We first discussed Joshua's final research paper. I congratulated him on his work and noted how he included all of the elements per our class instruction: a thesis, claims, counterargument ,and commentary. We then discussed course selection for Sr. year. We explored the AP Literature reading requirements as Joshua is inclined to take the AP course. I further assigned the summer AP reading.
Joshua worked on finishing the body of the Junior Research paper during today's session. We further discussed my additional comments to his draft, focusing on using transitional phrases or words, incorporating more commentary, and reordering sentences in some of the paragraphs.
During today' s session Joshua, Miss Nicole, and I met to in depth discuss English curriculum course options for next year. Miss Nicole elaborated on the available DE courses and the GPA benefits of DE and AP courses. We further discussed the absence of literature in the available DE composition courses. I provided Joshua with an AP Lit guide for his review and shared my concerns about the AP course content and testing . While Joshua will continue reviewing his options tonight, we were leaning toward a DE comp Course over the summer, a second DE comp course for first semester senior year, and a Lit course(DE or otherwise) for second semester senior year.
We reviewed more pages of Joshua's draft research paper during today's session. I recommended adding an additional term to the definitional section given the content of the text and ,more critically, I emphasized the need to incorporate commentary on the research rather than merely citing the research results. I provided examples of the types of commentary that might be useful and discussed how the commentary offers the writer a chance to shape the paper to his individual ideas and thesis.
Joshua continued drafting his research paper during today's session. After we finalized the definition section of the paper, I reviewed and provided suggestions and comments on the work Joshua has to date completed . I noted how to maintain tense consistency and suggested what subject area should begin the paper ,specifically the current reliance or use of technology in the classroom. Joshua then revised his work per my comments.
Joshua continued working on the initial draft of his research paper. I first made suggestions on the placement of a definition section. We further reviewed and inserted textual citations into the body of paper noting the proper MLA format for a book with two authors and an internet article. Last, we examined the absence of a citation when the name of the author is signaled in a sentence such as" Mr X claims that.........".
