Creating A Blog

Authored by Thomas

Jefferson

Researching and Creating Thomas Jefferson’s Blog

Lesson PlanDay One: A visit to the library. The librarian will model on the projection screen

how to use the databases and search for relevant books in the library. Students will

be provided with passwords during this session. They will also be shown how to

copy and paste APA formatted source information to a Google Doc. All sources must

be cited. Students will be provided a chart from Purdue Owl showing the citation

rules, although when using databases, they will copy and paste the information into

a Google Doc.

Day Two, Three, and Four: Students will be in the library using computers and

Chromebooks to complete their research. The librarian and teacher will be

available to assist students with this process. The students will save or email

themselves the articles and APA Citations.

Day Five: The librarian will model how to create, edit and comment on a Blog.

Student will begin Blog creation.

Day Six-Ten: Blog and additional research continues. Students will share the Blog

with the teacher and librarian for review and suggestions for changes

.

Day Eleven-Fifteen: Presentations to the class.

Searching the Databases: EBSCO and Gale• Go to the MHS Library Website at http://tinyurl.com/kc8e5c3

• Your EBSO and Gale Database links are under “Databases”.

• First we will look at EBSCO. The password is embedded, so all

you need to do is enter the site through this website and click

on, “ESBCO Databases”

• Choose “Student Research Center”

You can search from here choosing what type of document you want, or you can choose

your subject, History, on the left. We will choose “History” on the left.

Check the box “History” at the top.

Read your results and you can print or email them to your school email account. I suggest

emailing them to your school email account. You can review what you found and print only

what is needed.

• You can create your citations by choosing the print option and copying and pasting

the information into your Citation Google Doc.

• Now we will move to Gale Databases.

Gale Resources

Choose Gale Databases (all)

Our Password is “cardinal”

For the purposes of this project, we will try “select all”. This will give you the

most results. Now, fill in your search terms. I have put Jefferson Hamilton debate.

This is the result list. There are many results.

Here is the document I chose to view.

To the right, you have several options print,

email, download, citation tools, etc.

Click “Citation” Here is a sample APA Citation. Create a Google Doc called “History Project Citations”.

Copy and Paste the information into your Citation Google Doc.

Next, We will learn to create our Blog.

Creating Your Own Blog

Google Accounts and Blogger

Go to: https://www.blogger.com/home

Be sure your are logged into your school Google Account, if not login.

Click “New Blog”

New Blog

• Choose your title.

• The address should be your lastnamestudent

idnumberjefferson.blogspot.com

• Choose your design. This can be changed later if you change

your mind on your design.

Start Blogging

• Click Start Blogging to begin Jefferson’s post on his opinions.

• This also shows a list of any previous blogs you have created.

Posts Formatting and Options This page looks very similar to other document format options. You notice

fonts, pictures, links and other options. Your blog post will not be live

until you click “Publish”. You can insert videos, pictures, and links.

You now know how to search the Databases, create citations, and create your Blog.

Next we will review Plagariasm.

Blog Content Requirements:

You will be researching the following historical figures:

Thomas Jefferson

Alexander Hamilton

George Washington

John Adams

Attorney General Randolph

James Madison

Your research will be used to create a blog authored by Thomas Jefferson and the other players

will comment on Jefferson’s blog. You must use language and information from the time period.

You must also show your knowledge of the opinions of all parties about the national bank and the

strength of the national government. Your research must include their interactions and stances on the

national bank and strength of the national government. Also, be sure to include details of the debate

between Jefferson and Hamilton. In other words, when Alexander Hamilton comments on Jefferson’s

blog, he must voice his opinions in the manner he would have at the time. Use your research to

understand all the opinions and develop the blog and comments.

Plagiarism: When a person copies from another source without giving

proper credit to the author. This includes websites, books, journals, and magazines.

Anytime you read and gather information, you are required to give the author credit on

in your references.

A common misconception is if you do not use quotes, you do

not have to cite the material. This is not true. You have to

cite within your paper if you use quotes, but ALL information

that was gathered outside of your own thoughts have to be

given credit on your References page.

“It’s a powerful story and excellent resource for teaching tolerance, with a message that

extends well beyond the timely subject matter.” (Fawcett, 49)

This is a direct quote from the source and it is in quotations and cited using parenthetical

citation.

References

Stratton, A. (2012). Borderline. New York: Harper Teen.

Kraus, D. (2010). Borderline. Booklist, 106(9/10), 58.

Borderline. (2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(5), 49.

Anderson, K. (2010). Borderline. School Library Journal, 56(3), 167.

Even though only two sources were quoted in the paper, I listed all of the sources

I gathered information from for the final product.

You must cite every source.

• Paraphrases

• Summaries

• Statistics

• Facts

• Diagrams or graphs

ALL information gathered must be cited

Best Rule of Thumb, ask if you are unsure about citing a source. Do not be

caught Plagiarizing. It could result in a 0, office referral and possible suspension.

Learning Theories Incorporated:

We will be researching, compiling, creating and presenting. This incorporates the learning

theory of constructivism. This is a learning theory that believes a student learns best

when they create and present their findings to their peers.

Instructional Objectives:

The student will gather relevant information, synthesize, and eliminate irrelevant

information.

The student will create a blog to present their findings and thinking to their peers.

The student will master US History TEKS 8.4, 8.29, and 8.30.

Intended Audience:

8th Grade US History Classes