At the end of each Genius Day Period, share your genius for the day!
What topic will you study?
What question will you answer?
With whom will you share?
How will you share?
Plan
In your journal in class, brainstorm ideas that interest you. Think of who else would be interested.
Choose a planning sheet:
a. Make a table-- use the prewrite CCC Think Sheet
Consider---Connect----Contemplate
b. Or Use the KWHW sheet to guide you: Answer these key questions. Remember to make your own copy.
What do you know?
What do you want to know?
What do you hypothesize you will find -- your answer now?
Where will you look?
c. Or write an N2K document (N2K Code):
Questions: Make a list of questions you need to know about your topic.
Resources: Make a list of resources (who, what) you need.
Tools: Make a list of tools you need or need to learn about to make your product.
Propose
Now that you have a question, write a proposal for your project. Think about the four choices for a project, and choose the one that fits your topic.
Answer these questions in complete sentences in a Google Doc named W_ Proposal Code Topic in your Project folder.
Your proposal answers (copy/paste or use the link to make a copy):
What's your main question?
What other questions support it?
What do you already know?
Why is this important to you?
With whom will you share?
What final project do you envision?
Share with your teacher for approval.
Submit to your teacher for approval.
1 Plan your search:
KWHW sheet -- add to your sheet and plan:
What is your main question?
What is your hypothesis? What do you think you will discover?
Where will you find information?
What information will your audience want?
2 Keep your log:
Maintain a log to document your journey and show your commitment. You may choose to use your journal or to create a form to complete a record of your learning for your portfolio and to share with your teachers.
To Create a Form:
Title your form: Genius Log Code
Put your Genius Log Progress sheet in your Project folder. This will share this with your teacher.
Your form will include the following questions:
1. Code Name
2. What Topic elements did I learn today?
3. What product did I complete today? (notes, drafts, revisions, completed lesson on ____, etc.)
4. On what CCSS did I focus in reading, writing? (key words, main idea, take notes, re-read notes, summarize, analyze, draw conclusions, ask questions, design, edit, revise, peer help, studied a lesson, etc.)
5. What are my "Next Steps?"
6. Comments, Questions, Reminders
Think in terms of What Else:
What subject elements learned? CCSS
What has been applied to your own project?
What have you learned about your topic, the process of research, organizing, drafting, sharing, revising, publishing?
3 Take notes-- document your learning.
Always keep track of your sources- where is the information you are learning from? http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
If you are doing basic research, follow the iSearch project.
Include in your notes (online, in your journal, in a folder):
For each section of your text,
write your source,
track your topic’s main idea and details (use quotes for exact words from the text),
write a summary in your own words
check spelling and specific vocabulary
Verify:
Is your information:
accurate -- how do you know the facts are true; is your source trustworthy?
organized -- easy to find source, main idea, details, quotes, summary, issue?
relevant -- are the facts important to your topic?
balanced -- are multiple viewpoints studied?
TOOLS:
1. Start with a WTV√
What's the text? What do I want to know? What will the text tell me? Is it valid? Which will I use?
Use Google Bookmark or Diigo (when instructed) to bookmark your search. Remember to use labels -- your code name and your topic.
2. Keep notes
Use Cornell Notes or SMIDS Notes in a way that helps you remember, document, and cite your research.
One set of notes per source (list at top)
Two column possibilities:
Text Notes / What it means
Key words / summary and connections
Bottom section: Summary and Possible Issues on each page
Summarize the most important ideas and supporting details, including why the ideas are important to your topic.
Use reading strategies --reading strategies (use your readers notebook).
Use your reading skills and note when and how you use them:
2.1.3 Main Ideas / Supporting Details
2.1.6 Generate questions and answers
2.4.5 Evaluate the information: use only the important information
2.1.7 Summarize frequently
1.3.2 Learn new vocabulary and spell it correctly
2.3.1 Discover the important causes and effects
2.4.1 Draw conclusions: What is the most important information the author is explaining? Who would benefit from the information?
2.1.6 Visualize: Create visual images with labels/captions/comments about your topic
2.4.5 Connect your issue to your community or family; find a solution
2.4.5 Generalize a common statement from your research to another situation, such as in your community.
2.4.3 Evaluate the accuracy and validity of your information.
4 Review and Summarize
Review your notes and summarize your learning.
Possible Tool:
Summary/Review/Connection Prompts
5 Share with Peers
Sometimes you begin to get a mental block on what to research or analyze. To help you with your thinking, share one idea about your topic with peers. Perhaps you have a question, perhaps you want to know their opinion or knowledge, perhaps you just need help clarifying your understanding.
Use the AEIOU Think Sheet to document your sharing.
Use the PPP Share document for a group share review through a "Write Around" activity in Google Docs.
6 Develop your conclusions.
Use the Target Sheet to summarize your facts, make conclusions, and develop a response to the issue of your question(s).
7 Think of your audience. Draft your product.
Share your genius. Persuade your audience to consider your ideas.
Consider all your research. Contemplate the issues and suggest your perspective. To whom will you share? What do they need to know?
Persuasive Strategies: Presentation Bears
Persuasive Prewriting Template
Persuasive Letter Template and Tips
Persuasive Essay Report Template
Use your writing strategies.
8 Think of your audience. Revise and get feedback on your product. See Share With Peers.
9 Think of your audience. Revise and get feedback on your product. See Share With Peers
10 Publish and Present-- Go to Exhibit!
How will you present your information to others? Who is your audience?
Possibilities:
Blog
Website
Wiki
Google Presentation
PhotoBooth/Keynote for movie
Audio (Garageband)
We also have iPad Apps:
Show Me
Explain Everything
Throughout your project, you have kept a log of your learning -- about your topic and about research, reading, and writing. Your final product will demonstrate that learning.
Upon completion of your project, during which you evaluated which information was most important, you must evaluate your process and product.