This week we will begin working on our Oustanding Americans Research Unit. Each student will select an Outstanding American to research and will then write a five-paragraph essay about that person. By the end of this week, I will give students a super-helpful research outline and a calendar outlining all of their deadlines for this three-week unit.
In class on Thursday, we began discussing what is meant by "Outstanding." Students should select an American who has had a positive impact on our world. I tell my students to consider: those who help others or give to charity, those who have overcome obstacles to achieve great things, those who are admired and respected by people of ALL ages, and those who have made the world better or safer.
Inevitably, I have a student each year who asks if it's okay to research Ozzy Osbourne.
"Uh, no. He's not an American, for starters..." I answer, while grinding my teeth into oblivion.
Last week, in fact, I got, "I'm gonna do Austin Powers!"
"Um, well, Austin Powers is A FICTIONAL CHARACTER! And, uh, he's actually PLAYED by a man named Mike Myers, who is CANADIAN!"
"What? Mike Myers is Canadian???"
I do have a lengthy list of pre-approved Outstanding Americans that I will share with students on Tuesday. If students wish to research someone who is NOT on the list, they will need to submit a proposal form to me during class on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:
1. Brainstorm topic ideas with your child.
2. Talk about a bibliography/works cited: Eighth graders have a really difficult time understanding the importance of saving their citation information for use in the bibliography or works cited page. If you have any experience in creating a bibliography or works cited page, talk about it with your child. I will discuss the concept and importance of a bibliography with students at great length before the research begins, and I will show them several examples.
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