Mrs. Servedio- Controversial Issues Assignment

Students will write a 3 page research paper on a controversial issue of their choice. For this assignment students must use the VRC to locate journal/magazine/newspaper articles on their topic.
The paper must also be written using MLA format. Noodletools will be used. See Mrs. Hatcher for info on the VRC & Noodletools.

(image: UCLA protestors by Albert Sabate)

Learning Standards:
AASL: 1.1.5, 1.1.8, 1.2.2, 1.3.1, 1.4.2,2.14, 2.3.2, 2.4.1, 3.1.5
Big6 Skills: 1.1, 1.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1, 6.2
NYS- MST: 2

The Odyssey Research Project- Ms. Leidahl, Mrs. Palmer

For the Odyssey Research Project, students must design a storybook that tells the Creation Story of the Greeks, or the story of any specific set, pair, or individual god/goddesses, monsters, nymphs, or muses. The book must be based on original research, contain illustrations (drawn or computer generated), and written for a specific audience. All project books must have a cover page, story title, author's names, illustrations and a reference (work cited) page.

Students will be given class time in the Information Center to work on the assignment. The LMS, Mrs. Hatcher will provide instruction on using MLA style and Noodletools. There will be several checkpoints/conferences to monitor progress by Mrs. Palmer, Ms. Leidahl and Mrs. Hatcher.

Learning Standards:

AASL: 1.1.5, 1.3.1, 1.4.2, 2.1.6, 3.1.2, 3.1.4, 3.4.3
NYS-ELA: 1, 2

Big6 Skills: 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2

The Big6: Information & Technology Skills for Student Achievement

The Big6 is an information and technology literacy model and curriculum, implemented in thousands of schools - K through higher education. Some people call the Big6 an information problem-solving strategy because with the Big6, students are able to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task.

The Big6 Skills:

1. Task Definition
- 1.1 Define the information problem
- 1.2 Identify information needed (to solve the information problem)

2. Information Seeking Strategies
- 2.1 Determine all possible sources (brainstorm)
- 2.2 Select the best sources

3. Location and Access
- 3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
- 3.2 Find information within sources

4. Use of Information
- 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, view, hear, touch)
- 4.2 Extract relevant information

5. Synthesis
- 5.1 Organize from multiple sources
- 5.2 Present the information

6. Evaluation
- 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
- 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)

The “Big6™” is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com

VRC site of the month: ABC CLIO- World History

ABC-CLIO World History: Ancient & Medieval Eras allows students and staff to explore and/or analyze eras from a global perspective.

Timelines:

• Pre-History: Beginnings to 1000 B.C.


• Ancient Asia, 3000 B.C.- A.D. 500


• Ancient Rome, 1000 B.C.- A.D. 500


• The Islamic World, A.D. 600- 1500


• The Americas, 3000 B.C.- A.D. 1500


• Medieval Europe, A.D. 500-1500


• Egypt and the Near East, 3200-500 B.C.


• Ancient Greece, 2000- 30 B.C.


• The Byzantine Empire and Russia, A.D. 300-1500


• Africa, 3000 B.C. - A.D. 1500


• Central and East Asia, A.D. 500-1500

See Mrs. Hatcher for VRC username and password.