Seminar: Survey questions continued . . .

Continue your work today on the "Survey Questions" document from the Hierarchy of Needs questions. See my Example Survey Questions Document for details.

• From your plus/delta brainstorms about the school, compose at least 10 survey questions.  Make sure that at least half of them have geographical answers that can be mapped on the school map.
• From your brainstorm about your assigned permaculture principle, compose at least 10 more survey questions.  Again, make sure that at least half of them have geographical answers that can be mapped on the school map.
• When you are done with those 20 questions (or more), continue exploring the forms in google spreadsheets.  
• Resources:
•  common flaws to avoid in survey questions.

GLarts: Introducing a Quote

Tips for introducing a quote in your paragraph:

• Start with your own words, not the quote.
• make sure that punctuation and grammar still works
• use a better verb than "says"
• cite the specific source in parenthesis at the end of the sentence before the period (Sullivan, p. 41)
• Mention the author or website (if author is unknown)

Links:
Examples of good quote introduction

GLArts: Research for your Persuasive Essay

Here is your chance to look up sources, facts, and data to back up your arguments in your persuasive essay.  You may also use this time to type what you have of your essay so far.  I expect you to have at least three (3) {III} [!!!] facts or statistics from outside sources.
Make sure you save the url address for the source so you can find it and cite it properly later.  Use this format to help you:

Argument: People drive places that are obviously wrong, just because their phone tells them it is right, ignoring their common sense.
Supporting Fact:  over 300,000 car accidents have been caused by GPS in Brittian and over 1.5 million have swerved in traffic because the the gadget told them to in error.
Connection to thesis: this only goes to show how the evolution of technology is making humans more helpless and incompetent: smart phones really do make you stupid!
Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/07/gps-causes-3000/

Seminar: Survey Questions for GIS Map

Goal:  To write survey questions that have various geographical answers that are represented by sections of the HMS map.  These questions should help us understand how and where the needs of people at the school are met.

Hierarchy of needs: We will use Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to organize the types of questions we ask, starting with the bottom.

Start a Google Document for your group and make sure it is shared with Mr. Sullivan and everyone in your group .  Title the Document: Survey Questions-first names in your group. Here is my SAMPLE DOCUMENT if you want to see an example.

Here is a sample of the school map (still in progress):

Once you have finished at least 5 questions (per person in group) for Physiological Needs and 5 for Safety and Security Needs, talk to me about the next section. The more questions you have the better chance of having good questions for you final survey.

Here are some sources to read more about the Hierarchy of needs.  Read them before you go on to write questions for level 3 and 4:

About.com-psychology

Educational Psychology Interactive: Maslow's 

psychology today

FREE Science & Technology Event

You can ride a bus from Rio Grande HS or Atrisco HS (permission slip needed; see me) or your parents can drive you to the Convention Center (downtown).

GLArts: Writing an Introduction

Here are the parts you need for your Introduction to your persuasive essay:
Part I: THE HOOK - Hook your reader's interest in your topic in one or more of the following ways:

• Explain why the topic is interesting or important
• Relate your topic to everyone
• Ask an intriguing question.
• Start with surprising or interesting facts or statistics
• Fact: Many studies show that the biological sleep pattern for teens shifts a few hours, which means teens naturally stay up later and feel alert later in the morning.
• For the thesis: If every school day started at ten o'clock, many students would find it easier to stay focused.
• Statistic: According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, teens and young adults experience the highest rates of violent crime.
• For the thesis: Parents are justified in implementing a strict curfew, regardless of a student's academic performance.
• Tell an anecdote (brief story) that relates to your topic.
• Start with a related quote and explain it:
• 
  

  Quote: "A man's errors are his portals of discovery."

  For the thesis: Students grow more confident and self-sufficient when parents allow them to make mistakes and experience failure.

• • Inspire curiosity with an unusual statement: A duck’s quack doesn’t echo. Some people might find a deep and mysterious meaning in this fact …
  • Start with a Definition of a key word for your topic: A homograph is a word with two or more pronunciations. Produce is one example …
  • Anecdote (tell a brief story that introduces your topic): Yesterday morning I watched as my older sister left for school with a bright white glob of toothpaste gleaming on her chin. I felt no regret at all until she stepped onto the bus …

Part II: TRANSITION - Relate the hook to your thesis in a smooth way.
Part III: THESIS - State your thesis at the end of the paragraph.

SEMINAR: Measuring for school map

If Ms.  Newton will send students out (with completed pass in agenda) to collect measurements of specific locations for our map of the school.  You will come back and convert your measurements while the other students go measure.

When measuring the school buildings for the map, remember the formula:

(your footsteps) x (length of foot in inches) = (length in inches) 

(length in inches) /12 = (length in feet)

THEN TO SCALE FOR MAP:

Length in feet /6 = number of squares on the map grid.