Analyzing Exemplar Thesis Papers, Deep Reading Assignment Overview, Library Online Database Access

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Get your library card!  Do it NOW!

Semester 2, Starter #1: Research Quote
Read the quote linked above.
As you read it, underline and highlight sentences or ideas that strike or surprise you.  When you are done reading, respond in writing to the following questions:

1. What does this professor identify as the thing that hurts much non-fiction writing?  Do you agree or disagree with her assessment?
2. What sentence in this piece most stood out to you?  Copy it and explain why it strikes you, and what it makes you think.
3. Are you guilty of the bad habit she discusses in the second to last paragraph?  If not, how do you avoid this?  If you are, how could you avoid this mindset in the next few months?

Explore Senior Project Page Resources:

• Find the Week 1 Objectives document. Open it. Read it. What are your objectives for this week?

Sample Paper Discussion
Get into a group of 3-4 students.  It doesn't matter which thesis you read.  Bring with you your reading notes and the thesis you read yesterday.  In your groups, discuss the following, and have one person jot down some notes for our debrief:

1. What were the main things you noticed as you read these papers?  Make sure you address organization, writing style, use of evidence, and the sources in their bibliography!
2. How can having this example in your head help you in your research process?
3. What did you learn from this example that you would like to apply to your own writing?
4. What questions do you have about the senior thesis now that you have read an example?  Write these down to ask Ashley.

Deep Reading Assignment:  

1.   Pair/share:  What does it mean to deeply read something?  What does this process look like?
2.  Individually, read the "Deep Reading" assignment handout
3. Ask Ashley questions you have about it
4. A note on Matt’s feedback:  Students hate this at first (and in the middle), but it’s been one of the most influential pieces in shaping their arguments, questions, and conclusions!
5. Need more examples for how to deep read? Watch Matt Hughes' screencast, "Deeply reading an academic text", also embedded on the Senior Project page on my DP.

• Annotation Station:  Still confused about annotations?  Check this out for suggestions about what to include, and two possible formats.

Academic Databases

• Database access and use (see Senior Project page for Matt Hughes' video explaining this process!)

WORK TIME: Find Sources!

• ​Time to use that database!  Your goal today is to find at least one good academic source from the library database, and print it out (feel free to use my printer for this)

​HOMEWORK:

• LIBRARY CARD
• Find at least one good academic source from the library database, and print it out.  If you find more, AWESOME!!!