grand canyon unv104 all week assignment october. 2013

grand canyon unv104 week1 Class Wall
Biography assignment october. 2013

Getting to know other students in your class is important in
creating the online community at GCU. The Class Wall is a place for students to
network and get to know one another. Your first post to the Class Wall will be
a short biography to introduce yourself to your fellow students.
Access the “Sample Bio” and “Biography Outline”
documents and use them as resources to help you organize some facts about
yourself. Use your completed outline to write a biography formatted in a
similar fashion as the sample biography.
Once other students have posted their bios, go back to the Class
Wall and read them, and also your instructor’s bio.

grand canyon unv104 week 1 Expository
Essay: Pre-Writing Worksheet assignment
october. 2013

Name:

Expository Essay:
Pre-Writing Worksheet
Before
you begin any writing assignment, it is often necessary to complete several
“pre-writing” activities. This worksheet
will assist you with several of the pre-writing activities necessary for
completing your expository essay including selecting a topic, developing a
thesis statement, and identifying the audience for you essay. Follow the instructions to complete these
pre-writing activities.
1. Choose a Topic
Here is a list of possible essay topicsto use for your expository
essay.
Please
choose only one topic.You will indicate the topic you have chosen within the
table below.

·
Video games AND violence
·
Internet AND workplace
·
Exercise AND obesity
·
Academic achievement AND library
2. Read the Module 1 lecture and review “The Writing Process” media piece.
Be sure to read your Module 1 lecture and review the
“The Writing Process” media piece for instructions on how to develop a thesis statement and how to identify your audience.
You will need to know how to do
this in order to complete the table below and successfully begin your writing
process.
“The Writing Process”
Ø
“Menu”
ü
“Who is
the audience?”
ü
“How
should I brainstorm?”
(Because you are required to choose your
topic from the list above, not all brainstorming examples will be pertinent to
this assignment.When reviewing the “Brainstorming Examples”, “Break Down Topic”
may be a good one to start with.
However, be sure to review them all to determine which works best for
you.)
ü
“How do
I develop a thesis?”
ü
“How do
I organize my brainstorm into an online?” (You
will complete this in Module 4)
3. Complete the following table as demonstrated in the “Example Student
Response” below. Submit this completed worksheet to the
Expository Essay: Pre-Writing Worksheet drop box by the end of Day 7 of Module
1.

Criteria

Example Student Response

Example Instructor Feedback

Your Response

Instructor Feedback

ü Choose a
Topic
·
You must choose a topic from the list provided
above.

Adults
and Online Learning

Great choice!

ü Develop a
Thesis Statement
·
Brainstorming may assist with this.

Earning a degree
online is great for working adults.

You have a good start, but you can improve
your thesis statement by explaining why earning a degree online is great and
making it more specific. Try finding
resources that explain why and this will support your thoughts and allow you
to expand your thesis statement. Refer
to your module 1 lecture for examples of a good thesis statement.

ü Identify
Your Audience:
·
What would be important to your audience?
·
What is the appropriate way to address this audience
(professional, familial, friendly)?

My
audience is other adults who maybe considering enrolling in an online degree
program.I think my audience would need to know the benefits of earning a
degree online. I should address them
professionally and use appropriate language and correct grammar because…

Perfect!

ü Questions
I Have

What
should my supporting paragraphs include?

Each supporting paragraph
should provide information discussed in your introductory paragraph and
thesis statement. For example, you
first supporting paragraph might discuss the benefits to earning a degree
online.

grand canyon unv104 week 2 Expository Essay: Pre-Writing Worksheet
assignment october. 2013

Name:

GCU Fleming
Library Scavenger Hunt and Gathering Resources Worksheet

Overview:
The GCU Fleming Library will be a vital resource for you during your academic
career. The Library contains a wealth of resources that will help you find,
research, and broaden your understanding on any given topic.Learning to
correctly use resources to support your writing is an essential component of
your academic success.
Directions:Each
step of this assignment will ask you to navigate and explore different
components of the GCU Fleming Library.
There areseven steps, each containing a question.Record your answers to
the questions in the appropriate sections.
Before
starting this Scavenger Hunt, review the short walk-through tutorial on the GCU
Fleming Library. This tutorial consists
of five short segments:
http://tutorials.gcumedia.com/libraryWalkThrough/vp02.swf
If you have
time, you can also attend the GCU Library Introduction Webinar. Sign up on this
page:http://www.gcu.edu/Student-Life/Library/Webinar-Sign-Up.php
 
Step 1:How
to Access the Library
There are a
number of ways to access the library’s website. Use one of these to reach the
Library Research & Resources page:
1. Go directly to the GCU Library Research
& Resources page by typing http://www.gcu.edu/Student-Life/Library.php into
your Internet browser and clicking “Enter”.
2. Under the“Access Library Resources”
section on the right, select the “Library Research and Resources Page”.
Question 1:
List three ways you can contact the library for assistance, as listed on the
Library Research &Resources page.

