Two discussion boards and One essay

Module 1 Discussion 1: Close Reading and Brainstorming

 

Overview

Close reading is a skill that will help you effectively mine your resources for the information you need. Learning to read closely and take careful notes will make your research process smoother and more organized.

In this discussion, you will offer a close reading of a source and use that reading to pre-write in preparation for your research synthesis essay.

You should spend approximately 2 hours on this assignment.

Instructions

1. The CCCOnline Library provides access to scholarly research databases. You can also access these databases from a link provided on your D2L home page.

2. Once you are on the research databases page, scroll down to find the  Global Issues in Context  database. Select this database. Then select "Database login." Log in with your S#.

3. In the search box at the top of the page, enter “American Dream.” Then click on "Viewpoints (768)." Limit your search further by clicking on "Subjects" toward the bottom of the right column and, then, click on “American Dream (31)”. This will give you a database of 31 articles from which you should choose your article to read for this Discussion.

4. Think: Closely read and annotate the article. (Hint: You can use the Highlights and Notes tool on the right side of the reading panel to annotate online.) What information seems most significant? Why? What is the author’s main idea? What is the author’s purpose? What details are important? Do any words or phrases stand out? Why? What do you still want to know? What questions do you have as you read?

5. Write: In your discussion response, write a short summary (5-7 sentences) of the most important points of information in the article. Then, write a short response (5-7 sentences) to the article, discussing the significance of those main points. Remember that a summary should be comprised of only your own words. Create a Works Cited entry, formatted in MLA Style, for the article you chose. Conclude your post with any questions you have about searching the databases or choosing articles.

6. Post one original post and reply to at least two of your classmates. In your peer replies, you can respond to your peer’s discussion of their article, asking questions or giving feedback about the significance of the article to your current research project. You can respond to peer research questions or give research tips, if you have them. Try to further the discussion in your replies by asking thoughtful questions, adding interesting information, or connecting your reply to the material we are discussing.

7. Don't forget that your initial posting is due by the date listed in the Course Schedule. Please post over several days. Points will be lost if you post on only one day of the module.

See the Course Schedule and Course Rubrics sections in the Syllabus module for due dates and grading information. See the Grading and Evaluation section in the Syllabus module for general discussion expectations.

Module 1 Discussion 2: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Citing

 

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Overview

Deciding when and how to use source material in your writing is an important skill to learn. If your essay uses too much source material, or relies too heavily on quotations, it will feel like a patchwork quilt of other people’s voices, rather than your own writing. If you do not use sources enough, your essay may lack support or credibility.

In this discussion, you will practice the important skills of quoting a source, paraphrasing a source, and citing your source.

You should spend approximately 2 hours on this assignment.

Instructions

1. For this discussion, use the same article you read for Discussion 1: Close Reading and Brainstorming.

2. Choose one paragraph from your article.

3. Cut and paste the paragraph into the top of your message.

4. Think: When you are faced with source material that you want to use as support in your writing, how do you decide how to incorporate it and synthesize it with your own ideas? How can you show your reader which ideas belong to your source and which are your own? How do you give credit to your source when you quote or paraphrase?

5. Write: In your initial post, you will practice quoting and paraphrasing, and then consider when to use each strategy:

· Pick one sentence to quote. Use a signal phrase to introduce the quotation.

· Pick two sentences to paraphrase. Be sure to combine the two sentences into one. Remember that you must completely rewrite the source material into your own language.

· Create a correctly formatted in-text citation, using MLA Style, for your quotation and your paraphrase.

· Create a correctly formatted Works Cited entry, using MLA Style, for your article.

· Discuss how you decide when to quote and when to paraphrase. What is the benefit of each type of source use?

6. Post one original post, and reply to at least two of your classmates. In your peer replies, help one another see where quotations, paraphrases, and citations are used correctly, and help one another see where these skills can be improved upon. Thoughtfully discuss the benefits of the different types of source use. Try to further the discussion in your replies by asking thoughtful questions, adding interesting information, or connecting your reply to the material we are discussing.

7. Don't forget that your initial posting is due by the date listed in the Course Schedule. Please post over several days. Points will be lost if you post on only one day of the module.

See the Course Schedule and Course Rubrics sections in the Syllabus module for due dates and grading information. See the Grading and Evaluation section in the Syllabus module for general discussion expectations.