Mini Research Project Requirements

This assignment is for the purpose of increasing your understanding of summarizing/paraphrasing, in text citations, and how to complete a Works Cited page. You were introduced to this information during the expository book project, so it should be familiar to you. This mini research project will allow students who struggled with citing sources, research, and paraphrasing another chance to learn this concept before our next major research project. There will be ample time to complete this project in class if you use your time wisely. However, if you are unable to complete this in class time it will be homework.

The final copy should be emailed (see #4 below) to me by Monday March 10. **See Below**

Instructions:

1.      Find three online news articles regarding the Sochi Olympic Games. The article should be from a credible source (we will discuss criteria for a credible source in class) and appropriate for academic research. Copy and Paste the articles including the url to a document on your Google Drive.

2.      Read the articles thoroughly. Summarize each article individually in a different document on your Google Drive. Remember what we discussed in class about paraphrasing and quoting sources. Be sure you have accurate parenthetical citations (in text citations) to avoid plagiarism.

3.      Make a Works Cited page for the three articles used. Remember you can use citationmachine.net as demonstrated in class. This must be a complete Works Cited page in MLA format (not just the url link).

4.      Email the document to Mrs. Oliveira at Brianna.Oliveira@trussvillecityschools.com

The subject line must be “Mini Research Project” plus your period number so I can find it in my inbox. (ex. “Mini Research Project 4” if you are in 4^th period)
 

**There was a problem with emailing the document. You should now "Share" the document with me from your Google Drive account. The title of your Google Doc. MUST be "Mini Research Project" plus your period number (ex. "Mini Research Project 4" if you are in 4th period). When you are in your Google Doc. you should see a blue box that says "Share" in the top right corner. Click on that box and enter my Google Drive email: Brianna.Oliveira@trussvillecityschools.org
This will allow me to view, comment, and grade your project.
The project is still due Monday 3-10
***NOTE: My Google Drive email is .org but my regular TCS email is .com.

 

In order to receive full credit on this assignment (100 points) you must complete all of the above requirements. Every requirement for this assignment will be discussed or reviewed in class. If you should need any additional help with MLA format or citing sources correctly check out the following links:

Purdue Owl

Citation Machine

Langston Hughes

 

http://www.biography.com/people/langston-hughes-9346313/videos/langston-hughes-house-in-harlem-15039555542

The Weary Blues
by Langston Hughes
Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light He did a lazy sway . . . He did a lazy sway . . . To the tune o' those Weary Blues. With his ebony hands on each ivory key He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues! Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues! In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan— "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self. I's gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf." Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor. He played a few chords then he sang some more— "I got the Weary Blues And I can't be satisfied. Got the Weary Blues And can't be satisfied— I ain't happy no mo' And I wish that I had died." And far into the night he crooned that tune. The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the Weary Blues echoed through his head. He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.

Langston Hughes - "The Weary Blues" on CBUT, 1958

Maya Angelou

Global Renaissance Woman

Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist.
Born on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Angelou was raised in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. In Stamps, Dr. Angelou experienced the brutality of racial discrimination, but she also absorbed the unshakable faith and values of traditional African-American family, community, and culture.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Biography retrieved from: http://mayaangelou.com/bio/

Poem retrieved from: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/

 

Poetry Work

I hope you all have been enjoying this poetry unit as much as I have! The school schedule has been disrupted so much recently from the weather and it has been difficult to keep everything straight. I have made a list of all of the daily assignments that should be have been turned in OR safely in your English notebook. You need to know where all of your work is for any upcoming notebook tests!

Poetry Work

Narrative Poem
Ode Poem
Haiku Poem
Limerick Poem
Subtotal Poem
Literature Book Work (page 388 and 397)
Narrative/Lyric Song (on Google Drive)
Rhythm and Rhyme of song lyrics (on Google Drive)
Elegy Poem (turned in)
Ballad Poem (turned in)
Shaped Poem (turned in)
3 Creative Poetry Prompts

 

Poetry Study Guide

 Terms to Know

Narrative Poem:               a poem that tells a story

Ballad Poem:                       a narrative poem that is meant to be sung

Epic Poem:                          a narrative poem about a hero

Lyric Poem:                         a short poem about emotion

Elegy:                                    a sad/mournful poem written for the dead

Limerick:                              funny poem, 5 lines long, AABBA rhyme scheme

Haiku:                                   Japanese poem, 3 lines long, 5-7-5 rhythm, about nature, free verse

Ode:                                     a poem written in dedication to someone or something

Verse/stanza:                    a poetic grouping of lines

Line:                                      one line of a poem

Free verse:                         a poem that doesn’t rhyme

Rhythm:                               beats per line in a poem

Rhyme:                                similar sounds at the end of poetry lines

Heroic Couplet:                 two lines of poetry that rhyme

Connotation:                     how you feel when you read a word

Denotation:                        the actual meaning of a word

Interpretation:                  attempting to find meaning

 

In addition to knowing these terms you will need to identify various types of poetry. You will need to be able to recognize and label the following types of poems: Haiku, Heroic Couplet, Limerick, and Free Verse. This should not be difficult if you understand the definition and parameters of each type of poetry.

