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Narrowing a Topic for Research . Mrs. Kessler 8 th Grade English Research Paper Project . Questions to consider …. Can I find enough for a 3 to 4 page paper? Is my topic too broad for a 3 to 4 page paper? Do I have time to get the information I need?
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Narrowing a Topic for Research Mrs. Kessler 8th Grade English Research Paper Project
Questions to consider… • Can I find enough for a 3 to 4 page paper? • Is my topic too broad for a 3 to 4 page paper? • Do I have time to get the information I need? • Is the topic interesting enough to hold my attention?
Ways to narrow a topic • One way to narrow a subject is to make a cluster chart. (We have already done this method). • Another way to narrow a topic is to make an inverted pyramid.
The Inverted Pyramid GENERAL BROAD LIMITED
Guided Practice • Pretend you are going to research popular music for your research project. This is pretty general. Let’s narrow this very general topic to something limited and specific.
Preparing to research • We have had two days to do some preliminary research. Up until this point, your research has not really been focused on the limited topic. Before you can dive into researching for this limited topic, you have to ask yourself some questions…..
KWL Chart for Planning Research • KWL Sheet For Mrs_ Kessler.htm
Research Questions • Look at the “W” column of your chart. Take the things you want to know and make questions and of them. These questions need to be written on your “Reporter’s Notes” handout.
Researching with a purpose • Now that you have refined your topic to a limited focus, established what you already know and want to know about your topic, and asked some research questions; your research time will be better spent and more productive.
Vocabulary Terms • Refined: to make something exact and specific • Limited focus: a very specific aspect of a topic (example: the migration patterns of Canadian geese)