1. BHS Junior Inquiry Research Project
Welcome!
What concerns do you have at the beginning of the research process?
Please write them down on an index card
What are the basic steps of a research project?
How do I find and evaluate resources?

2. Locate and use a wide variety of sources
Now is the time to take your research skills to the next level. You are expected to:
Locate and use a wide variety of sources
Critically evaluate the information you find
Synthesize information to construct your own original piece of work
Present a balanced and well-informed argument leading to your own conclusions
Review #1 in the handout
Quickly show them website and where the resources are.
Today we will go over the basic steps of the process and take a look at book resources in the library.

3. Inquiry Model of Research
Look at ho
Range of feelings
Uncertainty at the beginning
Optimism – topic selection
Confusion / Frustration – information seeking stage – keep going!
Then you will get clarity, Oh! I get it!
Confidence in your direction
Finally – satisfied, or not
Stages of emotions, we are here to support you
Work, confusing and can be hard

4. Choose a topic Guiding Questions:
Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy?
Did you read or hear a news story recently that piqued your interest, made you angry or anxious?
Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about?
What makes you angry? What breaks your heart?
What topic might help you learn more about a career that interests you?
You are going to spend a lot of time researching, learning and writing about this topic. So choose a topic you are interested in! We have a long list of topic ideas to help you. You could also browse the Opposing Viewpoints, Issues & Controversies, and SIRS Issues Researcher databases.

5. Narrowing your topic General Topic: health
Facets of Topic: autism, cancer, depression, diabetes, eating disorders , health care
Aspects: business, history, legal, physical, psychological, social
Time Span: 1990s; current
Population or Place (Demographics): African Americans, Hispanics, men, women, teenagers, United States
Narrowed Research Question: Does the media’s portrayal of the ideal female body contribute to eating disorders in women?

6. Find & read background information
Make sure this is what you want! No regrets!
Make sure your topic meets the project requirements,
Help you develop questions and a draft thesis statement to guide your research.
Good sources for summary information :
Encyclopedias: library books, Grolier Online, or even Wikipedia (yes, this can be a good resource to begin learning about a topic, but it is NOT an authoritative source for research).
Online databases: Opposing Viewpoints, Issues & Controversies, and SIRS Issues Researcher.

7. 1. Choose topic 2. Background research 3. Draft your thesis statement 4. Gather sources

8. Types of Resources Nonfiction Books Magazine / Periodical articles
Reference books
Pamphlet file
Public library
Interviews
Legal resources
Statistical resources
Magazine / Periodical articles
Newspaper articles
Social issues databases
Online Databases
eBooks
Internet
Why important to have a variety. Want you to learn about the variety of resources available and it is important to get different types of information and points of view.

9. Library Catalog – Destiny
Finding library books, eBooks, reference books, pamphlet files in the library
Library Catalog – Destiny
There is an APP for that!
Show where Destiny is,, catalog – where call number is, show pamphlet files

10. How do you determine the quality of a source?
Have them provide some answers

11. Evaluating a source Credentials — Is the author qualified?
Accuracy — Is the information accurate?
Currency — Is the information recent enough?
Viewpoint / Bias — Is there an opinion expressed? (example: newspaper editorial) Does bias affect the information’s accuracy?
Audience — who is the information written for? A specific readership, level of expertise or age/grade level? Is the audience focus appropriate for a research paper?
This are evaluation criteria that you can use for any type of source, books, magazines, online, etc.
We are going to use these criteria to evaluate a library book today.

13. Steps 1. Get Started 2. Find and Evaluate Information
Choose a topic
Find & read background information
Develop questions, draft a thesis statement
2. Find and Evaluate Information
3. Use Information – READ, THINK CRITICALLY, take notes and cite
4. Construct an original piece of work – your research paper!

14. Develop questions, draft a thesis statement to guide your research
The thesis is a clear, concise statement of the position you will defend in your paper.
Violent television shows are responsible for the development of personality disorders in millions of young children.
Your draft thesis statement will guide your research.
Be flexible! You may need to or want to refine or change it
* The BHS library website has tools and information to help you develop your thesis statement!
Keep going back to the thesis statement to make sure the research you are doing will help you answer your thesis!

15. Brainstorm search terms
As you start searching for information, you need to choose keywords that represent your research topic.
Keywords are significant words (usually nouns or noun phrases) that can be used as search terms in online catalogs, databases and the Internet.
Example:
Your research topic is: “Effects of media on women’s body image."
The main elements of the chosen topic are “media" and “women“ and “body image”
Think of synonyms that may also describe those concepts:
Advertising Female Physical appearance
Movies Woman Perception
Television Girls Negative/positive body image
Music Mental attitude
Fashion Industry
Effective researchers identify key words, concepts, synonyms, and related terms to help them find good information. Begin this process with your background reading. A thesaurus, a dictionary, search engines, and subject headings in the library catalog can also be helpful.

16. Slides for session 2

17. If your topic is too broad or vague you will find too much information and will need to narrow the focus.
For example: impacts of global warming
Better: polar bear adaption to global warming in the arctic
If it is too specific/narrow or specialized or new, it will be difficult finding enough information.
Environmental impacts of Hurricane Sandy

18. Broaden your topic
Specific Topic: How has fishing in the James River in Richmond, VA affected the smallmouth bass population?
Alternate focus: freshwater fish, saltwater fish
Alternate Place: Southeastern United States, United States, rivers, oceans
Brainstorm Focus on: Person or Group: fishermen, fish & wildlife government departments
Brainstorm Focus on: Event or Aspect: fishery m anagement, fishery regulations, fishing licenses, fish stocking
Broadened Research Question How has government fishing regulations in the United States affected the freshwater fish population?