Session_08: The MLA Academic Essay -Refining Research
Summary: First, the class reviewed the MLA Style Center website using the link above, and then we formatted your Works Cited. After that, you discussed your research, and we explored dictionary.com and thesaurus.com. If time allows, the class carefully considered and followed the activities of Alex Essay Writing Tool, steps 4 -6.
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
“Research is creating new knowledge.”~ Neil Arstrong
Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 04 – Parts of your essay
Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 05 – Now you can read
Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 06 – Balance
Homework due by 1:00 p.m. the day before Session 09 by taking photos of your notes and inserting all them in your online document under the titles Research Article #4 and #5. Other students get to see your work, share, and discuss it.
Instructions for Homework Content:
1. Researching and taking notes on one issue: Please, research the SAME research issue using 2 Internet, book, newspaper, or journal articles about a topic that you are passionate about writing.
Below are search engine links to many materials and themes. Then, take two pages of notes for each article using the keywords on the pages.
Remember to write the author’s name(s), the date, and page or paragraph numbers if you use direct quotations. Try to summarize your work.
Then, could you put the pictures of your notes in your shared online document under Research Article #4 and Research Article #5 in your shared file so I can edit your MLA Works Cited?
Free Database Engines off Campus to collect research for your MLA Paper:
Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term you enter and then click on ‘search,’ you can choose to see the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart that helps you visualize your issue and narrow your search.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent and free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that provides evidence for your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also lets you cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!
CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the largest open-access research database in the world, giving free access.
Learning About Global Issues—This is specifically related to Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses and provides 18 core global issues. I got permission. Thank you, Chuo U, for the Sadai students.
Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community, or Japan in general, but find the data in the Japanese language? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!
Session_07: The MLA Academic Essay: Research Questions
Summary: The students learned more about Modern Language Association (MLA) formatting and MLA Works Cited. Then, collaboratively, the class confirmed the steps of the research process, the key terms of academic writing, narrowing down a research topic, finding reliable and solid research material, and taking useful notes. The students also carefully considered and followed the activities of Alex Essay Writing Tool, steps 4 -6.
“The best time to plan a book is while you’re doing the dishes.”~ Agatha Christie
Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 04 – Parts of your essay
Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 05 – Now you can read
Alex Essay Writing Tool Step 06 – Balance
Homework is due at 1 p.m. the day before Session_08. Take photos of your notes and insert all pages under Research Articles #2 & #3 in your shared online document. The readings should be on the same issue you researched in Research Article #1, which includes general or basic information and the causes of the theme. Please type your MLA Works Cited, including the URL link above your notes. Remember to write the author’s name(s), the date, and page or paragraph numbers if you use direct quotations for in-text citations. Try to summarize your work and do not simply copy/paste.
Note-taking Sample A on the Death Penalty and COVID-19
Works Cited
Amnesty International, “Death Penalty 2020: Despite Covid-19, Some Countries Ruthlessly Pursued Death Sentences and
Executions.” Amnesty International, 2004-2021, https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/death-penalty-2020-despite-covid-19-
some-countries-ruthlessly-pursued-death-sentences-and-executions/
MLA Note-taking Sample B on Freedom of Speech:
Miklaszewska, Justyna. “Freedom of Speech in Modern Political Culture.” Avant: Journal of the Philosophical-
Interdisciplinary Vanguard 10, 77-88, 30 June 2019, pp. 77-88,
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7513/20f2b891b74388e4fb533f948b18dd71c14d.pdf?
_ga=2.106479559.577207015.1622045798-1412271447.1622045798.
Documents:
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
How to Find an Issue to Research
Free Database Engines off Campus to collect research for your MLA Paper:
New! Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community, or Japan in general, but find the data in the Japanese language? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!
Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term and then clicking on ‘search,’ you can choose to see the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart that helps you visualize your issue and narrow your search at the same time.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent and free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that provides evidence for your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also lets you cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!
CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the largest open-access research database in the world, giving free access to 1-This website is very informative and easy to understand, where you might find research on your issue from Professor Andy Barfield:
Learning About Global Issues—This relates to Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses and provides 18 core global issues. I got permission. Thank you, Chuo U, for the Sadai students.
Class_15: SDL Presentation Day
Summary: We had an amazing presentation, reflection, and learning experience about each student’s self-directed learning plan to thrive!
