Senior Humanities
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RD Day 8- MLA Formatting + Completion

2/20/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Nothing

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Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 10.

MLA Formatting
  1. Let’s review the MLA Formatting Checklist

What it Takes to have a COMPLETE Rough Draft:
  1. At least 10 pages written in double-spaced 12 point Times New Roman font (this does not include your title page or Works Cited)
  2. Completed each of the 4 parts of your thesis
  3. Has in-text citations for all quotes and paraphrased information
  4. Has a Works Cited page with MLA citations
  5. You do NOT need to have a title page and abstract yet- we will write those later!

RD Day 7- WRITE Off Campus

2/20/2025

 
Work Priorities:
  1. Finish Parts 1, 2, and 3 of your senior thesis.
  2. Insert transitions (use those transitional phrases!) between ALL paragraphs.
  3. Check and insert in-text citations after ALL quotes or paraphrases

RD Day 6 - Citations and Transitions + WRITE

2/18/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. SPAM 2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Tuesday, 2/18, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection that should be emailed to Lori!

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 10.
  2. First Drafts are due SUNDAY at midnight. Parent emails will go out Monday morning if I don't have it turned in and complete. 

Starter: Take the Yearbook Survey! Seriously, do this stuff.  Lest they let me loose on AI generators to create uncanny senior/baby photos for you.

In Text Citation Review
We’re getting into the nitty and the gritty details of writing a research paper. Unfortunately, that includes MLA in text citations. 

Take a look at the handout and use the find and replace function (command+F or control+F) to find “(“ open brackets (Shift+9). This should show you any of the citations you made already and allow you to double check them. If you haven’t made these citations yet, use the same function to find “ quotation marks (Shift+’). This won’t find paraphrasing but it will find direct quotes, which is better than nothing. Not citing your sources is plagiarism. 

Transition Quick Review
Quickly review strategies for transitions:
  1. Transitional phrases + logical connections
  2. Repeated words/phrases
  3. Use of last sentence + topic sentence

Transitions Practice Individually
Finally, you’re going to take some of your own writing and transition it properly.  SHOW LORI once you do this. This sheet should look eerily familiar if you can remember last semester (however long ago that may or may not have been). Once you complete this, it’s time to get back to the grind. 

Work Priorities: by Wednesday at start of class I will have done:
  1. Completed a rough draft of parts 1, 2, and 75% of Part 3 of my thesis. 
  2. Put transitions in through all the parts that I have written so far
  3. Checked all my In Text Citations

RD Day 5- Analysis Framework + Write

2/13/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Thesis Outline. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday, 2/13, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.
  2. SPAM 2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Tuesday, 2/18, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection that should be emailed to Lori!

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. Applied for GripTape? Check your email! They are notifying people, and you will have to set up a Zoom meeting!
  3. Snow Days don’t change deadlines! If you are markedly behind where you should be (you should have your thesis halfway drafted before you come back to school next Tuesday), you should put in some hours this weekend.

​Analysis Framework Assignment
People tend to struggle with analysis- let’s practice with a framework that will help you. This sheet has a framework, an example, and a place for you to practice with your own writing. Before you move into writing time, take a hard look at some section of your part 3 and use this framework to improve your writing. SHOW ME to move out of the classroom and into writing time.

Writing Goals:
By the time you come back to school next week (assuming tomorrow is, indeed, a snow day…)
  1. 50% of your thesis is drafted. This should be somewhere between 5-10 pages, but I would estimate based on how much of your outline is written. 
  2. SPAM 2 form and reflection is turned in (next Tuesday is the last day to turn it in for credit).

RD Day 4- Off Campus Writing

2/13/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. SPAM 2. DUE: Tuesday, 2/11, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection!
  2. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 4. LAST DAY TO TURN IN:  Wednesday, 2/12, midnight. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Outline. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday, 2/13, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

Off Campus Wednesday Work Priorities
  1. Finish drafting parts 1&2 of your thesis if you haven’t yet
  2. Drafted a decent chunk of part 3 of your thesis (you should probably have about 5-7 pages total written by the start of class tomorrow, depending on your anticipated length)
  3. If you’ve somehow finished parts 1-3, start writing part 4

RD Day 3- Write it Up!

