Research: The Beginning Ms. Lee Downtown Magnets High School 2007

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, analyse, persuade.

Controlling Purpose - Example Topic – Coal Mining’s Effect on the Environment Topic – Coal Mining’s Effect on the Environment The purpose of my research paper is to evaluate the extent to which creating a powerful energy source justified the environmental consequences of coal mining. The purpose of my research paper is to evaluate the extent to which creating a powerful energy source justified the environmental consequences of coal mining. In other words, did the benefits of coal mining outweigh the pollution that it created?

Write your Controlling Purpose Statement You may use these sentence starters: The purpose of my research paper is to evaluate whether or not the goals that drove the Industrial Revolution justified… The purpose of my research paper is to evaluate whether or not the goals that drove the Industrial Revolution justified… The purpose of my research paper is to determine if the benefits of the Industrial Revolution outweighed the impact it had on… The purpose of my research paper is to determine if the benefits of the Industrial Revolution outweighed the impact it had on… The purpose of my research paper is to figure out if the Industrial Revolution was worthwhile for… The purpose of my research paper is to figure out if the Industrial Revolution was worthwhile for…

Create Focus Aspects 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 the environment. 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 the environment.

Create Focus Aspects Brainstorm questions or specific areas of focus. Brainstorm questions or specific areas of focus. Include at least THREE focus aspects. This could be in question form like the example below: Include at least THREE focus aspects. This could be in question form like the example below: Coal Mining’s Effect on the Environment Coal Mining’s Effect on the Environment What were the benefits of coal mining? What were the benefits of coal mining? How did it affect air quality? How did it affect air quality? How did it affect the land? How did it affect the land? How did it affect water quality? How did it affect water quality?

Create Focus Aspects This could also be a list of subtopics, as in the example below This could also be a list of subtopics, as in the example below Coal Mining’s Effect on the Environment Coal Mining’s Effect on the Environment Benefits Benefits Air Quality Air Quality Land Quality Land Quality Water Quality Water Quality

Locate Sources Secondary Sources Secondary Sources World History textbook World History textbook Fiction – novels, dramas, films Fiction – novels, dramas, films Internet Sources – at least TWO Internet Sources – at least TWO history websites, encyclopedias (not Wikipedia!), educational institutions, newspapers, magazines, etc. history websites, encyclopedias (not Wikipedia!), educational institutions, newspapers, magazines, etc. Primary Sources Primary Sources 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.