Class_14: SDL Presentation Workshop
Summary: You worked in groups to discuss your self-directed learning paper. We set individual goals for finishing your paper. Then, you learned about the presentation guidelines with the attached assessment document and viewed the three sample presentations by former students (also attached below). Please watch the video below before making your slideshow. It will help you.
Stratvert, K. (2020, July 24). How to properly present PowerPoint slides in Zoom [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOZRa089-U
Guidelines for your presentation are not included in the document.
1. Your talk should last 8-10 minutes, followed by 3-5 minutes for questions, comments, and answers.
2. It is good to practice your presentation several times on ZOOM so you can focus on your content while speaking to the camera.
3. There are usually 16 to 20 slides.
4. Your reference page is single-spaced with APA formatting.
5. Please include in-text citations such as parenthetical citations (Miller, 2021, par. 3). You can also do narrative in-text citations like Miller (2021) suggested that…
6. Here are two free websites where you can download free and beautiful images and pictures:
Homework due by PowerPoint via email at 13:00 a day before Class_15 via email:
1. Do your best to prepare your presentation slideshow with images and cite in APA references and in-text citations. The presentation guidelines’ Word document helps add content and your script in notes in PowerPoint based on synthesizing your notes. Please be on time to send your submission so you can get feedback on your presentation for Class_15.
Example A:
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Synthesized Notes and References
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Midterm Paper
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Final Presentation
Example B:
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Synthesized Notes and References
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Midterm Paper
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Final Presentation
Example C:
Education in Japan & SDL Synthesized Notes and References
Education in Japan & SDL Midterm Paper
Education in Japan & SDL Final Presentation
Your 5,000 points of Freerice are due 07/29/2025 before class!
Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site has a warning that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Your Free Rice goal for the semester is 4,000 points!
Class_13: SDL Presentation Workshop
Summary:
Stratvert, K. (2020, July 24). How to properly present PowerPoint slides in Zoom [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOZRa089-U
Guidelines for your presentation are not included in the document.
1. Your talk should last 8-10 minutes, followed by 3-5 minutes for questions, comments, and answers.
2. It is good to practice your presentation several times, recording yourself on video, so you can notice any communication styles you would like to improve.
3. There are usually 16 to 20 slides.
4. Your reference page is single-spaced with APA formatting.
5. Please include in-text citations such as parenthetical citations (Miller, 2021, par. 3). You can also do narrative in-text citations like Miller (2021) suggested that…
6. Here are two free websites where you can download free and beautiful images and pictures:
Homework due at 13:00 the day before Class_14:
1. Do your best to prepare your presentation slideshow with images and cite in APA references and in-text citations. The presentation guidelines’ Word document is helpful for adding content and your script in notes in PowerPoint based on synthesizing your notes. Please be on time to send your submission so you can get feedback on your presentation!
2. Your Presentation Guidelines:
Option to play Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site has a warning that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Your Free Rice goal for the semester is 4,000 points!
Class_12: Your Final Draft
Summary: This year, it is not your final draft, but writing your paper fully by accepting the track changes and deleting comments. We met to discuss your the two students’s papers who came to class.
Do the GAVE process for your draft before emailing your attachment!
G = Grammarly
V = Veritus Certify! Check against Plagiarism -Leander Hughes
E = Check all Explanations in the attachments below before submitting your 2nd draft.
Attachments:
Homework is due on 01/28/2025 by 4 PM:
Could you please type your name, draft number, ESP2b class name, date, the like this: “Your Name”_ESP2b_Final Draft_’Your Name.’
1. Please download the ‘instructions for your ESP2b Self-Directed Learning.docx,” essay with an abstract, introduction, literature review, discussion/summary, conclusion, and references.
Please remember to follow:
a). the APA 7th Style formatting sample paper attached.
b). the organization of an essay with topic sentences that support each paragraph based on what you learned in classes
08 and 09 when you synthesized your research questions into five sections.
2. Also remember, your paper needs to be typed with double-spaced lines. At least three pages and a minimum of 800 words (cover page, introduction, literature review) so please use the word count on your PC or Mac, and type the word count number at the end of your paper before the reference section like this:
Word Count: 835
3. Then, do not forget to type your name, draft number, ESP2b, name, draft like this: “Your Name”_ESP2b_Final Draft.
4. Let’s start your presentation and get the content on a PowerPoint slideshow that is due before class on 02/05/2024. Your presentation based on your paper as a script, the information is below:
1. Your talk should be about 8-10 minutes and then 3-5 minutes for questions, comments, and answers.
2. It is good to practice your presentation several times on ZOOM so you can focus on your content while speaking to the camera.
