Research: The Beginning Ms. Lee Downtown Magnets High School 2011

Choose a Topic Make sure your topic is not too general. Make sure your topic is not too general. For example, the Industrial Revolution is too broad a topic, and needs to be narrowed. For example, the Industrial Revolution is too broad a topic, and needs to be narrowed. Choose the topics that interest you most. You’ll be researching this topic for about five weeks! Choose the topics that interest you most. You’ll be researching this topic for about five weeks!

Create a Controlling Purpose What is the purpose of your research? 1. Carefully read your research instructions and consider what you are being asked to do. 2. Write 1-2 sentences that tells what you want to accomplish with your topic. 3. Use key words like evaluate, synthesize, analyze, persuade.

Your Prompt Write an essay in which you examine how capitalist industrialization has affected one aspect of our world, both historically and today. Write an essay in which you examine how capitalist industrialization has affected one aspect of our world, both historically and today. How many parts are there to this prompt? How many parts are there to this prompt? What do you have to do? What do you have to do? How can you turn the prompt into questions? How can you turn the prompt into questions?

Controlling Purpose - Example Write an essay in which you examine how capitalist industrialization has affected one aspect of our world, both historically and today. Write an essay in which you examine how capitalist industrialization has affected one aspect of our world, both historically and today. Topic – Coal Mining’s Effect on Miners Topic – Coal Mining’s Effect on Miners How has capitalism affected the way we mine for coal? How has capitalism affected the way we mine for coal? How have these methods of mining affected miners? How have these methods of mining affected miners?

Controlling Purpose - Example Write an essay in which you examine how capitalist industrialization has affected one aspect of our world, both historically and today. Write an essay in which you examine how capitalist industrialization has affected one aspect of our world, both historically and today. Topic – Coal Mining’s Effect on Workers Topic – Coal Mining’s Effect on Workers The purpose of my research paper is to analyze how capitalism has affected the methods used for mining coal and how these methods have affected the lives of miners throughout history. The purpose of my research paper is to analyze how capitalism has affected the methods used for mining coal and how these methods have affected the lives of miners throughout history.

Write your Controlling Purpose Statement You may use this sentence starter: The purpose of my research paper is to analyze how capitalism has affected ________ and how ________ has affected ________ throughout history. The purpose of my research paper is to analyze how capitalism has affected ________ and how ________ has affected ________ throughout history.

Create Focus Questions One topic can take ages to research, so you need to narrow your focus. One topic can take ages to research, so you need to narrow your focus. For example, one could spend years researching how the Industrial Revolution affected the environment. But you could narrow your research by focusing on how coal mining affected miners. For example, one could spend years researching how the Industrial Revolution affected the environment. But you could narrow your research by focusing on how coal mining affected miners.

Create Focus Questions You will research the cause and effect of two main subtopics: You will research the cause and effect of two main subtopics: Capitalism’s effect on your topic Capitalism’s effect on your topic Your topic’s effect on our lives Your topic’s effect on our lives Brainstorm questions or specific areas of focus for both subtopics. Brainstorm questions or specific areas of focus for both subtopics. Include at least THREE focus questions for each subtopic. Include at least THREE focus questions for each subtopic.

Create Focus Questions Capitalism’s Effect on Coal Mining Capitalism’s Effect on Coal Mining What are the economic benefits of coal mining? What are the economic benefits of coal mining? What methods of mining have been used and why? What methods of mining have been used and why? Who has benefited from these methods? Who has benefited from these methods? Coal Mining’s Effect on Miners Coal Mining’s Effect on Miners How has it affected miners’ health? How has it affected miners’ health? How has it affected miners’ safety? How has it affected miners’ safety? How has it affected miners’ wealth? How has it affected miners’ wealth?

Locate Sources Secondary Sources – at least nine Secondary Sources – at least nine Introducing Capitalism Introducing Capitalism World History textbook World History textbook Internet Sources Internet Sources history websites, encyclopedias (not Wikipedia!), educational institutions, newspapers, magazines, etc. history websites, encyclopedias (not Wikipedia!), educational institutions, newspapers, magazines, etc. Primary Sources – at least one Primary Sources – at least one Interviews Interviews Autobiographies Autobiographies Memoirs Memoirs

Begin Researching! Evaluate which sources are most reliable and appropriate. Evaluate which sources are most reliable and appropriate. Create Works Cited Cards Create Works Cited Cards Take notes using Note Cards. Take notes using Note Cards. Label your Note Card with your focus aspects or questions. Label your Note Card with your focus aspects or questions.