Blog Post for 1/27

Post 1 (20 points): In your first paragraph, explain your research topic and preliminary findings to a friend (or sibling, parent, etc.).  Tell this person why you are interested in this topic and what, specifically, you have learned about it so far in relation to your research question.  This can be informal - try to keep the person's interest and maintain a sense of conversation in your writing.  Include your answer to your research question (thesis) in everyday language.

In your second paragraph, explain your topic again more formally, like you might in a paper or a formal class presentation.  Include the same type of information and level of detail--including your thesis--but work on more sophisticated word choices and sentence structures.


I am researching the impact Title IX has on education and sports and how it effects both men and women. I am very passionate about this topic because it affects me and other girls like me everyday. Ever since 1972, women's participation in sports has increased and according to studies the increase in participation in STEM field should too. It is important to me and my future that men and woman are treated equally and are given the same opportunities and training. This country was built on the foundation of a democracy and everyone should be treated equally no matter if you are a man or a woman.  

Although a step towards equality was made in the United States when Title IX was enacted in 1972, the playing field is still not leveled and this bill made a huge impact on education and sports receiving federal funding and in educational institutions. Title IX has made an huge influence on women and men with the help of Billie Jean King, Donna Lopiano, Chris Evert, Mia Hamm, and more. Unfortunately, it is not enforced as much as it should be. Through the lens of Billie Jean King of the Women's Sports Foundation, as well as other sources, she argues that there is much more work to do to achieve equality. However, many schools have said that the inequality is not the schools' fault, but that women don't choose to participate in sports at the same rate as men. Many schools blame Title IX for harming men's opportunities in wrestling and other sports where men's participation had to be capped. But Title IX is broader than just female athletes having the same opportunities as males. Title IX also applies to education and has an effect on men as well. 

Work Times:

Notecards- 110 mins

Detailed Outline- 40 mins

Reading and Work Times for 1/21

Revising Annotated Bibliography- 80 mins
The Absolutely True Diary of Part-Time American Indian: p. 91-145: 45 mins

2nd Blog Post for 1/13

2. Research, research, research.  Explain your topic, why should we care about it, and what specifically is on your research to-do list this week?

Please include your log of 120 minutes reading / working time this week, including any out-of-class (English or History) time spent on your research project.

My right and responsibility I am researching is Title IX. I have a really great bibliography full of reliable sources. All I need to do is narrow down my topic and develop a research question for my project. It will be much easier for me to write my paper this way. This topic is important because women and men are affected by it. Women deserve just as many opportunities as men and equality of the sexes is really important to me and many others. Influential women such as Billie Jean King and Donna Lopiano have made a huge impact in the lives of women and enforcing the law. Going into detail about how one of these women have made a difference could be a direction I might take my paper. 

I am still kind of confused on what goes in my paper. Is it just me answering the research question I come up with? The rubric Dr. D gives will probably help make sense of the requirements of the paper. Obviously, it won't be specific enough for my paper, so that is some thing I am going to need to figure out myself. Meaning I am going to use it as a reference and I will have to fill in the cracks depending on the direction I go with this assignment. 

Editing bibliography- 20 mins
Reading Part-Time Indian Book- 90 pages 100 mins

Omar's Prompt for 1/13

The next time you're in a public place such as a coffeehouse, park, or a store observe the people around you. Pick a person, couple, or a group and imagine what their lives might be like.

Yesterday in the mall I saw a couple with black hair, black makeup, and dressed in all black clothes. Both the boy and the girl wore black nail polish and black eyeliner. Everything about them was so dark and mischievous. The way they walked. The way they whispered to each other in the Starbucks coffee shop. It was as if they wanted no one to look at them or hear what they were saying to each other. 

They looked as if they were very insecure. The couple could have been music producers for small bands, the BumbleBee tee shirt the man was wearing gave me this idea. My cousin plays in this band. In addition, the man had an iPod with at least two thousand songs on it. The only reason I know that is because the cashier had asked him. They could have also been musicians themselves because of the way they softly harmonized. Obviously, I was ease-dropping. I could just imagine them living in a small apartment with all black walls and eating sketchy Chinese food four times a week. It was amazing how perfect these two were for each other. 

Reading for this week 12/9

LOTF Project: 1 hr 20
chapters 11-12: 45 mins
Journal entries: 30 mins

TOTAL: 155 mins

Last Blog Post

1. Describe what you learned from visiting the writing center this semester and what changes you made to your paper as a result.  If you did not visit the writing center this semester, please just indicate that.  Remember to avoid last names in your description, and only use names at all if your comments are positive.

During my trip to the writing center, I learned a lot about myself and the writing center. I learned that nothing is included in writing for no reason. The writer always has a purpose and has a point he or she wants to convey. Being confident in the choices I made to put in my literary analysis are really important. I learned you have to make strong choices. I was second-guessing myself and wasn't giving my paper 100% because I wasn't confident.

Sara Alice and Ms. Spate helped me find the direction I wanted to take when starting my paper. I went before I started my paper so I did not technically make changes to my paper as stated in the prompt. However, they were very helpful and I liked how even though they were helping me there was some sense that they still left room for me to fill in the blanks. 

Mary Beth - Write a Letter to younger me.

The assignment is to write a letter to a younger version of your self trying to help them through tough times or giving advice. Write about whatever you think a younger you would need.


Dear young Katherine Ann, 

Here is some advice that comes from experience that you should take advantage of. Do not drink hot chocolate when you know how hot it is no matter how much you want to drink it right when you receive it. Secondly, don't judge a book by its cover. Making new friends is so important, especially in middle school. Thirdly, always be confident and be yourself. Everyone is unique in their own special way, don't try to be someone your not. 

Always make choices because it makes you happy life is too short to do things you don't love to do. Take piano seriously it will become so useful when you start doing musicals. Also, learn your conversions in math because they are so important throughout the rest of the math classes you will take. 

Reading Times 12/2

No posts for 12/2

Just post your reading / work times since 11/18.  Don't forget to update your LOTF Reading Focus Journal in Blackboard!

Short story final draft- 20 mins
Drafts of Journal entries (have not posted yet, still in the process) - 1 hr
Literary Analysis- 45 mins

Total- 125 mins