3. There are usually 16 to 20 slides.
4. Your reference page is single-spaced with APA formatting.
5. Please include in-text citations such as parenthetical citations (Miller, 2021, par. 3). You can also do narrative in-text citations like Miller (2021) suggested that…
6. Here are two free websites where you can download free and beautiful images and pictures:
1. Do your best on preparing for your presentation slideshow with images and cite in APA references and in-text citations. The Word document of the presentation guidelines is useful to follow while adding content and your script in notes in the PowerPoint based on synthesizing your notes. Please be on time to send your submission so that you can get feedback on your presentation in class 15.
2. Your ZOOM Presentation Guidelines and Useful Presentation Phrasebook documents:
ESP2a-ZOOM-Presentation-GuidelinesDownload
Option to play Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty starting from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects to choose from, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, there is a warning on the site that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Class_11: Your Second Draft
Summary:
Homework due at 13:00 the day before Class_12 by email attachment to Stacey: It is easy to follow the guidelines on the document attached perhaps more than the instructions below.
Do the GAVE process for your draft before emailing your attachment!
G = Grammarly
V = Veritus Certify! Check against Plagiarism -Leander Hughes
E = Check all Explanations in the attachments below before submitting your 2nd draft.
Attachments:
Could you please type your name, draft number, ESP1a class name, date, like this: “Your Name”_ESP1a_2nd Draft
Please remember to follow:
a) The APA 7th Style formatting sample paper is attached.
b) The organization of an essay with topic sentences that support each paragraph based on what you learned in Classes_08 when you synthesized your research questions into five sections.
Example A:
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Synthesized Notes and References
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Midterm Paper
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Final Presentation
Example B:
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Synthesized Notes and References
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Midterm Paper
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Final Presentation
Example C:
Education in Japan & SDL Synthesized Notes and References
Education in Japan & SDL Midterm Paper
Education in Japan & SDL Final Presentation
An option to play Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects to choose from, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, there is a warning on the site that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Your Free Rice goal for the semester is 4,000 points!
Class_10: Finishing Your First Draft
Summary:
Homework is due at 13:00 the day before Class_11 by email attachment to Stacey. The guidelines in the document attached are easy to follow, perhaps more so than the instructions below.
Do the GAVE process for your draft before emailing your attachment!
G = Grammarly
V = Veritus Certify! Check against Plagiarism -Leander Hughes
E = Check all Explanations in the attachments below before submitting your 1st draft.
Attachments:
(Please use this attachment above to type in your paper!)
Could you please type your name, draft number, ESP2b class name, date, like this: “Your Name” ESP2b_1st Draft
1. Please download the ‘instructions for your ESP2b Self-Directed Learning.docx, essay with an abstract, introduction, literature review, discussion/summary, conclusion, and references.
Please remember to follow:
a) The APA 7th Style formatting sample paper is attached. The APA 7th edition style manual is available in the ERC.
b) The organization of an essay with topic sentences that support each paragraph based on what you learned in Classes_08 when you synthesized your research questions into five sections.
2. For absent students: Remember that your paper needs to be typed with double-spaced lines. At least three pages and a minimum of 800 words (cover page, introduction, literature review), so please use the word count on your PC or Mac, and type the word count number at the end of your paper before the reference section, like this:
Word Count: 835
3. Then, do not forget to type your name, draft number, ESP2b, name, draft like this: ‘Your Name_ESP1a_1st Draft
Example A:
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Synthesized Notes and References
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Midterm Paper
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Final Presentation
Example B:
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Synthesized Notes and References
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Midterm Paper
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Final Presentation
Example C:
Education in Japan & SDL Synthesized Notes and References
Class_09: Your SDL Paper
Summary: We reviewed your self-directed synthesized notes proposals. Could you complete your three-question reflection in your Google Doc share file?
Please see Class_10 to write a first draft paper!
Homework due at 13:00 the day before Class_10: Using your ideas from the five questions you have made and five articles you have taken notes on, write the first draft of your essay by emailing me your Word Document draft. Please remember to follow:
A) The formatting guidelines provided by the APA Style Guideline Overview are attached.
B) The organization of an essay with topic sentences that support each paragraph based on what you learned in class.
