Research Process

1. Research Process 8th Grade Person or Historical Event Theme Study Model for Honors/Accelerated Students

2. Topic connected to a theme • Person or historical event • This topic is way too broad to cover in one year, let alone in one research paper, so we have to make it a more specific topic. • “Rising to the Challenge” • “Coming of Age” • “Quest for Freedom” • “Extraordinary Occurrences”

3. Narrow the Topic • Person or Historical Event (this is still too broad a topic as it encompasses hundreds of authors). • Chose one specific person or historical event to focus your research based on a theme. For example: • The extraordinary occurences/effects of Shakespeare’s writings on 21st century literature

4. Statement of Controlling Purpose • The purpose of this research is to outline the extraordinary occurences/effects and connections of Shakespeare’s 16th century writings on 21st century literature. • Note that this statement can be revamped into a thesis statement later to be included in your first paragraph of your research paper.

5. Guiding Questions • What is a guiding question? • What is the purpose of a guiding question? • What makes a good guiding question?

6. Questions cannot be • answered with yes or no • too broad • too narrow • vague • opinionated • irrelevant

7. Questions should be • open ended • clearly stated • relevant • answerable

8. PURPOSE • Guiding Questions are used to “guide” your research and help you stay on track. • These questions eventually should help you form your thesis. • Your thesis contains specific examples that support your statement of controlling purpose.

9. Irrelevant Model Questions • What did Shakespeare do in his free time? • What kind of pen did he use? • Where can I get a bumper sticker about loving Shakespeare? • Does Shakespeare have a store named after him?

10. Relevant Model Questions: • What are four relevant examples of extraordianry occurences in producible evidence that affirms the continued literary merit of the 16th century works of William Shakespeare presently in the 21st century? • Producible Evidence #1 • Producible Evidence #2 • Producible Evidence #3 • Producible Evidence #4 • What is the overall impact of Shakespeare’s writing in modern day U.S.A.?

11. The Effects of Shakespeare’s Writings on 21st Century Literature The teacher breaks the class into fours and then paired off in twos within the group of four. Brainstorm with a partner one relevant guiding question about the purpose of this research is to outline the Effects and Connections of Shakespeare’s 16th Century Writings on 21st Century Literature. Write it down with your partner. Now turn to your group and share each guiding question that you came up with. Last, try to write two guiding question by yourself about The purpose of this research is to outline the Effects and Connections of Shakespeare’s 16th Century Writings on 21st Century Literature.. In a four people group, you should end up with 5 questions total. One for each member the first time and one that you create in the end alone. Guiding Questions about the Effects of Shakespeare’s Writings on 21st Century Literature 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

12. Prime Questions Why? Why are Shakespeare’s writings coveted and viewed as a literary model for writers centuries later? How? How can you use Shakespeare’s approach to his craft right now in the eighth grade to help you develop your writing skills?

13. Person or Event in History Rationale • What are four relevant examples of extraordianry occurences events or producible evidence that affirms the continued literary merit of the 16th century works of William Shakespeare presently in the 21st century? • Producible Evidence #1 • Producible Evidence #2 • Producible Evidence #3 • Producible Evidence #4 • What is the overall impact of Shakespeare’s writing in modern day U.S.A.?

14. Research with Librarian

15. Possible end result(focus of the research) • How will the research that you have done on Shakespeare’s literary significance shape the outlook of your future writings?

16. THESIS STATEMENT • The purpose of this research is to outline the extraordinary occurences/effects (*A, B, C) and connections of Shakespeare’s 16th century writings on 21st century literature. *A, B, C are the specific examples of extraordinary occurences.