Assignment (1):   

Two MORE Annotated Articles: Instructions and Rubric

The Process

So far we have chosen our cultural artifact from the list of available options, we've narrowed our focus to a specific argument about it, and we've begun researching our topics. This week we'll continue researching to gather information from two (2) MORE sources for a total of four as we continue the process of writing an academic Research Paper. You will still need to include 5 sources in your research paper.

NOTE: I hope you'll take time to read longer articles about your chosen topic--ones that provide plenty of information. Once again, the sources have already been found for you and are listed in the Research Paper References and Additional Resources Module. It's your job to locate them in the Internet and annotate them.

Directions

This week you'll upload two (2) MORE annotated CREDIBLE articles related to your research paper topic

Annotating the Articles

• • Utilizing your annotating skills, identify key words and passages, important names and dates, and detailed information related to your subject
  • Summarize the main important points in the margins
  • Be sure to HIGHLIGHT passages that might be useful to quote in your paper

What to Look for

To prepare yourself for writing the paper, try to read at least TWO SOURCES about each of the following:

• • the work of art (when and why it was created, how it looks, how it was created, where it is located, etc.)
  • the artist (history, expression in art, reasons for creating work of art, connection to work of art in San Diego)
  • the artwork’s importance or significance within the San Diego community or a community within San Diego County
  • artwork’s significance beyond San Diego and/or to the artist

Some sources will cover several of the points listed above in one article.

What to Highlight

In the early stages of research, we often don't know what we'll want to share in our paper, but we need to start somewhere, so. . .

• Highlight information that will be pertinent to your paper
  • What it looks like, where it's located, and when it was created
  • How it was created
  • What events led up to its creation?
  • Why it's important to a particular community or to the greater San Diego community
  • Arguments about why it shouldn't be funded or cared for

Determining if the Source Is Useful--Please don't forget this step

Sometimes when we do research, the source turns out to be useful, and other times it doesn't. Considering the information you have read, write either "Useful" or "Not Useful" at the top of the annotated article.

Uploading Your Annotated Articles

• To upload your work, you have TWO options:
  
  • Print, read, and annotate the two articles on paper. Take photos of the annotated pages, and upload the photos of your annotations here in Canvas.
  • Copy and paste the documents into electronic files on which you can highlight and type comments in the margins. Then, upload the electronic files here in Canvas.

Be sure to upload the annotated articles by Sunday before 11:59 pm.

Submitting Your Assignment

1. Please save the documents as Word documents, PDFs. Or take photos of your annotations.
2. Click the +Submit Assignment link located in the right-hand column of the course window.
3. Click the Choose File
4. Navigate to your documents (or photos) and select them.

Preliminary Mini Outline: Directions and Rubric

As stated previously, you've chosen your topic, narrowed your focus, and gathered reliable sources about your research paper topics. Now it's time to start thinking about the overall structure of your essay--the framework of your ideas: the thesis and topic sentences.

Purpose

• To create the basic framework for your research paper by applying your knowledge of thesis statements and topic sentences
• To learn and practice the skill of writing a preliminary mini outline for a collegiate research paper
• To take the next step in completing the research paper
• To practice and engage in the process of writing (outlining)
• To avoid procrastination

Directions

• Write, in complete sentences, the thesis and topic sentences of all the body paragraphs in your research paper. (See examples below).
• For the thesis, boldface the subject and underline the argument (see examples below).
• Write all the topic sentences as general statements with NO details to introduce the main idea of each body paragraph.
• Present the topic sentences in a logical order that guides readers from a general understanding of the cultural artifact (artwork) to reasons why it is important and should be protected in our community.
• Write the thesis and topic sentences as complete, correctly written sentences.
• Include transitional words and phrases to move readers from one point to the next.
• Upload assignment as a doc, docx, or PDF in Canvas and Turnitin before the deadline.

Due: Sunday before 11:59pm

What to Cover

Your points might not cover the same points as you see in the examples below. Instead, consider what works best for your topic. Your readers need to picture it, so provide a paragraph that describes it.

Then ask, "What is significant about my chosen cultural artifact?"

• Is the artist/designer/architect famous?
• Does its story illustrate San Diego's history?
• Does the artwork represent struggles, concerns, or interests of the community?
• Does it reflect the creative expression of one of the ethnic communities in San Diego?
• Does it provide a peaceful refuge for its visitors?

Each research paper topic requires a different approach.

Keep It Simple

This outline is basic. You should NOT include any details or information about the topic aside from the thesis and topic sentences.

 Cardiff Kook, Image from Wikipedia

Example of the Preliminary Mini Outline

Thesis Statement with topic (boldfaced) and narrowed focus (underlined):

Thesis: The Cardiff Kook should not be removed from its location since it plays an important role in reflecting the past and present concerns of Encinitas.

Topic Sentences:

TS 1: Surfing has held a spot in the community’s lifestyle since the fifties.

TS 2: The Cardiff Kook was designed to epitomize Encinitas’ surfing culture.

TS 3: However, the statue, based on facts about surfing, is a lousy portrayal of a surfer in general.

TS 4: Although the town had a strong dislike for it, they could not remove or destroy the sculpture.

TS 5: Although surfers still do not agree with the form it demonstrates, the statue has become a celebrated icon of the city of Encinitas.

NOTE that the student-author chose to describe the sculpture in the second body paragraph, but most students describe the work of art in the first body paragraph.

Also NOTE that the topic sentences tell the story of the essay. As readers, we know what will be covered in each body paragraph.

 Kumeyaay Baskets, Image from the Museum of Man

Another Example of the Preliminary Mini Outline

Note the effective transitional words and phrases used to move readers from one point to the next. I've boldfaced them.

Thesis: The acorn basket in the Heritage of the Americas Museum should not be removed from its location because it reflects the past and present concerns of the Kumeyaay in particular and San Diegans in general.

TS 1: First, let's appreciate the basket's physical nature.

TS 2: In addition to its appearance, it's helpful to understand the craftsmanship used in the creation of it.

TS 3: After considering its appearance and creation, it's helpful to understand one of the main food source for the Kumeyaay: acorns.  

TS 4: This leads us to an understanding of the Kumeyaay's need for baskets.  

TS 5: In addition to functionality, the Kumeyaay also valued artistry in the creation of their baskets, oftentimes adding beads, feathers, and colored grasses to create their designs.

Remove details such as those highlighted above and save them for the body of the paragraph. Remember that we're working with GENERAL statements here--NOT details.

NOTE: When considering the previously addressed aspects of the Kumeyaay, we can then appreciate how the acorn basket reflected the lives of the community in which it was created.