3. Your paper in the future (not this assignment) needs to be typed with double-spaced lines, and at least 900 words, so please use the word count tool in Microsoft Word and type the word count number at the end of your paper before the Sources Cited section, like this:
Word Count: 935
4. Please make sure that your name, draft number, ESP1a course name, date, and title are in the attachment file like this:
‘Your Name’_ESP1a_SDL_1st Draft
Please use this document to write your first draft:
Again, the homework is due at 13:00 the day before Class_10 by email attachment to Stacey. The guidelines in the document attached are easy to follow, perhaps more so than the instructions below.
Do the GAVE process for your draft before emailing your attachment!
G = Grammarly
V = Veritus Certify! Check against Plagiarism -Leander Hughes
E = Check all Explanations in the attachments below before submitting your 1st draft.
Attachments:
Your Name__SDL Paper_ESP1aDownload
(Please use this attachment above to type in your paper!)
ESP1a__Assessment-ChecklistDownload
An option to play Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site has a warning that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Your Free Rice goal for the semester is 4,000 points!
Example A:
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Synthesized Notes and References
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Midterm Paper
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Final Presentation
Example B:
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Synthesized Notes and References
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Midterm Paper
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Final Presentation
Example C:
Education in Japan & SDL Synthesized Notes and References
Class_08: SDL Research
Summary: You spoke to your pair about your research and observation possibilities. I also checked in with each one of you on your progress. Then you reviewed the document ‘ESP2b_Self_Directed_Learning_Synthesizing and References.docx’ attached to help with your upcoming homework and the PowerPoint instructions.
How to make APA References: APA 7th Edition Quick Guide
Homework due at 13:00 the day before Class_09 in your Google Doc:
1. Please write the same four or five questions related to the topic you are researching and categorize your four notes on THREE pages of A4 paper. With your note-taking, please take a photo of them and insert them into the attached A4 Word document. Please keep the references for the readings and viewings in the document APA style on the third page and attached below. Delete the articles you are not using.
The Details are in your GOOGLE Document to upload your pictures:
A. Please write the same five or six questions related to the topic you are researching and categorize your four notes on THREE pages of your Google Doc with the Cloud Questions. With your notes, please take a photo of them and insert them into the Doc. Please keep the references for the readings and viewings in the document APA style on the third page and attached below. Finally, delete the articles you are not using.
What part of self-directed learning will you write about? Ask specific questions about your issue of who, what, where, when, why, and how? Then choose the best narrowed-down answer that seems the most interesting to you using figure 1 below:
B. For your original articles, please provide the details of the author’s name, date published, the title, and the publisher (or organization). Most of you have done this in the previous assignment, so please include the references you wrote in this assignment too.
It is okay to make mistakes on the references. I can help you. Please make sure you note the page or paragraph number and the in-text citation any time you can to keep organized. It makes the first draft of your paper so much easier to write. I am trying to help you!
C. You are not researching new articles, but categorizing the readings and viewings you have read and taken notes on already. If it is confusing, look at the PowerPoint attached in Class 08.
Don’t be busy; just be productive! I am trying to do the same myself.
Class_08 Reflections:
1. How did you participate in class today? Please describe as best you can.
2. What did you learn about your readings/viewings? What were your speaking pairs’ issues?
3. What are your next SMART (simple, manageable, attainable, reasonable, timely) learning goals?
2. For your original articles, please provide the details of the author’s name, date published, the title, and the publisher (or organization). Most of you have done this in the previous assignment, so please include the references you wrote in this assignment too.
3. You are not researching new articles but categorizing the readings and viewings you have already read and taken notes on. If this is confusing, look at the PowerPoint attached below.
Don’t be busy, just be productive! I am trying to do the same myself.
4. Note: I will give you feedback on your self-directed learning step-by-step homework. Many of the corrected versions I provide feedback on can be included in your paper.
5. Complete your three-question reflection in your Google Doc share file.
Here are some excellent self-directed learning midterm reports and their corresponding final presentations to help you think about what aspect of self-directed learning you would like to write and present.
Example A:
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Synthesized Notes and References
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Midterm Paper
Life-Long Learning & Growth Mindsets Final Presentation
Example B:
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Synthesized Notes and References
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Midterm Paper
COVID-19 & Self-Directed Learning Final Presentation
Example C:
Education in Japan & SDL Synthesized Notes and References
Education in Japan & SDL Midterm Paper
Education in Japan & SDL Final Presentation
Visualization of Synthesizing Notes PowerPoint
An option to play Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site has a warning that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Your Free Rice goal for the semester is 4,000 points!