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Showing posts with label MLA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLA. Show all posts

23 May 2016

Mythology Final Exam Essay

The Main Source

Prompt: Discuss whether or not mythology is relevant in today’s society? Use examples from myths World Mythology.

Directions: 

1. You must create a simple outline. 

Working Title:                                                   

I.                    Introduction

II.                  Body Paragraph/Section:                                                     

III.                Body Paragraph/Section:                                                     

IV.                Body Paragraph/Section:                                                     


V.                  Conclusion

2. Creating source  and note cards
  • One will be for the citation of World Mythology by Donna Rosenberg
  • Any additional sources will need to have a citation card, as well. 


3. You must create a detailed outline. Copy the format below, including the bold/underlined and bold labels and the Roman Numerals (Remember to begin using MLA format at this point in the process):

Starshine Supernova

Ms. Hatfield

Mythology

7 December 2015

Prompt: Discuss whether or not mythology is still relevant in today’s society? Use examples from myths World Mythology (direct quotes with in-text citations)

Type/s of Mythology (anything except for Greek/Roman): ­______________________________

Title:                                       

I.                    Purpose of Mythology

a.      Grabber/Attention Getter: Create a sentence or use a quote that grabs the reader’s attention.

                                                              i.      DO NOT write things like:
·   Have you ever heard of…?
·   Today, I am going to tell you about….?
·   Do you want to know about….? 

b.      Focus Statement: Define (2-4 sentences) and provide reasons for myths during ancient times.

c.       Thesis/Claim Statement:  Thesis/Claim Formula = Topic + Your Opinion (without using first person) + 3 claims of proof.

                                                                       Example: Greek mythology is relevant in today’s society because
                     (Topic)                    (Opinion)                  (Topic)  

mythological stories provide insight to the past, support cultural
                                             (Claim #1)                                   (Claim #2)

 understanding, and supply inspiration for entertainment.
                                                      (Claim #3)

II.                  Body Paragraph/Section (connections between myths and modern society)

a.      Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph/section
b.      Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).
c.       Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).
d.      Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).

III.                Body Paragraph/Section (connections between myths and modern society)

a.      Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph/section
b.      Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).
c.       Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).
d.      Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).

IV.                Body Paragraph/Section (connections between myths and modern society)

a.      Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph/section
b.      Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).
c.       Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).
d.      Details: Evidence with an explanation of connection (the order is not important, as long as the two items are present).

V.                  Conclusion (Note: You CAN NOT copy your thesis and focus statement verbatim; you must reword the sentences in a manner that provides a sense of closure). 
a.      Modified Focus Statement: a restated focus statement in the concluding paragraph; should remind readers of the original topic (Bowers, 2006).
b.      Modified Thesis Statement: a restated thesis statement; should remind readers of your position/opinion on the topic (Bowers, 2006).
c.       Challenge: an interesting question, quotation, vivid image, call for action, warning,or suggestion to the reader; leaves reader thinking about your essay (Bowers, 2006).

4. Using your detailed outline, create a rough draft. 
5. Edit and revise your paper. I will provide you a check list, but here is additional support for understanding: 



5. Your final draft will be typed in MLA format and submitted through Gaggle by the end of your testing time. 


Rubric: 9 Point Rubric for Writing about Literature


  •          An 8-9 essay responds to the prompt clearly, directly, and fully. This paper approaches the text analytically, supports a coherent thesis with evidence from the text, and explains how the evidence illustrates and reinforces its thesis. The essay employs subtlety in its use of the text and the writer’s style is fluent and flexible. It is also free of mechanical and grammatical errors. 

  •             A 6-7 essay responds to the assignment clearly and directly but with less development than an 8-9 paper. It demonstrates a good understanding of the text and supports its thesis with appropriate textual evidence. While its approach is analytical, the analysis is less precise than in the 8-9 essay, and its use of the text is competent but not subtle. The writing in this paper is forceful and clear with few if any grammatical and mechanical errors. 

  •                A 5 essay addresses the assigned topic intelligently but does not answer it fully and specifically. It is characterized by a good but general grasp of the text using the text to frame an apt response to the prompt. It may employ textual evidence sparingly or offer evidence without attaching it to the thesis. The essay is clear and organized but may be somewhat mechanical. The paper may also be marred by grammatical and mechanical errors. 

  •              A 3-4 essay fails in some important way to fulfill the demands of the prompt. It may not address part of the assignment, fail to provide minimal textual support for its thesis, or base its analysis on a misreading of some part of the text. This essay may present one or more incisive insights among others of less value. The writing may be similarly uneven in development with lapses in organization, clarity, grammar, and mechanics. 

  •                 A 1-2 essay commonly combines two or more serious failures. It may not address the actual assignment; it may indicate a serious misreading of the text; it may not offer textual evidence or may use it in a way that suggests a failure to understand the text; it may be unclear, badly written, or unacceptably brief. The style of this paper is usually marked by egregious errors. Occasionally a paper in this range is smoothly written but devoid of content. 

          Grade Conversion: 
                    9 = A+  
                    8 = A 
                    7 = A- 
                    6 = B + 
                    5 = B 
                    4 = B- 
                    3 = C 
                    2 = D 
                    1 = F




Works Cited

     Bower, Kristen, Essay Architect. Victoriaville, CAL: 

Secondary Solutions, 2006. Print. 


    Carter, Nichole. "How to Edit and Revise." You Tube Red. You

Tube, 1 Oct. 2012. Web.  8 Dec. 2015. 


     Jago, Carol. "AP Rubric." Jim Burke. 2015. Web. 8 Dec. 

2015. 

     Pfeffer, Kate. "Research Source Cards and Note Cards

(instructions)." You Tube Red. You Tube, 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 8

 Dec. 2015. 

     Rosenberg, Donna. World Mythology: An Anthology of the 

Great Myths and Epics. 2nd ed. Lincolnwood, Ill.: NTC Publishing 

Group, 1994. Print. 






24 February 2016

3 Theme Journals: Betrayal in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar


The Tragedy of Julius Caesar: Journal #1

Directions: Read each section thoroughly. Use standard writing conventions and   MLA format.  


1.  PARAPHRASE (1 small paragraph): Read the following quote and explain it in your words.

“O, what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive!” Walter Scott

2.   PERSONAL CONNECTION (2 paragraphs): Explain how this quote relates to you. What deceitful actions or words have you said to others or that have been said or done against you that caused problems that were more severe than if you or the other person had just been honest?


3.  LITERARY CONNECTION (2 paragraphs with citations from the text): Relate this quote to events The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

03 September 2015

MLA Format and Essay Writing Review

As you begin to write your first mini-research paper, I wanted to review a few items of importance. 

Organizing the structure of an essay has been a real struggle for students in the past. You will find three pages below from Essay Architect by Kristen Bowers, M.Ed. The link will provide you with several explanations for each components of an essay and various graphic organizers to help you structure your essay. 

Another area of concern is using MLA formatting correctly. It is my personal belief that Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL)Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) is the best resource for checking you citations. 

In addition to a Works Cited page, you are expected to use in-text citations. If you do not, you will receive a zero for accidental plagiarism and have to do an alternative assignment. 

Here is a video from a teacher who is far greater than I; although, he still uses Purdue's OWL as his source for information. 


Learning to use proper MLA format is not easy. I had to learn another format called APA when I was in grad school. I screamed and cried a lot simply because of the slight differences. However, I used my resources wisely to double check my formatting and citation because I did not want to have an F on my transcript, nor did I want to lose all of the money that I had put into grad school. 

Plagiarism is no joke in the big world.


You can find this lovely reference guide right here: MLA Style Guidelines Overview Poster