Pearl S. Buck and The Good Earth
Intro to research and a Media connection.
The Good Earth summer reading connection
Language Arts 2 Honors-Jackson
Objectives
Students will create and research a question based off their readings from The Good Earth.
Students will create a thesis statement that answers the research question.
Students will research a variety of primary and secondary sources related to a research question.
Students will discuss and analyze the accuracy, relevancy, validity, and currency of sources related to the research question.
Students will use MLA citation to cite sources and to create a MLA
Works Cited page.
Students will create a Public Service Announcement related to the research question.
Task-Choose or create a question to be researched.
In groups of 4 , choose one of the questions provided below or create your own question based on one of the themes from the novel, The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Choice 1. To what extent does gender discrimination exist in
China today?
Choice 2. To what extent are humans contributing to global warming?
Choice 3. With your group, create your own question to be researched. (Your questions should be related to a theme/topic from the novel; hint: use your summer reading handout)
Slide 1: The Question: To what extent does gender discrimination exist in China today? Include student names.
Brought to you by:
• Chris Hernandez
• Christy Hundley
• Alicia Jimenez
• Elijah Early
Together with your group, create a thesis statement for this question.
Your thesis should have a :
Subject
Opinion
Should answer the research question
Note: You might find that you need to revise your thesis statement as you continue your research.
Slide 2: Thesis Statement
Although China has made achievements in reducing inequality between men and women, discrimination against women in China exists to a great extent in many facets of modern Chinese society.
Task-Find a minimum of 4 different sources to answer your question.
Use the Internet to find a minimum of 4 different sources related to your question.
Read or view the entire source or a large enough chunk to discuss as a group the validity, relevancy, credibility, authenticity, and currency of your sources. (HINT: DON’T JUST CHOOSE THE FIRST SOURCES YOU FIND!)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/02/ Read this for help on analyzing sources.
http://dictionary.reference.com/ Click here to define the above terms
One of your sources must be a video.
One of your sources must be a visual aid with an original caption written by your group: Visual aid examples: table, chart, map, etc.
Embed quotes and paraphrasing from your sources. (1 paraphrase minimum).
Use MLA in-text citation to cite your sources.
Websites to help you:
Try this website for help on the differences between paraphrasing and quotations:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/1/
Try this website for help with MLA in-text citation:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/
Try an iphone App on MLA citation (***these apps are available for purchase-check with your parents before downloading an app)
Task-Use Power Point or a similar program to create a presentation that you will present to the class.
The next slides are examples of how one of your pages might look in a Power Point presentation.
Each slide will contain one quote or paraphrase with in-text citation and an explanation from each student explaining why this source is relevant to the research question or is particularly credible or current.
Slide 3: Title: “Gender discrimination blamed for sex imbalance”
Quote: “In an attempt to halt the growing imbalance, China launched a "care for girls" campaign nationwide in 2000 to promote the belief that men and women are equal. The government has also offered cash incentives to girl-only families in the countryside. But these policies have not had their desired effect” (Xinhua).
• This source discusses how the one child policy has led to more boys than girls being born in China. -Chris
• This source gives several statistics on how selective abortions have influenced the number of girls born in China.-Christy
• This source provides an alternate reason why gender discrimination still exists in China and appears very credible.- Alicia
• This source shows that the Chinese government has policy in place to reduce gender discrimination and the date is recent. –
Elijah
Slide 4: Video Title: Sex in China shows widening gap - Biz Wire - May 17,2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDuYPmqv_dU
(BONTV China).
• Explain why source answers the research question or is valid, credible, etc. ……..
• ………..-Chris
• ……….-Christy
• ………...- Alicia
• ………... –Elijah
Slide 5: Another source
Remember one of your sources must Be a visual aid: (examples: chart, map, graph , etc ) with an original caption written by your group explaining what the visual aid shows.
Don’t forget a statement from each group member explaining why this visual aid answers your research question.
Your caption here:
Slide 7: Task: Create an MLA Works
Cited page with your 4 sources
Here are some links to help you create an MLA works cited page:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05
http://www.easybib.com/
AVOID PLAGIARISM
Refer to your course syllabus on how to avoid plagiarism.
Cite all of your sources. Don’t borrow ideas or content from other sources without citing them.
Here is a link on avoiding plagiarism:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/
Smile: For the last slide, import 3-4 pictures of all of your group members working on this project.
Congratulations, your finished with the power point. Now it’s time to review your work before saving the file and emailing it to kmjackson@cnusd.12.ca.us
; make sure the subject states your groupmembers first names only and your period.
Example Subject: Chris, Christy, Alicia, Elijah period 4
Check list
Each group member’s first and last name is on the first slide.
A minimum of 8 slides
A minimum of 4 sources
Visuals on most slides
A statement from each group member explaining why each source shown /chosen answers the research question.
Correct MLA In-text citation for each source
A video must be one of your sources
One of your sources must be a chart, map, graph, etc.
One of your slides must be a Works Cited page
Pictures of the group working on the project on the last slide
Remember this is your project: You should be doing most/all of the work. The teacher is your coach and will provide as much assistance as possible without doing the work for you.
Sample slide layout
Slide 1-Research Question and student names
Slide 2-thesis statement
Slide 3-Quote from 1 st source with student explanations of relevancy of source
Slide 4 Paraphrase from 2 nd source with student explanations of relevancy of source
Slide 5-paraphrase from video source with student explanations of relevancy of source
Slide 6-quotation from 4 th source with student explanations of relevancy of source
Slide 7-works cited page that cites all 4 sources
Slide 8-pictures of students working on project
PART II
Create a script, storyboard, and 30 second PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, or PSA, related in some way to your research question. YOUR PSA must be targeted towards teenagers. (:30-1:00 in length)
Your PSA does not have to be about China or The Good Earth. It should just be related in some way to your research question.
Example: If your research question was related to the environment, you might create a PSA on how teens can conserve energy at home.
Script due:
Storyboard due:
PSA due:
There are two ways to turn the final video in
Choice # 1: Post video on YouTube and email Ms. Jackson the link
Choice # 2 bring a Quicktime file of your movie on a flashdrive
The best PSAs will be posted on our classwebsite and maybe screened for the
Centennial Student body.
