Research Guide

Workbook 1

Use this workbook to help you as you research your topic. You will need to continuously reflect and possibly change course as you work- that is OK! As always, see Ms. DiSalvo if you are stuck or have any questions or concerns.

Phase 1: Plan/Immerse/Explore

During this part of the process, you will explore (brainstorm) topics using background knowledge and "pre-search" as jumping off points. This will help you develop a rich, complex question that you will research.

Do you need help brainstorming a topic? Click here.

Do you need help narrowing down your topic? Click here.

Do you need help developing your essential question? Click here.

**What is your general topic?

**What is your essential question (research question)?

Phase 2: Identify

During this part of the process, you will continue to build your search strategy by developing keywords and identifying possible resources. You may need to go back to the previous section if you are having difficulty finding resources for your topic.

Do you need help developing keywords? Click here.

Do you need help identifying Resources? Click here.

**List some keywords here:

List 2-3 resources you want to explore:

1.

2.

3.

~End of Workbook 1~

Brainstorming Topics

Worksheet

To do:

· Watch the video and use the graphic organizer to help you think about topics.

· Brainstorm topics that interest you for your assignment.

 

Video:

Watch the video below about developing a topic:

(Watch in YouTube)

 

Now it's time to start brainstorming:

 

· Think about the following questions:

· What do you want to know more about?

· What do you want to investigate?

 

· Try this topic finder from Gale to help you brainstorm ideas.

 

Use this space to list your interests (no limits!):

 

Now choose 2-3 from that list to investigate further:

 

1.

2.

3.

Now fill in a KWL chart for your chosen topics to help you think about these topics in more depth. Return to the L section when you have done some preliminary research.

 

K

What do I know?

W

What do I want to know?

L

What have I learned? (Later!)

 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose 1 topic from your KWL chart to narrow down on the next page.

Topic choice:

 

 

 

Now that you have a topic, you are ready to narrow that topic!

Go back to the start

Narrowing Your Topic

Worksheet

To do:

· Look at the guiding questions to help you narrow your topic.

· Use general resources to find background information about your topic.

· Use the graphic organizer to visualize this process.

 

Guiding Questions:

Use these guiding questions to help you narrow your topic. Focus on the questions that matter most to you!

 

General Topic:

 Guiding Questions:

Who

Who led?

Who participated?

Who was affected?

 

 

What

What is…?

What has happened?

 

 

 

When

When did…?

In what order did events occur?

 

 

Where

Where is…?

Where did the events occur?

 

 

 

Why

Why did…?

 

 

 

 

How

How did…?

 

 

 

 

Wow!

Find examples.

Show relationships.

Suggest solutions.

Formulate a theory, etc.

 

Resources for background reading:

Explore resources to help you narrow your topic.

 

· Print Resources - Books found in the library.

· Destiny Discover - Search the catalog to find non-fiction books about your topic. Look for encyclopedias and reference books.

· *** Log in to Destiny discover to find websites for your topic. These websites are educator approved! ***

 

· Online Subscription Databases - Collections of articles, encyclopedia entries, videos, etc.

· Britannica Middle

· Middle School Gale in Context

· Gale General OneFile

· Elementary Gale In Context

· New York State Newspapers

· BrainPop

· Username: aldencsd

· Password: bulldogs

 

· General Online Resources/Search Engines - Some reputable public websites to explore

· History Channel

· National Geographic Kids

· Biography.com

· Student Guide

· Kids Search

· Google - yes, Google! Just make sure you are evaluating the websites you are using!

 

Graphic Organizer:

Now use the idea web on the next page to help you break down your topic. Try to brainstorm at least 2-3 subtopics for the main idea:

(Use your tablet pen to write on the screen or make your own web!)

Example:

 

 

 

 

Did you find a good source while you were brainstorming?

Start adding sources to your NoodleTools project page!

Now that you have narrowed your topic, you are ready to develop your essential question!

Go back to the start

Developing Good Questions

Worksheet

To do:

· Watch the video to help you develop a good essential question (research question).

· Evaluate your question using the checklist. Revise your question as necessary.

 

Watch the video below about developing a good research question:

(Watch in Youtube)

 

 

  

Your question should be: 

· complex (can't answer with yes/no or just a few words)

· arguable (there are multiple right answers)

· related to human beings (this is social studies, after all)

· interesting to you (this is the most important)

 

Go back to the previous sections (Brainstorming Topics and Narrowing Topics). Use what you learned to develop your essential questions in the space below:

 

General Topic:

 

 

 

Narrowed Topic:

 

 

 

Essential Question:

 

 

 

 

 

Use this checklist to evaluate your essential question:

 

Does your question meet these criteria? If not, revise your question in the space below, then go back to the checklist and evaluate your new question.

Now that you have your essential question, you are ready to move to Phase 2!

Go back to the start

Developing Keywords

Worksheet

To do:

· Watch the video to help you think about creating keywords.

· Use the chart below to start a list of keywords about your topic.

Watch the video below to learn more about keywords:

(Watch in YouTube)

About Keywords:

· What are they?

· Keywords are sometimes called search terms or search words. These are all the same name for words that help you find information about your topic.

· When will I use them?

· You will use keywords when searching through books (using indexes), and through electronic sources (using search boxes on websites, in databases, or in search engines).

· What are good keywords?

· Good keywords are the important words or short phrases that specifically describe your topic and closely related topics. They are not long sentences.

Use the steps in the chart below to start developing a keyword list for your topic. Think about synonyms and related words. Use the example to help you.

How to Develop a list of keywords:

To do:

Example:

You try:

1. Write a sentence about your topic.

I want to do a project about some kind of ocean mammal such as whales or dolphins.

2. Now start expanding the list with related terms and synonyms.

Ocean sea marine

Mammals warm blooded animals

Whales cetaceans

Dolphins porpoises

3. Are there any larger categories that might lead you to information?

Ocean mammal ocean life, marine life, mammals, animals

Are there any words or phrases that are more specific?

Whales blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale

Dolphins bottle nose dolphin

Now you have the beginning list of key words and phrases to begin searching for information. Try searching within your resources using these keywords.

Ocean

Sea

Ocean mammal

Marine mammal

Whales

Cetaceans

Dolphins

Porpoises

Ocean life

Marine life

Mammals

Animals

Blue Whale

Killer Whale

Humpback Whale

Bottle nose dolphin

Now that you have some keywords, you are ready to use them to search!

Go back to the start

Identifying Resources

Worksheet

To do:

· Watch the video to learn more about library databases.

· Identify types of resources you want to explore and start searching.

Watch this video to learn more about databases:

(Watch on YouTube)

Types of Resources:

Where can you find information about your topic?

· Primary Sources – Original sources of information.

· Interviews

· Historic Document

· Diaries

· Speeches

· Birth Certificates

· Original Video/Photographs/Audio, etc.

· Secondary Sources – Information that is analyzed and interpreted by someone else.

· Books

· Encyclopedia

· Dictionary

· Atlas

· Almanac

· Textbook

· Newspaper

· Magazine

· Video

List 2-3 types of resources you want to explore:

Start Exploring:

Use the chart below to locate resources. Use your keywords to start exploring.

Possible Sources:

Possible Sources

Location

Print Resources

· Books

· Encyclopedias

· Reference Materials

AMS Library

Search in the Destiny Discover catalog

Online Subscription Databases

· Encyclopedia Entries

· Magazine/Newspaper Articles

· Essays

AMS Library Database website

Public Websites/Search Engines

AMS Library Resources website

Destiny Discover (log in, search your topic, and click on websites)

Google

Now that you have found some resources, keep track of your sources using NoodleTools.

Go back to the start