2. NYT Evening Briefing Quiz
What do you think is the most important news story of the week? Why?
(It should be a story that was covered in the NYT Evening Briefing this week.)
3. Business / Partic.
Draft Chunk due Monday in class (more later).
Participation for today:
◦ 2 points for participating in the “Research Chat”
activity
◦ 1 point for saying something in full group
discussion
4. “Research Chat”
Spend 5 minutes reminding yourself about the Annotated Bibliography.
Research Chat
This of this like a really weird/geeky version of “speed dating.” I’ll set a timer for 2 minutes. In
those two minutes, explain to your partner your topic and what you’ve learned about it from
your research. Try to synthesize—in your own words—what the research says and where it
might be leading you.
Then I’ll set another 2 minute timer and you should swap roles.
We’ll do a couple rounds of this.
5. How do I arrange my sources in my paper?
SEE THE “ORGANIZING YOUR SOURCES” HANDOUT!
6. Looping Toward a Thesis Freewrite
1. Narrate how your thinking about this topic has developed since you began. What did you
think about this topic when you started? Then what did you discover? Then what? What did you
think then? Write fast for eight minutes.
2. Skip a few lines and freewrite for another eight minutes. This time, focus on specific stories,
anecdotes, people, case studies, observations, details, facts, events, etc., that really stick with
you when you reflect on what you’ve learned so far from your reading and research. Write with
as much detail as you can.
3. Free write for another eight minutes, this time as a dialogue about your topic with someone
you know (your best friend, significant other, parent). Begin with the question most commonly
asked about your topic. Write this dialogue like a play, with you and your imagined partner each
playing a part in the conversation. Try to sustain it for the full eight minutes!
4. Finally, spend 5 minutes composing a one- or two-sentence answer to this question about
your topic: SO WHAT?
7. For Monday
Bring a “draft chunk” to class (either on paper or electronically).
A “draft chunk” is at least 3 full pages of more-or-less coherent writing. It can be from any part
of your paper (or a combination of paragraphs from several parts of the paper). It can include
some material from your Annotated Bib, but it can’t just be your Annotated Bib.
The “draft chunk” is your friend. The draft chunk is what helps you not try to write an entire
research paper the night before it is due. Be kind to your future self and take the draft chunk
seriously.
