NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. RESEARCH PROJECT 2015 How to choose a topic? How to choose a group member(s)?

When deciding on a topic, there are a few things that you will need to do:  brainstorm for ideas  choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature  ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available  make a list of key words  be flexible  define your topic as a focused research question  research and read more about your topic  formulate a purpose statement

Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas  What is a current social or political controversy that involves Chagrin Falls Schools and/or community that you have a strong opinion about?  What is something that you read or heard about recently that has piqued your interest or made you angry or anxious involving our school and/or community?  What is a personal issue, problem or interest about our school or community that you would like to know more about?

Step 2: Read General Background Information  Browse Google Scholar ( for information on your topic ideas.  Use Web search engines. Google and Bing are currently considered to be two of the best search engines to find web sites on the topic.GoogleBing

Step 3: Focus on Your Topic  Keep it manageable  A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow.  One way to narrow a broad topic is to limit your topic. Common way to limit a topic is:  Identify variables or keywords of your topic that you are interested in researching

Step 4: Make a List of Useful Keywords  Keep track of the words that interest you about your topic  Find broader and narrower terms, synonyms, key concepts for key words to widen your search capabilities  Make note of these words and use them later when searching databases and catalogs Chagrin Athletics Academics Social Behavior Physical

Step 5: Be Flexible  It is common to modify your topic during the research process. You can never be sure of what you may find. You may find too much and need to narrow your focus, or too little and need to broaden your focus. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic, but you may decide that some other aspect of the topic is more interesting or manageable. Assigned Length of Research Paper or Project Suggested guidelines for approximate number and types of sources needed 1-2 page paper 2-3 magazine articles or Web sites 3-5 page paper 4-8 items, including book, articles (scholarly and/or popular) and Web sites page research paper items, including books, scholarly articles, web sites and other items (i.e. interviews)

Step 6: Define Your Topic as a Focused Research Question  You will often begin with a word, develop a more focused interest in an aspect of something relating to that word, then begin to have questions about the topic.  For example:  What impact do athletics have on a student’s academic performance?  What role do athletics have on a student’s social life?  How do athletics affect a student’s behavior?  How do athletics affect a student’s health?

Step 7: Research and Read More About Your Topic  Use the key words you have gathered to research in the catalog, article databases, and Internet search engines. Find more information to help you answer your research question.  You will need to do some research and reading before you select your final topic. Can you find enough information to answer your research question? Remember, selecting a topic is an important and complex part of the research process.

Step 8: Formulate a Purpose Statement  Write your topic as a purpose statement. This may be the answer to your research question and/or a way to clearly state the purpose of your research. Your purpose statement will usually be one or two sentences that states precisely what is to be answered, proven, or what you will inform your audience about your topic. The development of a purpose statement assumes there is sufficient evidence to support the topic’s purpose.  For example:  The purpose of my research was to determine the effects athletics have on the social, behavioral, and academic lives of high school adolescents.

How to choose a group member(s)?  Questions to ask yourself:  Do I like to work with others?  Does the group I am considering share my same goals for this research project?  Does everyone in the group I am considering share an interest in the community or school that can become a topic?  Do I have similar schedules outside of school? I will need to get together after school with my group members to work on the project.  Is this a group I can work with for four months?  Is my work ethic similar to those of my group members?  Is my writing style similar to those of my group members?

HOMEWORK  Research and read general information regarding your interested topic (see slide 4)  For tomorrow, have the following: 1) topic with 3-4 variables/key words (see slide 6) 2) list of group member(s) (see slide 11) *complete working contract (due Tuesday, January 20)—Google classroom 3) draft of a purpose statement (see slide 10)