 
Step 2: How
to Find Books
Books have
increasingly become available electronically. Unfortunately, these are rarely
free, unless they are in the public domain. Most public domain books are quite
old, so if you wish to find more current books, the best place to go is the
library website. Because you have access to the GCU Fleming Library, you have
access to over 100,000 books—free.
Note: The
library also lists the physical books available on the Phoenix campus. You can
remove those from your search for your convenience. See below for instructions.
1. On the Library Research & Resources
page, click the link that says: “Find Books and More”.
2. In the search box type: “study
skills” and click the Search button.
3. Under “Form of Item” in the column on
the left, click “Electronic”.
4. To access an electronic book of your
choice, under the listing of the book, click the link below the word
“Online,” or if that is not available, click the title of the book,
and click the link that says “View E-resource” in the box below the title information.
Question 2:
Write the Title, Author, and Publisher of the 3rd book in the list of results
you retrieved.

 
Step 3:
Library Databases
The vast
majority of resources available are in the library’s databases. These are
collections of articles that you can access using various search platforms.
Resources available include magazines, newspapers, reports, journal articles,
encyclopedias, and streaming videos. The easiest way to find articles on your
topic is to search in a database that specializes in your subject area. This
allows you to search for more relevant information without having to sort
through masses of sources not related to your topic.
1. On the LibraryResearch & Resources
page,click the link that says: “Find Journal Articles.”
2. Choose a Subject in the list located
under “Find Databases by Subject.” (Hint: Choose one related to your degree
program.)
3. Scroll down to see all of the databases
relevant to this subject. Those in the first section under “Recommended” are
the top databases in that area.
Question 3:
State what subject you chose and list the first three databases in this subject
area:

 
Step 4:
Narrowing Your Search for Articles
For this
section, you will be working in a database called “Academic Search Complete.” ASCis
a multidisciplinary database containing a variety of topics and types of
resources including magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals and
publications. There will be times when it may seem easier to use magazines and
newspapers, but in general, focusing on scholarly sources (mostly located in
peer-reviewed journal articles) will bring a stronger academic quality to your
research. Follow the instructions below to access and begin searching in
Academic Search Complete.
1. On the LibraryResearch & Resources
page,click the link “Find Journal Articles.”
2. In the box to the right titled “Don’t
Know Where to Start.” click on “Academic Search Complete.”
3. Sign in if prompted, using your GCU
login and password.
4. On the Search page, scroll down to the
“Limit Your Results”section.
5. Check the box beside “Scholarly” (Peer
Reviewed) journals and make sure “Full Text” is checked as well.
Question
4:Explain why checking the boxes beside “Full Text” and “Scholarly” (Peer
Reviewed) journals are important. When might you not check the box beside
“Scholarly”journals?

 
Step 5:
Finding Journal Articles
The key to
successful searching is using keywords appropriately. Combining terms and
thinking of alternative words (such as synonyms) will help you find better and
more relevant articles.
A quick note
about databases: EBSCO is the name of the company that provides this database,
the actual name of the database is “Academic Search Complete.” You may see
other databases similar to this one provided by EBSCO as well, but the most
important factor is what collection you are in, as each collection contains
different kinds of articles and resources.
1. On the page you ended at in Step 4,
scroll to the top. (Make sure the Peer Reviewed and Full Text boxes are still
checked.) In the first search box to the right of the EBSCOHostcircle,type the
words”classroom management.”
2. In the second box down, to the right of
the word “and”,type the words”learning disabilities.”
3. Click the Search button located to the
right of the search boxes.
4. Scroll down to see the articles
retrieved by the database.
Question 5:
Provide the title of the third journal article that is listed in the results.

 
Step 6:
Article Details
In addition
to the actual full text of the article, the databases will provide valuable
information about an article. You will see things such as authors, source,
subject terms, and abstract. The abstract is a brief summary of the article you
found.
1. Click on the title of the third article
you found in Step 5.
2. Scroll down this page and find the
Article Abstract.
Question 6:
Copy and paste the abstract below. Explain how an abstract is valuable to your
research process and how it will save you time.

 
Step 7:
Permanent and Persistent Links
Databases
are designed as powerful searching tools; unfortunately, this means the website
link located at the top of any page in a database is temporary and is based on
your search at the time. Should you try to save that link as a bookmark or copy
and paste it to use at a later time, it will not work. However, the databases
have links that are tied directly to the articles you find. Follow the steps
below to find the permalink (persistent, durable link, or document URL)to the
article you accessed in Step 5.
1. On the same page where you found the
abstract, look to the right for the “Tools” column.
2. Click on the link that says
“Permalink.”
3. A box will pop up above the article
title with a permanent link.
Question 7:
Copy and paste the permalink to the article here:

 
Step 8:
Using Library Databases to Cite Articles
Another
important option under the tool bar is the “Cite” button. In academic writing, citing your sources is
very important. It will tell your reader
that the information that you are using is the property of someone else. It
will also show your reader exactly where you found this information and how to
access this information again. This is a necessary step in avoiding academic
dishonesty issues like plagiarism.
Note:
Remember, GCU Style required for your undergraduate coursework is a simplified
version of APA.
1. On the same page where you found the
abstract look to the right for the “Tools” column.
2. Click on the link that says “Cite”.
3. A box will pop up above the article
title with different citation styles.
Question 8:
Copy and paste the APA citation below. According to the GCU Style Guide, where
should you include this information in your essay?

