Week 30

April 6-10, 2015

Dear 223 ILT Families,

      Welcome 2014-2015 students to the 223 ILT blog.  So, what can you expect to find here?  First, you are on the post.  On this page you will read about what we are doing in class each week.  The blog from X2 and Blogger are the similar. You will also see tabs for homework, class work, and useful sites.  After you read the blog entry, take a tour of the site to become familiar with how our class blog is set up to help you be successful.   Oh, and don't forget to feed our pet penguin, Pete, some fish before you go--he gets awfully hungry hanging out by himself.

Lesson 6.55 Note-Taking Using Search Engines  During class we will continue to find facts using validated online sources that support our thesis statement.  It may help you to log onto Google Docs and review your list of 10-20 research questions as well as look at how you grouped your questions into paragraphs.  Today we will use the search engine Web Path to search the Internet.  Hey, did you recognize that blue and underlined text on the words "Web Path"?  That's right!  It is a hyperlink so that you can give the words a click and, poof, a new tab will open to the site.  Ready to get started?  Open your blue book to a new page, write today's date at the top, search Web Path for a relevant website, write a citation for the site, read--Ctrl+F--and take notes.

Lesson 6.56 Synthesis Although our research climb has had its rocky terrain, we have reached the summit! With a blue book full of notes from a variety of validated online sources we are ready for Step 5 of Big6 Skills, which is to Synthesize.  Our Key Question is how can I organize and present my information, and this is where we will employ the strategies of (1) writing an outline to help organize the report, and (2) writing a rough draft to complete the 2-page research paper.  The hard part was climbing the mountain.  Our downhill run has been made easier because of all your hard work at the start of this assignment.  On Google Classroom you will find an OUTLINE template.  It includes the P-Q-E writing strategy you use in ELA class.  You will use your blue book notes to fill in the outline, and next week you will begin typing your 2-page research paper.

Until we meet again,
Ms. Thackston-Dodge