Monday: Thesis Statement Workshop then get to outlinin' folks!

Dearest seniors, of whom I have been super appreciative of all year because 1. You are respectful, hardworking and focused (I know those were technically 3 reasons but remember that I can't count that well) and 2. You are also funny and quirky and crack me up every day thus making my job infinitely more fun,  I am sadly not here today.  Enter our hypothetical dialogue:


Students:  Why? WHY, Ashley?! It isn't even a powder day!
Ashley: I know and thank goodness for that because I'm actually in Palm Springs, CA, retirement home and manicured lawn capital of the world and would hate to be missing another weekend of skiing the gnar. 
Students:  But, what ever would bring you to such a horrid place in the middle of one of the best winters of our Millennial lifespan?
Ashley: I'm getting a head start on shopping for retirement homes. It's never to early to start planning, kiddos! Now listen to the sub and give each other quality feedback on your thesis statements so that I don't have to read terrible thesis statements when I get back from retirement home shopping.

Announcements

1. Annotated Bibliography is DUE!  No need to print, just make sure it's shared with me.  It is due in the first minute of class, so make sure you've done this!
2. LIBRARY WEDNESDAY!  Head to the library on Wednesday from 9-11:45.  Let's get those outlines knocked out!
3. Due Date Reminder:  Just a reminder, work is due whether you are here or not.  I am always available via email.  If you think you qualify for an extraordinary exception, please email me or come talk to me.

Resources you will need for today:

• Thesis Statement Workshop handout (the sub has hard copies of these in class for you too)
• Generating a Thesis:  This outlines two methods for writing a thesis statement. I actually find it quite confusing but Matt Hughes made it and perhaps some students will find this helpful. We all learn differently, dontcha know!
• Week 5 Objectives and Benchmark's (if you missed getting this from me on Friday)
• Elements Handout
• See the senior project page for examples of outlines and  more outline resources!!
• Lori (next door)

Today's Agenda
1. Email Ashley your final annotated bibliography. It should have 8-10 sources and notes on it and is worth 100 points.

2. THESIS STATEMENTS! Read through the thesis statement workshop handout (which the sub will pass out) and follow the instructions carefully.  When you are done getting feedback from 5 peers, please turn in the most refined version of your thesis statement into the class inbox on my desk.  *Please note, I do expect whatever you come up with today to morph and change as you write and think more deeply about how to synthesize your research. This is to get us started, and give you some direction in your outlining process.  

3. OUTLINING:
Once you have a thesis statement that has gone through the critique process, you should start outlining.  My suggestion is that you start thinking about Part 3, and thinking about how you want to organize this section.  Think about major themes in your research, different arguments that are made about you topic, and start making groups.  Then move on to outlining Parts 1 and 2.

• GOAL:  Identify major themes/arguments for Part 3 of your paper.

HOMEWORK:
Come to class tomorrow with a solid working thesis statement.  Complete goal as listed above. ideally outline part 1 today.  See the student examples on my senior project page if you are stuck.  Don't have enough information to flesh out an outline? Better do more research!

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