6th Grade Research Project Almeria Middle School 2013 Research to Build and Present Knowledge: Heroes & Villains from Ancient Civilizations 6th Grade Research Project Almeria Middle School 2013

Table of contents ELA 6th Grade Writing Standards: Research to Build and Present Knowledge (Common Core, 2010)……………3-6 California History-social Science content Standards…7-8 Essential Question of Research Project……………….9 Overview of Research Tasks…………………………...10-11 Topic Selection………………………………………….12 How to Write a Selection Paragraph…………………...13-14

6th Grade Writing Standards Research to Build and Present Knowledge Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. 2. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.

6th Grade Writing Standards 3. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. a. Apply grade 6 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres [e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories] in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics”).

6th Grade Writing Standards b. Apply grade 6 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., “Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not”).

6th Grade Writing Standards Range of Writing 4. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

California History-social Science content Standards Students in grade six expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development of the human story. Continued emphasis is placed on the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world forever.

California History-social Science content Standards Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined. Students analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds.

Essential Question of Research Projects What achievements or contributions were made by (name of key person of research) in helping to develop social, economic, and political structures that established and spread ideas that transformed the world ? (CA History-Social Science Content Standards, 1998. p. 22).

Overview of research tasks Research Envelopes: Completion dates determined by teacher when task is introduced. 1. Select Topics (Literature Text, pp. 582 – 583) 2. Develop Research Topics (Literature Text, pp. 584 – 585) 3. Locate Sources and List Book Magazine Online Sources (Literature Text, pp. 586 – 587 and pp. 609 - 614)

Overview of research tasks 4. Read and Take Notes on Research Questions (Literature Text, pp. 588 – 591) 5. Create a Formal Outline & Thesis (Literature Text, pp. 592 – 593) 6. Rough Draft (Literature Text, pp. 594 – 598) 7. Final Draft (Literature Text, pp. 599 – 603) 8. Presentation Plan & Notes (Literature Text, pp. 604-606) 9. Oral Presentation (Literature Text, pp. 607 – 608) 10. Peer Research Assessment/Final Evaluation

Topic Selection Review list of key people from ancient history in the Social Studies textbook, pp. Choose three (3) people you would like to research. Rank them according to your first, second, and third choices. Write a one-paragraph summary of why you selected each one of these people as a topic for your research. Due Date:

How to Write a selection Paragraph 1. Make a K-W-H-L chart for each person selected. Only use the K-W-H for your paragraph on each selected person. 2. K – tell one or two things you already know about the selected person. 3. W - what you want to learn about the selected person. 4. H - how you will learn the information…discuss resources you have or know about that will help you complete your research. 5. L – what is learned.

How to Write a selection Paragraph I selected as my (first, second, or third) choice for a research topic because I am particularly interested in finding out more about how this person . I already know that _______________ was important to the (name of civilization) because . Another things that made important was . I want to learn more about how helped develop social, economic, and political structures that established and spread ideas that transformed the world.

Resources to Help Best Grammar and Plagiarism Checker: http://www.grammarly.com/?q=plagiarism&gclid=CPbd0vON87UCFc5AMgod42YAbQ