Why do we research?

1. How to Research Standard [W.6.7]Conduct (manage) short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry (research) when appropriate. [W.6.8] Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess (to make a judgment about something) the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase (a statement that says something that another person has said or written in a different way) the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources. [W.6.9] Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research

2. Why do we research? The purpose is to learn about a particular subject. Remember to focus on the accuracy of the information.

3. Steps to researching • Step 1. Choose a topic • Step 2. Brainstorm • Step 3. Create a research plan • Step 4. Gather Data

4. Step 1. Choose a topic • Make sure the topic is broad enough to allow for multiple sources of information, but not to broad for writing a focused, relevant paper.

5. Step 2. Brainstorm • Ask yourself questions regarding the topic. What is interesting about the topic? What makes the topic worthy of a research paper? What do you already know about the topic and what would you like to learn? Talk with friends, parents, teachers and others who can help you explore your interest in the topic.

6. Step 3. Create a research plan • Decide how many and what kind of resources you will use. Both print and online sources can be used for your research project. Visit your school's library and find out what reference books are available and might be useful. Perform a preliminary search online using search engines you learned about in computer class or from your school librarian. Make a list of the sources you will use, and make sure the number and kinds of sources fit the requirements for your assignment.

7. Step 4. Gather Data • While gathering data remember to not copy what the source says verbatim, but reword the source into your own words. • Ex. of Source from website • Adolf Hitler was the founder and leader of the Nazi Party and the most influential voice in the organization, implementation and execution of the Holocaust, the systematic extermination and ethnic cleansing of six million European Jews and millions of other non-aryans. • Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html • ____________________________________________________________ • Source reworded in my own words • Adolf Hitler was the founder and leader of the Nazi Party and the most prominent voice in the organization and execution of the Holocaust. While being the most prominent voice of this organization, he was the cause of six million European Jews death.

8. Sources • Websites URL should end in .org, .edu, .gov, or .com • Ex. http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/ • Sources should come form educational websites. • Example: www.discoverychannel.com • Write down all the sources from where you gathered information. • Do not use Wikipedia. It is not a credible source.

9. Primary Source • A primary source is a document, speech, or other sort of evidence written, created or otherwise produced during the time under study. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event. • Examples include: • Autobiographies, diaries, e-mail, interviews, letters, minutes, news film footage, official records, photographs, raw research data, speeches. • Examples of Primary Sources • The Declaration of Independence — U. S. history

10. Secondary Source • A secondary source is something written about a primary source. Secondary sources include comments on, interpretations of, or discussions about the original material. You can think of secondary sources as second-hand information. If I tell you something, I am the primary source. If you tell someone else what I told you, you are the secondary source. Secondary source materials can be articles in newspapers or popular magazines, book or movie reviews, or articles found in scholarly journals that discuss or evaluate someone else's original research.

11. Research Project • Question to be answered in the report: Who is Dr. Seuss and what has he accomplished? • You will work alone on your project. • You are responsible for writing a five paragraph research paper and creating a poster board to go along with your paper. • Your paper must be typed when turned in and include sources. • We will work on your paper in class. • Your paper and poster is due March 4th.

12. Sources • Honors English must have five sources and they must be typed and stapled to the back of your paper. • English 6 must have three sources and they must be typed and stapled to the back of your paper.

13. Poster • The poster MUST include the following: • Topic Name (3 points) • 4 pictures can be drawn or printed on the computer (20 points) • Captions for all the pictures (Tell what the pictures are of) (12 points) Total Points: 35 points

14. Points Possible • 50 points for research paper • 35 points for poster • 10 points for presentation • 5 points for sources Total Points Possible 100

15. Sources for PowerPoint • http://knowledgecenter.unr.edu/help/using/primary.aspx • http://www.ithacalibrary.com/sp/subjects/primary • http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquiry • http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conduct • http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assess