2/11/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. SPAM 2. DUE: Tuesday, 2/11, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection!
  2. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 4. LAST DAY TO TURN IN:  Wednesday, 2/12, midnight. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Outline. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday, 2/13, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. SPAM 2 handouts and reflections are due TODAY by 3:30.
  3. Rough Drafts are due Sunday, 2/23 at MIDNIGHT. These are completion grades- you need to have ALL sections complete, formatted, at least 10 pages double spaced,  and an accurate Works Cited.

TYPE UNTIL YOUR FINGERS ARE BLEEDING LITTLE NUBBINS!
TypingtypingtippitytaptippytaptypetypingtypinggetyourfingersonthehomerowkeystypetypetypingtippytappitytypetypingtippytappydonthuntandpeckitlookssillytypetypingtippitytaptippytaptypetypingtypingtypetypetypingtippyallworkandnoplaymakesJackadullboytypetypingtypetypefastertippitytypetappytapdanceonthekeyslikeGregoryHinestypetypetypeingtype.

Work Priorities, by Start of Class Wednesday:
  1. SPAM 2 form handed in with reflection emailed to Lori
  2. Parts 1, 2, and at least 25% of Part 3 drafted (you should be at somewhere between 3-6 pages typed​

RD Day 2- Setting Up Quotes + Signal Phrases

2/10/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. SPAM 2. DUE: Tuesday, 2/11, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection!
  2. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 4. LAST DAY TO TURN IN:  Wednesday, 2/12, midnight. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Outline. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday, 2/13, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 10.
  2. SPAM 2 handouts are due Tuesday, 2/11 by 3:30
  3. REMINDER- SNOW DAYS DO NOT CHANGE THESIS DEADLINES

Starter Felicia: 
Dig back into your outline and find 2 quotes you need to bring into your paper. If you did the outline correctly, this should be as simple as glancing down the list and picking any entry. 
  1. Write the set up for both quotes: 
    1. Here’s the challenge, you cannot use “the author says” in any permutation,  you should NOT include the article title in the set up, AND you must use a signal phrase verb in each set up.
    2. If you need ideas, check out the link below, or on Google Classroom.
    3. Punctuate your set ups correctly!  Use them to add context and shoehorn some more information into your thesis!

Setting up Quotes + Signal Phrases
Take a gander at this handout to be able to set up yer quotes. You need evidence, and being able to introduce it properly is going to be essential. Branch out, try to challenge yourself to set up quotes in a variety of ways. 

Work Priorities: by Tuesday at start of class I will have done:
  1. Set up a SPAM 2 meeting with my advisor or turned it in with reflection (you can handwrite reflection, or email it it to Lori)
  2. Drafted at least 15% of Part 3 of my thesis (this is probably somewhere between 1-2 pages, depending on how long you anticipate part 3 to be!)

RD Day 1- Paraphrase vs. Quotes + Start Writing

2/7/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Outline. DUE: Thursday, 2/6, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.​
  2. SPAM 2. DUE: Tuesday, 2/11, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection!
  3. Thesis Rough Draft. DUE: Sunday 2/23, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 3. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: ​Friday, 2/7, start of class. Google Classroom.
  2. Outline Dissection Part 4. LAST DAY TO TURN IN:  Wednesday, 2/12, midnight. Google Classroom.

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. SPAM 2 handouts are due Tuesday, 2/11 by 3:30.

Starter Bob: Paraphrasing 
Think back to a time when someone was telling you an important story or essential bit of information
  1. When is it important to get the gist of what they were saying?
  2. When is it important to get the wording exactly right?
  3. Oh dear heavens, how ever do you think this will apply to your task today?

Paraphrasing Framework
Review this framework with students- they should take notes!

Paraphrasing Activity with Cats
We’re going to practice the difference between paraphrasing and quoting today with an article about stray cats in Hawaii. Follow the directions given and on this sheet and we’ll make it out just fine and be off to writing in no time. 

The Task for Today
WRITE WRITE WRITE. The bell has finally tolled for thee and it’s time to get to writing, finally. Get writin’.