Finally, you will be given a poem to read. You should be able to identify rhythm (numbers), identify rhyme scheme (letters), and interpret the meaning.

If you would like 3 bonus points on your test comment on this blog post with your name and period number to prove you utilized the extra help on the blog to study! Shhh, it’s a secret…don’t say anything to your classmates!

Creative Writing Poetry Prompts

1) Write a poem about one or all of the four seasons. (Some ideas for brainstorming: What does the season look, feel, smell like? What memories do you associate with that season?).

2) Write a poem using three of the following words: expensive, lampshade, bruise, convincing.

3) Write a poem about something that happened to someone you know. Write about it as if it had happened to you.

4) Write a poem about your shadow. (Some ideas for brainstorming: How does it change when you move? What does it look like in different kinds of light, in different situations? What would happen if you lost it? Does it have a secret life?)

5) Write a poem using all of the following words: smooth, soothe, work, dark.

6) Write a poem based on a dream you had. Try to reproduce the sensations of the dream.

7) Write a poem based on your belief about life after death... or about what you WISH you believed.

8) Write a poem using all of the following words: snake, honey, thaw.

9) Write a poem from the perspective of a character in a fairy tale.

10) Write a poem using all of the following words: moth, angle, cloth, tangle.

11) Write a poem that tells the story of a specific love affair or marriage.

12) Write a poem in the form of a message or letter to your future self.

13) Write a poem about the color red or another color. (Some ideas for brainstorming: How does the color make you feel? What things do you associate with that color?)

14) Write a poem about a place that frightens you or a place where you feel happy. Try to recreate the feeling of the place.

15) Write a poem using all of the following words: exquisite, visit, glisten.

16) Write a poem about something or someone you lost.

17) Write a poem using all of the following words: dim, hinge, dingy.

19) Write a poem in the form of a lullaby.

20) Write a poem about yourself in which nothing is true.

The above was taken from http://www.creative-writing-now.com/creative-writing-prompts.html

Elegy Poetry: Jimmy Stewart - A Dog Named Beau

Poetry Out Loud

POETRY OUT LOUD PROJECT

POETRY OUT LOUD: Feb 21st

Poetry Out Loud is a National Recitation Competition for Students; however, it will also be a requirement for this 9-weeks in 6th grade English. This is a 100 point grade and poems should be memorized and recited on Feb 21 . Start MEMORIZING and working on PRESENTATION skills!

You should have your poem chosen by Monday. Jan. 27th.

Students will be assessed using the following Rubric:

1= very weak 6=Outstanding
Each category (with the exception of the last) is worth 6 points.

Physical Presence (1-6)
Voice and Articulation (1-6)
Appropriateness of Dramatization (1-6)
Level of Difficulty (1-6)
Evidence of Understanding (1-6)
Overall Performance (2-12)

Total Number of Points Earned:_____________


Students may recite any poem of their choice with the exception of song lyrics. The poem must be at least seven lines in length.

Go to http://poetryoutloud.org/poems-and-performance/video-recitation-series for more information and examples of excellent poetry presentation skills.


For the printable contest evaluation sheet: click the following: http://drgilchristsclassblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/poetry-out-loud-evaluation-sheet.html

Look for Poems at www.poetryfoundation.org

New Class Blog

Hey guys!

This is Mrs. Oliveira's class blog that we will be using for the remainder of the year! This blog will be similar to Dr. Gilchrist's as a way to keep up with assignments, links, and instructions. We will also utilize the blog for online class discussions and study guides. There is a link from Dr. Gilchrist’s blog to this one, however it may be easier to save this blog to your favorites to find it quickly. I am really looking forward to finishing out your 6^th grade year with you!

Parents: please feel free to e-mail me with any questions at Brianna.Oliveira@trussvillecityschools.com

Here is a link to Dr. Gilchrist’s blog if you need access to any previous information:
Dr. Gilchrist's Class Blog