Phase+3+Project+Plan


 * General Topic: **
 * Language Arts
 * Specific Topic: **
 * Plagiarism
 * Audience: **
 * Grades 7-12
 * Activity: **
 * Whiteboard demonstrations
 * Topic Overview: **
 * Plagiarism is a substantial concern for academic writers and needs to be avoided. In order for writers to avoid plagiarism, they need a clear understanding of what plagiarism is, what constitutes as plagiarism, methods/tools for avoiding plagiarism, and the consequences of plagiarism.

My current classroom has a smart board. Since this whiteboard is readily available, I am going to design my activity for groups of two or three who will present using the smart board. I also have access to senteos and as each group presents, I would like the audience to participate by answering some questions using the senteos. Groups will evaluate sources of information by identifying the source type and the information needed to create a citation for that source. Finally, these groups will use EasyBib and manually plug in the necessary information to create a citation which would appear on a work(s) cited page. After working through the activity as a group, each group will present their findings to the class. Groups are required to discuss the source type and how they identified it, the required elements for that citation, and what the citation will look like using EasyBib.
 * Task: **

This activity can be differentiated quite easily. I am going to preselect groups of two or three based on ability. Books are an easily identifiable source where the information to create a citation is always in the same place. Plus, it requires less information to create the citation when compared to a website. These would be great sources for struggling learners to evaluate. Websites, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult. The information needed to create a citation isn’t always in the same place or available. Those who evaluate websites must do more searching. Those who are really up for a challenge will be given sources like podcasts, videos, webinars, etc. Since these sources of information seem to be used less in 7th grade research, students won’t be familiar with the information necessary to create the citation. My hope is that they will problem solve and realize they can go to EasyBib to figure out what information is necessary to create the citation. Last, groups will present. How they choose to "walk" their classmates through the process is up to the group. The smart board must be utilized.
 * Process/Guidance: **

Students will be formally evaluated on their presentations using a rubric. The audience will be informally evaluated by answering questions via senteo.
 * Evaluation: **

I think students will really enjoy this activity. It gets them out of their seats and working with classmates. They get to use the web and create a demonstration that they ultimately walk their audience through. Since the sources will vary, students will learn from each other. Discussion will ensue when students see the immediate results of the senteo responses. This is a valuable activity to ensure students properly give credit to the sources they use when researching and writing.
 * Reflection: **