Warm Up. Click A if the statement is a good thesis, click B if it is not a good thesis.

1. There are many things people can be doing to save or even produce more gas or alternative fuels.
2. If we do not do something to stop global warming now, the effects on our earth will continue to get worse and worse.
3. The Titanic sank.
4. Some people think Global Warming is a myth.
5. The ancient Egyptians built pyramids.
6. It was the captain's fault that Titanic sank.
7. Ballet is a type of dance.
8. The reason for the Holocaust is that Hitler wanted everyone to be Christians.
9. The Summer Olympics happen once every four years.
10. Mary Kay had a significant impact on society today because she was the first woman to start and own her own business.
11. The PSP is a better game system than the Nintendo DS.
12. There is a holiday for Cesar Chavez.
13. Gandhi had a significant impact on society because he spread peace and prevented violence throughout the world.

Keyword Note-Taking.
Instructions: You should be able to turn the below notes into a well-organized paragraph or two (about 65-100 words) for a research paper. Make sure you include all the information below, but also:
1. Elaborate: Put the keywords and phrases into complete sentences. Add an introductory/topic sentence. Add a concluding sentence.
2. Apply knowledge you already have: Add information you already know regarding the key words and ideas. (Like the fourth bullet below.)
3. Cite examples and define terms:  about the keywords and phrases--Define perching, What else is warm-blooded? How are birds like or unlike them?
 
Notes:

I. What are birds? (Characteristics) (Source 1 = Smith, Source 3 = Jones)
warm-blooded  (1, p1)
but lay eggs (1, p1)
feathers: all have, only animal with (1, p1)
but not all fly (duh)
phylum: Chordata (w/backbone), class: Aves (birds) (3, p4)
9,000+ species (3, p4)
1/2 = those that perch (1, p23)

Example:
    Birds are unique from other animals. The only animal with feathers (Smith 1), birds are from the phylum Chordata, meaning with a backbone, and the class Aves, meaning birds (Jones 4).   Every species of bird has feathers, but as everyone knows, not all birds fly. (Think of the emu, ostrich, and penguin.) Birds are warm-blooded like mammals, but unlike mammals, they lay eggs. There are over 9,000 species of birds (Jones 4), over half of which are called perching birds. This means they "perch" or rest on branches and limbs, rather than on the ground (Smith 23). (90 words.)

Works Cited Practice (Go over Works Cited handout page and then have students practice writing their own Works Cited entries using actual sample texts from the classroom.)