Basics of social studies and good research methods
Primary sources – original evidence from a time period ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings Ex: Diary of Anne Frank, Constitution of the US, weavings and pottery, journal article reporting NEW research and findings
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include: PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias Ex: A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings A history textbook A book about the effects of WWI
Using your textbook Closest to your reading level Smaller chunks of information Index!
Using Google Beware “Ask” websites Most people don’t cite their sources Wikipedia Check the sources – if sources are good, get information from the sources Beware websites that do not cite their sources Also look-out for: Lots of misspellings Weird formatting
Paraphrasing Copying word for word is plagiarizing Good paraphrasing is the same as a good summary
“In the movie Liar Liar, Jim Carrey plays Fletcher Reede, a man who lives in a world of lies. He lies not only as a lawyer but as a parent, fabricating excuses to his son Max for why he was late or why broke a promise. Max makes a wish that his father will, just once, spend a day telling the truth. The wish comes true, with calamitous results: Fletcher calls his law partners buffoons, gets in trouble with a police officer who pulled him over, and ultimately so exasperates his ex-wife that she decides to remarry and leave town with Max.” – Games Primates Play by Marc D. Hauser Paraphrase the passage
Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey, is about Fletcher Reede a man who lies all the time. His son finally gets so tired of his lying he wishes for one day that Fletcher can only tell the truth. Once his wish comes true, Fletcher gets in trouble in various ways in his life. It is similar, but not word for word
Creates your citations in whatever format you need Look at my paraphrasing example – if you quote something: “Put quotation marks first. That way it is clear you are quoting. Be careful of using large quotes – paraphrasing is better!” – Name of article by the author (first and last name)
READ the ENTIRE PASSAGE you are trying to get your answer from DO NOT JUST COPY IT WORD FOR WORD Rewrite it in your own words – paraphrase! Group Work If each person should have your own paper, answers should be similar but not word for word If answers are word for word, they should only match YOUR GROUP. I.E.: No other group should have the exact answer as your group
How I determine plagiarizing, copying, and cheating Word for word wrong answers Word for word correct answers with the exact same wrong spelling Word for word wrong answers with the exact same wrong spelling Different colors and handwritings on answers (except in group work when you are sharing one worksheet)
Consequences for Cheating: First time – the two of year share the grade Second time – both of you receive zeros and parents are called Third time – disciplinary action through the office