 
Gather
Resources Worksheet
Complete the
Resource Worksheet:Use the skills you learned above to locate a resource to
support your essay. The resource or article you find should be about the topic
you chose when completing the Module 1 Pre-Writing Worksheet. Then complete the
table below (to assist you, an example table has also been provided):

Your Topic Resource Name Resource Type Explain
how you accessed your resource
Explain how the resource is relevant to your essay topic?

Permalink
Abstract

GCU Style
Citation (APA Style)

Example
Table
Topic Resource Name Resource
Type Explain how you accessed
your resource How is the resource
relevant to your essay topic?
Adults and
Online Learning Journal of Educational
Technology & Society Academic
Journal Clicked on the link above to
the library home page. Selected “Find
Journal Articles”. Clicked on “Education” under “Find Databases by Subject”.
Selected “Academic Search Complete”. Used keywords “Adults and Online Learning” Describes a study done to determine
whether characteristics are different for successful adult online learners and
those that dropout.
Permalink http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44785109&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Abstract The number of adult learners who
participate in onlinelearning has rapidly grown in the last two decades due to
onlinelearning’s many advantages. In spite of the growth, the high dropout rate
in onlinelearning has been of concern to many higher education institutions and
organizations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether persistent
learners and dropouts are different in individual characteristics (i.e., age,
gender, and educational level), external factors (i.e., family and
organizational supports), and internal factors (i.e., satisfaction and
relevance as sub-dimensions of motivation). Quantitative data were collected
from 147 learners who had dropped out of or finished one of the online courses
offered from a large Midwestern university. Dropouts and persistent learners
showed statistical differences in perceptions of family and organizational
support, and satisfaction and relevance. It was also shown that the theoretical
framework, which includes family support, organizational support, satisfaction,
and relevance in addition to individual characteristics, is able to predict
learners’ decision to drop out or persist. Organizational support and relevance
were shown to be particularly predictive. The results imply that lower dropout
rates can be achieved if online program developers or instructors find ways to
enhance the relevance of the course. It also implies that adult learners need
to be supported by their organizations in order for them to finish online
courses that they register for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
GCU Style
Citation (APA Style) Park, J.,
& Hee Jun, C. (2009). Factors Influencing Adult Learners’ Decision to Drop
Out or Persist in Online Learning. Journal Of Educational Technology &
Society, 12(4), 207-217.

grand canyon unv104 week 3 Expository
Essay: Outline assignment october. 2013

Example Outline
· Topic:Online Learning
· Thesis Statement:Earning a degree online is great
for working adults because it is convenient, economical, and allows them to
learn with other working adults around the world.

1

Introduction

Making
the decision to learn online can be life changing. There are so many
online degree programs available that will help any adult fast-track
their career. Earning a degree online is great for working adults because
it is convenient, economical, and allows them to learn with other working
adults around the world.

2

Supporting
Paragraphs

2. Online learning is convenient.
i.Study and learn from home.
ii.

3

Easier to balance work-life obligations.

Online
learning is economical.

i.Cost of attending school online is comparable to attending school
on campus.
ii.Save gas from traveling to and from campus.
iii.

4

eBooks offered are cheaper than hard-copy textbooks.

Online
learning allows you to meet and learn with people from around the world.

i.Increase in learners attending school online internationally.
ii.Increased opportunities for networking across communities, cities,
and states.

Conclusion

5

Choosing
to earn a degree online can change your life by helping you to advance
your career, lessening the stress of work-life balance, saving you money,
and allowing you to meet people you otherwise would never meet.

grand canyon unv104 week 4 Expository
Essay: First Draft assignment october.
2013

Access and review the
“Five-Paragraph Essay” resource. Review the Module 5 readings.
Create the first draft of
your five-paragraph expository essay, which should be 500-750 words.
Your essay should include:
1. An introductory
paragraph with a thesis statement.
2. Three body or
supporting paragraphs.
3. A concluding paragraph.
4. In-text citations and a
reference page. (Remember to reference and cite your GCU Library article found
in Module 2.)
Prepare this assignment
according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the
Student Success Center.
You will receive feedback
from your instructor. Use the feedback to revise and improve your essay.

grand canyon unv104 week 6 Expository Essay: Final Draft assignment october. 2013

Revise your expository
essay using the feedback received from your instructor on your outline and
first draft.
This assignment uses a
grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment;
therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment
to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful
completion of the assignment.
Prepare this assignment
according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the
Student Success Center.

grand canyon unv104 week 7 Reflection
Journal assignment october. 2013

Write a 250-300-word journal reflection on what
you have learned in this class. Include information about the most essential
lessons you have learned and the parts of the course you found most
challenging.