Problem with Notecards and EasyBib

For those of you who are experiencing problems with finding and completing your EasyBib notecards, here is a solution from our wonderful librarian, Ms. Koval. It appears that you simply re-enter the information for the coupon code. If for any reason this process doesn't work, simply continue your notecards on paper. We will continue to troubleshoot tomorrow at school.

I'm so sorry for your troubles with EasyBib tonight.
They're to be expected as a once-yearly phenomenon.
Here's why:
The premium or pro account status you get with that special code is a gift to all Casa students from their school library. We pay to upgrade everyone, but the code for the upgrade only lasts for one calendar year.
So, your premium or pro status just expired.
No worries, you add the new code.
Login and go to settings > coupon code and enter: bighouselibrary11
A year from now, you'll need another new code. It'll probably be bighouselibrary12 :)

Ms. Koval :)
akoval@pet.k12.ca.us
msannakoval@gmail.com

Spring Semester First Grading Period

A note to parents and students:

The first grading period is, in many ways, the most fragile of the semester: the point pool is far smaller than it is by the end of the semester. Consequently, if students did not do well on a quiz, for example, or if they forgot to complete their research paper notecards, the effect on their grade is much more significant than it would be in April or May.

Similarly, if they did well this grading period, it is important that they continue to work hard and well for the next several weeks in order to maintain that grade.

Great Expectations was challenging in its syntactical complexity and length. Most students rose beautifully to this challenge; some found the pace difficult to maintain. What is important here is to stay motivated. A C at this point in the semester is--with hard work and focus--entirely possible to raise to a B or higher by the end of the semester.

Thesis Statements for Great Expectations and Siddhartha Presentations

Great Expectations

Here are two of the links I showed you in class last week. They are wonderful examples of the difference between a vague and a powerful thesis statement.

Example 1.

Example 2.

Also, be sure to look closely at the model of a student literary analysis essay found in the MLA Handbook. You can access this handbook through our own Big House Library's website.

Go to:

Big House Library

Links

Research Stuff

Citations

MLA

Once there, log on using Ms. Koval's directions.

When you have accessed the MLA Handbook, search "Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and the Courtship Novel." You will find superb step-by-step directions and suggestions for writing a literary analysis using primary and secondary sources.

Siddhartha

On Tuesday and Thursday of this week, I will give you some class time to meet with your partners to plan your Siddhartha presentations that are due next week. Please prepare ahead, so you can use this time well.

Great Expectations: Reading, Final Test, New Due Dates for Essay

Please read the final chapters of Great Expectations for Wednesday, 2/15. We will not have a quiz on those chapters on Wednesday, but we will have an objective test on the entire novel on your return from the holiday, Tuesday, 2/21.

I have revised the due date for your final essay on our novel. Please note the following revisions:

• All fifteen note cards are due on Thursday, 2/23.
• A word-processed draft--including the works cited and required sentence patterns--is due for a peer review on Thursday, 2/23.
• Your final copy of the essay is due on Friday, 3/2. Staple the peer review and original draft underneath your final copy. Please highlight and label all required sentence patterns.
• You must submit your final draft to Turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, 3/1.

We will soon be starting a new novel, Siddhartha. On Wednesday of this week, you will form groups for a presentation related to the novel's background. These presentations are due on Monday, 2/27. Directions to follow.

Vocabulary Test

As you know, you will have a vocabulary test on Thursday (Friday for zero period). You will need to provide a definition--as close to that on the syllabus as possible--for each word. In addition, you will need to use the vocabulary words in a sentence. Please review the sentence patterns we have learned this year, so that you will be prepared for this portion of the test.

Note Cards and Reading

Please create an additional four note cards--two from our primary source, two from secondary sources--and bring them to class on Monday, 2/13.

In addition, read Chapters 45-50 for Thursday, 2/9, and Chapters 51-55 for Monday, 2/13.

Great Expectations: Reading

Please read Chapters 34-38 by Wednesday, 2/1, of this week. Read Chapters 39-44 by Tuesday, 2/7, of next week.

Tomorrow, we will continue to look at Joan Didion's essay for inspiration and strategies for our own observational essays. We will also begin working with the vocabulary for next week's vocabulary test. For the test, you will need to be able to provide the definitions (as close as possible to the ones I have provided you) for these words.