Research ( Day One)

1. Research(Day One) What is its purpose, and how is it different from other types of writing?

2. Purpose There are various purposes for researching a topic. For example, • You can persuade or explain. • You can compare and contrast. • You can analyze, interpret, or evaluate.

3. Your Purpose… will be to explain biographical information on a selected poet.

4. How is research different from other types of writing?After selecting your topic: • You must gather information from a variety of sources to find answers to those questions. • You must develop research questions. • You must synthesize the information you gather with your own evaluations and interpretations. • You must avoid plagiarism by citing the sources you use.

5. Terms to Review THESIS: A single declarative sentence that states the controlling idea of your paper. It is usually the first or last sentence of your introductory paragraph. PARENTHETICAL CITATION: Place the quoted author’s name and a page number in parentheses after a quote or idea that you pulled directly from that author’s work. Sometimes you just place the page number in parentheses.

6. Terms to Know • Examples include: • Diaries • Letters • Art • Interviews • Speeches • Photographs • Newspapers PRIMARY SOURCE:original, first-handaccounts that can be used as evidence of what was thought of or said during a specific time.

7. Terms to Know • Examples include: • History textbooks • Biographies • Movies of historical events • Stories written about events • Art* SECONDARY SOURCE:not anoriginalaccount but rather someone’s commentson or analysis of a primary source

8. Understanding the difference between primary and secondary sources can be tricky. Did you notice “art” was on both lists? Can you explain how it could be both a primary and secondary source?

9. C.W. Jefferys Could this piece of art be used as a primary document? It is depicting an event from 1690. It was painted in the late 1800s.

10. Research Project • Pick a partner Choose wisely. If a partner gets ISS/OSS/ITI, you will both end up working independently. • Pick a poet A list will be available for review. • Develop at least eight research questions • Gather research from at least two different sources An electronic database and an Internet site* or a print source

11. *A Word of Caution • Not all Internet sources are reliable • Look for web addresses that end with .org or .edu • Never use Wikipedia as a source for educational research

12. Research (Day Two) Develop at least eight research questions that will guide you as you research your selected poet. • The questions cannot be “yes” or “no” questions.

13. Sample Questions • Did the poet have a hard childhood? • What hardships did the poet experience during childhood? • Did the poet win any awards for his or her poetry? • What awards or recognition did the poet receive?

14. Did you come up with these? When and where was the poet born? What was the poet’s level of education? What was the poet’s marital and family status? What event(s) influenced the poet’s desire to write? How many poems or books did the poet publish? What is one of the poet’s most famous poems? What is your favorite poem from the poet’s works? When did the poet die?

15. Thesis Statement Some people develop their thesis statement before they do their research. Some people develop it after they do their research.

16. Thesis StatementDo’s and Don’ts • Don’t ask a question as a thesis. • Don’t use “hedge” words such as probably, might, seems, or I think. • Don’t give away your conclusion in your thesis. Support it throughout your paper, and then provide a sense of closure at the end. • Do use a declarative sentence. • Do allow your thesis to sound confident. • Do ensure you have plenty of supporting evidence to backup your thesis.

17. Thesis statements to avoid… • The purpose of my paper is… • In this paper, I will write about… Try revising the following faulty thesis: The purpose of my paper is to write about how Langston Hughes helped to bring attention to African-American artistic movement of the 1920s.

18. Revise these faulty thesis statements… • It seems to me that Shel Silverstein is probably one of the best-selling writers of children’s poetry. • How does one event in a person’s life cause them to become an award winning poet? • The purpose of my paper is to write about how Maya Angelou is not only an accomplished poet but also a multi-talented director and performer.

19. Writing your thesis… • You have two choices: • Write you thesis now and use it as a guide to the information you gather. • Write it after you have gathered your information when you have a feel for what will work as a controlling idea.