Monday, April 7, 2014

MONDAY APRIL 7 NO CLASS

We will not have class today Monday April 7.

We will still have the in class essay on Wednesday and you will have a choice of what you'd like to write about between the last three readings "Learning to Read and Write", "A Gringo in the Lettuce Fields" and "You Are What You Say."

This does not effect the Tuesday/Thursday section.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Research Paper Help


What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is the controlling idea of a paper. It expresses the idea that the body of the paper will prove. Other names for the thesis statement are "main idea," "controlling idea," and "thesis." Any thesis statement will make a debatable claim about one or more works of literature. Usually, thesis statements appear in the first paragraph of the paper.

That is, a paper's thesis cannot be a restatement of fact or an unsupportable opinion. It must elaborate an idea that most readers would find new and refreshing, rather than unduly familiar or self-evident. A thesis statement often suggests a particular way of reading or understanding a story. The best thesis statements are specific rather than general.

Introduction

The introduction should start with a general discussion of your subject and lead to a very specific statement of your main point, or thesis. Sometimes an essay begins with a "grabber," such as a challenging claim, or surprising story to catch a reader's attention. The thesis should tell in one (or at most two) sentence(s), what your overall point or argument is, and briefly, what your main body paragraphs will be about.

Your body paragraphs should be organized to explain your thesis in three separate paragraphs.

 

Conclusion

Your conclusion begins with a restatement of your main point; but be sure to paraphrase, not just repeat your thesis sentence. Then you want to add some sentences that emphasize the importance of the topic and the significance of your view. Think about what idea or feeling you want to leave your reader with. The conclusion is the reverse of the introduction in that it starts out very specific and becomes a bit more general as you finish.

Avoid quotes in intro or conclusion

Do not start or end a paragraph with a quote

Cite all quotes with MLA citation

Outside Sources:


MLA citation Help:


Works Cited Help:

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

More Options for Outside Sources for Research Paper

This is a link to Google Scholar which will give reliable outside sources:

http://scholar.google.com/

This is the NYTimes search page. Just enter the topic you are looking for in the search box on the top of the page:

http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&region=Masthead&pgtype=Homepage&module=SearchSubmit&contentCollection=Homepage&t=qry592#/

You can also get help at the library for sources.

YOU PAPER MUST USE TWO OUTSIDE SOURCES AND FOLLOW MLA GUIDELINES!

Here is a link to help with MLA Guidelines:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Here is a link to the citation website I mentioned:

http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1&newstyle=1&stylebox=1

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

VALE

I have mentioned VALE in class before as a good place for outside sources and here is the link:

valenj.org

Once you click the link, click on "subscribed databases". Then click on Essex County College Only and the user identification is :

essexecc

and the password is:

door42

Monday, February 3, 2014

Monday FEB 3

As a result of the ongoing snow storm, Essex County College will close today, February 3, 2014, at 10AM.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

How to Use a Quote and Information on the First In Class Essay

This link will explain how to cite a text in your essays:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/

For each of your in class essays I'll be asking you to use THREE quotes from the reading you are writing about. So it is important that you bring your book with you the day of the in class essay. A good way to ensure you use three quotes is to tell yourself that you need a quote for each of your three major points. I will not tell you exactly what the questions (you will choose one to write about in class) will be but it will be a very good idea to underline important quotes from the story so one you sit down to write your essay they are right there.

FIRST IN CLASS ESSAY IS WEDNESDAY FEB 5TH!