (Read the article. What is the claim? What are the reasons? What evidence is given? Is there a "call to action?" Is this a present, past, or future essay?

Homework
Write your draft. Bring a paper copy to class on Tuesday. Do not post! Print here if you are short on ink.

November 12, 3013

Class Work

What articles did you locate? What topics are of interest to you?

1. Finish viewing An Inconvenient Truth and answer the questions. (
See Thursday's blog for the questions.)
2. Write an in-class review of the documentary.
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/EssaysTypes/a/How-To-Write-A-Film-Review.htm

Homework

Select an issue related to the environment. Clearly define/describe the problem. Be ready to share your information with the class. You need at least one "authority" to agree with you that a problem exists. Be prepared to share your source with the class. You are not posting this; you are sharing this.

Also, find out the causes of your problem. Create a list of causes. There may be many causes, or there may be just a few. Be ready to share those as well along with your sources. (This is a great time to create an annotated bibliography on EasyBib to keep track of your information!)

November 7, 2013

Class Work

Peer Editing Activity

Let's look at one more essay: "The Bounty of the Sea" (handout)



http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/what-the-world-would-look-like-if-all-the-ice-melted-015759322.html  See what might happen to Florida!

See what you might find in your garden! http://news.yahoo.com/a-snake-the-size-of-a-school-bus--it-happened-before--and-could-happen-again-153534343.html

Watching An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth – Questions

After viewing the documentary, answer the following questions.

1.       Why does the film open and close with serene images of nature: lush green leaves and a gently flowing river on a sunny day, followed by Al Gore’s voice-over about this peaceful place? What is the impact on the viewer?

2.       In this film, Gore narrates a moment in 1989 when his six-year-old son dropped his father’s hand, ran into the street, and was severely injured. How does this personal story relate to Gore’s mission?

3.       Much of the film consists of scientific facts and charts. Think back and answer the following:

·         Why do we have global warming?

·         What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and temperature?

·         How does global warming contribute to an increase in the number and severity of storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and typhoons?

·         How can global warming cause both violent precipitation as well as droughts?

4.       Explain the significance of each of these references from the film:

·         The findings of core drills

·         The thawing of the permafrost, the splitting of the Ward Hunt ice shelf, and the disappearance of the Larson ice shelf

·         The Arctic ice cap disappearing

·         The image of a canary in a coal mine

·         The image of the frog in the cooking pot

5.       Cite three ecological consequences of global warming in the animal and plant communities.

6.       Gore used quotations from several memorable people.  Explain how they apply to the topic of global warming.

·         Mark Twain: “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know; it’s what we know that just ain’t so.”

·         Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” Consider citing specific ways that this statement is illustrated throughout this film.

·         Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow in Science magazine: “Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial know-how to solve the carbon and climate problems.”

7.       Explain the significance of the film’s title An Inconvenient Truth.


Homework

Locate two articles on an environmental issue that is important to you. Be ready to identify the problem and the causes. Be able to find the articles in class. Post the URLs in MyCompLab.
Also identify the problem and list the causes. (20 pts.)

 

 

         

November 5, 2013 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. Please write your claim on one of the boards. Remember, for homework you posted your claim(s), reasons, and evidence in Canvas.
2. Reasons answer the question, "Why?"
3. Evidence is the proof that basically finishes a "because" statement.
4. At your table, talk through your outline. As you listen to each other, ask questions.
5. For homework, write your draft. You are to take a strong stand - one side or the other - and convince your readers that reality television is good or that reality television is bad. Bring a paper coy of your draft to class on Thursday and post in MyCompLab. (25 pts.)
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"Notes" from Mother Nature

Take your phone/camera. Either working alone or in pairs, stroll around the campus and take pictures of messages from Mother Nature. Listen in class for the instructions. From your pictures, post your favorite in Canvas and write the "thesis" statement or message from Mother Nature.

(If you are using your phone, you can e-mail the picture to yourself and then post it in Canvas.)

If you are using a stand-alone camera, you will need to do this from home.

Due: Thursday - CANVAS Give me the paper copy of the rest of your notes. (20 pts.)

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" Saving the Songs of the Sea"

This is an in-class reading activity. Listen for the instructions to the Save the Last Word for Me strategy.

• You will be given the article. Read it. Highlight important words, lines, and phrases.
• Now, pick the top three. Write each on a note card.
• On the back of the note card, explain why that word, line, or phrase is important of meaningful to you.

The rest of the directions will follow...

*********************************************************************************
If time permits, we will also read "The Bounty of the Sea." Questions to follow...

Octber 31, 2013 - Thursday

Class Work


Think about it:

Television is often blamed for having a harmful effect on children.
Do you think this criticism is merited?
In what ways does TV exert a negative influence on children?

In what ways does TV exert a positive influence on youngsters, or does it?  

 Now, substitute "reality television" for TV in the above statement.

• Can the same be said about Reality Television?
• Does it have a harmful effect on children?
• Does it have a harmful effect on adults?
•  Is there anything positive about it for either audience?
• What did your research show? Prove your stance.

"Becoming a Videoholic by Robert Barry (Handout) This essay is also found on the Internet, but it takes a bit of seeking to find! Search in Yahoo by typing in the title and the author. It is the first PDF file. Scroll down once you download as the first page you see is questions only.

In "Becoming a Videoholic," student Robert Barry writes about the subtle addiction to using the VCR. His essay is an informational process analysis. What is his purpose in writing about this topic? Does he reveal this purpose to his reader explicitly or implicitly?

Using Transitions:

Look for transitions in the essay. Underline or highlight them.

http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr6.htm

 

 
Using Evidence to Convince

Before you can convince others, you must know what they already feel about the topic.

1. Are these television addicts, casual viewers, or folks who only read books?
2. How old are they?
3. Are they professionals, students, or struggling folks?
4. Are they likely to agree or disagree with you?
5. What are their likes and dislikes?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you develop reasons why they should believe and agree with you.

Now, look at your research. What seems to be the best proof that Reality Television in general or a specific reality show, such as Duck Dynasty, has a positive OR negative impact on that audience; therefore, it should be embraced or avoided.

You must take a stand! You should not write this paper and support both sides.

• What counts as evidence?
• What kind of evidence is best?
• How much evidence is enough?

This will be a "brief " or outline of your paper. Basically this is using the Claim/Reasons/Evidence chart we used in the past.

Look at the chart on the board.

Work on it now. Post in MyCompLab. (Due Tuesday)

Take a stand - state your claim.
Provide three reasons.
Provide two pieces of evidence for each reason. List the sources you will use.

You may begin your rough draft once you post your "brief".