1. Warm Up January 30th
Every type of research essay has its place. Indicate a time when it would be appropriate to write the following types of essays (they don’t have to only take place in English class):
Expository (purpose: to explain)
Argumentative (purpose: to persuade)
Analytical (purpose: to evaluate and draw conclusions)
Why do you think the analytical essay is the most appropriate one to write in conjunction with the Senior Research Project?

2. Learning Targets:
To distinguish between different types of research essays.
To work in groups in order to establish a faux project idea, channel it into a research topic, identify related issues, and write thesis statements for each type of research essay.
To work independently on drafting a thesis statement of each essay type based on the student’s own topic.

3. In Groups of THREE:
Choose ONE group member’s senior project to be the basis of your work (someone who has no idea what to write about is a perfect candidate!).
Take 3-5 minutes to establish a research idea based on that project.
Each student must take ownership over an essay type, and then
Each will write a thesis statement OR idea for that project, using your own selected or group-assigned essay type. (Please label the thesis idea with both the project AND the essay type).
After three timed minutes, journals will be checked by the student to the right. Students will check their peers’ work to make sure that
The idea fits well with the project, and
The idea would work for the type of essay connected to it.
After three more minutes, students will discuss what their partner passed to them (What did it say? What did you like about it? How did it connect to the project? To the type of essay?)

4. Steps 1 & 2
Choose ONE group member’s senior project to be the basis of your work (someone who has no idea what to write about is a perfect candidate!).
Take 3-5 minutes to establish a research idea based on that project.

5. Steps 3 & 4
Each student must take ownership over an essay type, and then
Each will write a thesis statement OR idea for that project, using your own chosen essay type. (Please label the thesis idea with both the project AND the essay type).

6. Steps 5 & 6
Now, ideas will be checked by the student to the right. Students will check their peers’ journals to make sure that
The idea fits well with the project, and
The idea would work for the type of essay connected to it.
After three more minutes, students will discuss what their partner shared with them (What did it say? What did you like about it? How did it connect to the project? To the type of essay?)

7. Independent Work
To work independently on drafting a thesis statement of each essay type based on the student’s own topic.
Jot down a researchable idea that is (at least loosely) related to your topic.
Pretend that you will be writing an expository, persuasive, AND analytical essay for this idea. Write a thesis statement OR idea for each.
***If you finish early AND you have your Senior Project Proposal handy, enter your information into JotForm on the school’s website.

8. Homework
Be sure you’re getting SRP hours!