Caribbean Studies SBA- Guide #1: Start Your Conversation Today!

Starting Your SBA You will need: Discuss this with your teacher to make sure it is researchable. An idea. Something of interest. START YOUR CONVERSATION TODAY

Questions to consider when narrowing down the “what” to research 1.In one sentence, can I say precisely what it is I want to find out? (Can you break down this idea into 2-3 questions that are not “yes” or “no” answers?) 2.Is there enough secondary research about the issue? 3.Who exactly am I going to get this information from? (Consider: How are you going to contact them? Will this group be willing to participate? How much access will you have to them?) 4.How exactly am I going to get this information? (How are you going to contact the persons? Who are you going to be able to contact? When will you be able to get ahold of these persons? Are you using paper or e- method survey?)

Finding Secondary Sources Some places to Search Remember for your study you will need FOUR (4) different sources of literature for the LITERATURE REVIEW: Examples of sources are:  Books  Previous studies (past interviews, case studies etc.)  Newspaper Articles  Archival Data/Historical Data  Government statistics/Official statistics  Reports  Mass media products  Diaries  Letters  Web information  Organizational records Ministry Offices

Definitions of Technical Terms As you read different pieces of literature, you should be picking out technical terms/words that will be useful for your study. Compile them in a table format.

Chapters in the SBA ChapterSub-Chapters 1. Introduction  Background to the study  Purpose of the study  Statement of the Problem  Definitions of Technical Terms 2. Literature Review 3. Data Collection Methodology 4. Presentation of Data 5. Analysis of Data 6. Discussion of Data 7. Conclusion  Conclusion  Limitations of the study  Recommendations 8. References (Bibliography) 9. Appendices

Order of Work for the July-August Vacation 1. Refine your statement of the problem and develop your research questions. 2. Write the introduction 3. Research the literature and write the Literature Review. 4. Compose the questionnaire/interview questions (NOTE THIS IS DONE AFTER THE LITERATURE REVIEW). 5. Distribute the questionnaires/conduct interviews etc. 6. Compile your data and do a preliminary analysis.

Plagiarism Plagiarism IS a BIG DEAL in ACADEMIA!!! Save your sources in a folder so that you can find them when it is time to refer to them/ cite them properly.

Citations Using the Reference Tool bar in MS Word: USING APA 6 th edition style referencing. This is very important. Watch this tutorial carefully! Make notes so you remember!

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Some Additional Information As the weeks progress, your teachers will give you additional guidelines which will become increasingly precise. Aim to have a complete draft done by December. *It is easier for you if you submit chapter by chapter as opposed to the entire study at once. So revisions can be made along the way rather than doing a total paper revamp*. Make sure to come to YOUR TEACHER with your concerns. Neither your lessons teacher, your friends or your parents are correcting your SBA and submitting the grades to CXC. Final advice and decisions come from YOUR TEACHER!