By the start of class Friday, I have….
  1. Sent my SPAM advisor my finished outline before our meeting OR have done so and handed in the complete sheet with reflection
  2. Written a draft of Part 1 (introduction) to my thesis
    1. If starting with the intro doesn’t work for you, start wherever makes sense! If you want to start in Part 3, do that!
  3. Started drafting part 2 (background) to my thesis

Outline Critiques + Revision

2/6/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Outline. DUE: Thursday, 2/6, MIDNIGHT. Google Classroom.​
  2. SPAM 2. DUE: Tuesday, 2/11, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box. Don't forget the reflection!

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 3. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: ​Friday, 2/7, start of class. Google Classroom.
  2. Outline Dissection Part 4. LAST DAY TO TURN IN:  Wednesday, 2/12, midnight. Google Classroom.

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. Grip Tape Applications are OPEN! Get them turned in! Have Lori look at them before you submit.
  3. SPAM 2 Forms- Are on the table by the windows. They have guiding questions, a space for your advisor to fill out, and questions YOU need to answer for your reflection. 

Starter Wombat
An elevator pitch is a 30 second up to one minute description of your idea designed to be complete enough so that when the elevator doors open and the executive that you’ve been scaring flees for safety, they have a complete idea of what you were pitching them, so they can go and present it as their own. 
  1. Write down the elevator pitch for your thesis
    1. Ideally this would be your thesis statement with some context as to why it’s important
    2. That way you cover the intro, background, evidence, and analysis all in one go

Outline Critiques
We are going to be following this protocol, which should seem a bit weird compared to what we’ve done previously for critiques. Instead of relying on your peer’s critiques, you’re going to be reliant on your perceptions. Strange I know, it will make sense once you get started. 
  1. Brace yourself for the onslaught of thinking and speaking
  2. Follow directions on the handout and watch for the timers
  3. Take notes when you notice somewhere you need to improve your outline
  4. Be prepared to make changes when necessary

Outlines are due Tonight at MIDNIGHT
  1. Outline needs to be done before your SPAM 2 meeting
  2. When you are done, make a copy of it and SHARE it with your Senior Project Advisor, along with a nice note about how they should read it before your SPAM 2 meeting
  3. Writing starts on Friday, so having an outline will be advantageous

Outline Part 4

2/4/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 3. DUE: ​Friday, 1/31, start of class. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Outline. DUE: Thursday, 2/6, start of class. Google Classroom.​
  3. SPAM 2. DUE: Tuesday, 2/11, 3:30 pm. In turn-in box.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Thesis Statement Drafts. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Tuesday, 2/4, by 3:30 pm. Google Classroom.
  2. Outline Dissection Parts 1-2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday, 2/6, start of class. Google Classroom.
  3. Outline Dissection Part 3. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: ​Friday, 2/7, start of class. Google Classroom.

Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 10.
  2. Grip Tape Applications are OPEN! Get them turned in! Have Lori or Jessica review before you submit!

Starter: 
Think about the best endings you have ever seen, heard, read, played, or any other consumption method. 
  1. What makes an ending satisfying?
  2. How can we ensure all questions are answered?
  3. Think about your own thesis, what will you need to do to answer your question?
    1. Analysis?
    2. More data?
    3. A time machine or secret twin?

Outline Dissection Part 4
Complete this before moving on to your outline. 

Today is the last day in class to work on your outline uninterrupted. Take this time to get it ready to present because tomorrow we’re running a critique protocol, so have something ready by tomorrow, even if the sections are a little rough! 

Outline Rubric
Check this out- none of this should be a surprise, but this is how we will be grading your outlines. 

Work Priorities: by Wednesday at start of class I will have done:
  1. Set up a SPAM 2 meeting with my advisor. Meeting time is confirmed!
  2. An outline that is not necessarily perfect but is close to done
    1. That’s parts 1-4 of my own outline
  3. Completed and turned in outline dissection parts 1&2, 3, and 4
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  • Daily Lessons
  • Course Overview
  • Resources
  • Senior Project
    • 2025 Award Finalists
    • 2024 Award Finalists
    • 2023 Award Finalists
    • 2019 Award Finalists
    • 2018 Award Finalists
    • Early Senior Theses and TED Talks
  • Honors