Alden Central School District



Research GuideWorkbook 1Use this workbook to help you as you research your topic. You will need to continuously reflect and possibly change course as you work- that is OK! As always, see Ms. DiSalvo if you are stuck or have any questions or concerns.Phase 1: Plan/Immerse/ExploreDuring this part of the process, you will explore (brainstorm) topics using background knowledge and "pre-search" as jumping off points. This will help you develop a rich, complex question that you will research.Do you need help brainstorming a topic? Click here.Do you need help narrowing down your topic? Click here.Do you need help developing your essential question? Click HYPERLINK \l "Question" here.**What is your general topic?**What is your essential question (research question)?Phase 2: IdentifyDuring this part of the process, you will continue to build your search strategy by developing keywords and identifying possible resources. You may need to go back to the previous section if you are having difficulty finding resources for your topic.Do you need help developing keywords? Click here.Do you need help identifying Resources? Click here.**List some keywords here:List 2-3 resources you want to explore:1.2.3.~End of Workbook 1~Brainstorming TopicsWorksheetTo do:Watch the video and use the graphic organizer to help you think about topics.Brainstorm topics that interest you for your assignment. ?Video:Watch the video below about developing a topic:(Watch in YouTube)?Now it's time to start brainstorming:?Think about the following questions:What do you want to know more about?What do you want to investigate??Try this topic finder from Gale to help you brainstorm ideas.?Use this space to list your interests (no limits!):?Now choose 2-3 from that list to investigate further:?1.2.3.Now fill in a KWL chart for your chosen topics to help you think about these topics in more depth. Return to the L section when you have done some preliminary research.?KWhat do I know?WWhat do I want to know?LWhat have I learned? (Later!)?1.???????2.???????3.??????????Choose 1 topic from your KWL chart to narrow down on the next ic choice:???Now that you have a topic, you are ready to narrow that topic!Go back to the startNarrowing Your TopicWorksheetTo do:Look at the guiding questions to help you narrow your topic.Use general resources to find background information about your topic.Use the graphic organizer to visualize this process.?Guiding Questions:Use these guiding questions to help you narrow your topic. Focus on the questions that matter most to you!?General Topic:?Guiding Questions:WhoWho led?Who participated?Who was affected???WhatWhat is…?What has happened????WhenWhen did…?In what order did events occur???WhereWhere is…?Where did the events occur????WhyWhy did…?????HowHow did…?????Wow!Find examples.Show relationships.Suggest solutions.Formulate a theory, etc.?Resources for background reading:Explore resources to help you narrow your topic.?Print Resources - Books found in the library.Destiny Discover - Search the catalog to find non-fiction books about your topic. Look for encyclopedias and reference books.*** Log in to Destiny discover to find websites for your topic. These websites are educator approved! ***?Online Subscription Databases - Collections of articles, encyclopedia entries, videos, etc.Britannica MiddleMiddle School Gale in ContextGale General OneFileElementary Gale In ContextNew York State NewspapersBrainPop Username: aldencsdPassword: bulldogs?General Online Resources/Search Engines - Some reputable public websites to exploreHistory ChannelNational Geographic Student GuideKids SearchGoogle - yes, Google! Just make sure you are evaluating the websites you are using!?Graphic Organizer:Now use the idea web on the next page to help you break down your topic. Try to brainstorm at least 2-3 subtopics for the main idea:(Use your tablet pen to write on the screen or make your own web!) Example:????Did you find a good source while you were brainstorming?Start adding sources to your NoodleTools project page!Now that you have narrowed your topic, you are ready to develop your essential question!Go back to the startDeveloping Good QuestionsWorksheetTo do:Watch the video to help you develop a good essential question (research question).Evaluate your question using the checklist. Revise your question as necessary.?Watch the video below about developing a good research question:(Watch in Youtube)????Your question should be:?complex?(can't answer with yes/no or just a few words)arguable?(there are multiple right answers)related to human beings?(this is social studies, after all)interesting to you (this is the most important)?Go back to the previous sections (Brainstorming Topics and Narrowing Topics). Use what you learned to develop your essential questions in the space below:?General Topic:???Narrowed Topic:???Essential Question:?????Use this checklist to evaluate your essential question:?Does your question meet these criteria? If not, revise your question in the space below, then go back to the checklist and evaluate your new question.Now that you have your essential question, you are ready to move to Phase 2! HYPERLINK \l "_top" Go back to the startDeveloping KeywordsWorksheetTo do:Watch the video to help you think about creating keywords.Use the chart below to start a list of keywords about your topic.Watch the video below to learn more about keywords:(Watch in YouTube)About Keywords:What are they?Keywords are sometimes called search terms or search words. These are all the same name for words that help you find information about your topic. When will I use them?You will use keywords when searching through books (using indexes), and through electronic sources (using search boxes on websites, in databases, or in search engines).What are good keywords?Good keywords are the important words or short phrases that specifically describe your topic and closely related topics. They are not long sentences.Use the steps in the chart below to start developing a keyword list for your topic. Think about synonyms and related words. Use the example to help you.How to Develop a list of keywords:To do:Example:You try:1. Write a sentence about your topic.I want to do a project about some kind of ocean mammal such as whales or dolphins.2. Now start expanding the list with related terms and synonyms.Ocean sea marineMammals warm blooded animalsWhales cetaceansDolphins porpoises3. Are there any larger categories that might lead you to information?Ocean mammal ocean life, marine life, mammals, animalsAre there any words or phrases that are more specific?Whales blue whale, killer whale, humpback whaleDolphins bottle nose dolphinNow you have the beginning list of key words and phrases to begin searching for information. Try searching within your resources using these keywords.OceanSeaOcean mammalMarine mammalWhalesCetaceansDolphinsPorpoisesOcean lifeMarine lifeMammalsAnimalsBlue WhaleKiller WhaleHumpback WhaleBottle nose dolphinNow that you have some keywords, you are ready to use them to search! HYPERLINK \l "_top" Go back to the startIdentifying ResourcesWorksheetTo do:Watch the video to learn more about library databases.Identify types of resources you want to explore and start searching.Watch this video to learn more about databases:(Watch on YouTube)Types of Resources:Where can you find information about your topic? Primary Sources – Original sources of information.InterviewsHistoric DocumentDiariesSpeechesBirth CertificatesOriginal Video/Photographs/Audio, etc.Secondary Sources – Information that is analyzed and interpreted by someone else.BooksEncyclopediaDictionaryAtlasAlmanacTextbookNewspaperMagazineVideoList 2-3 types of resources you want to explore:Start Exploring:Use the chart below to locate resources. Use your keywords to start exploring. Possible Sources:Possible SourcesLocationPrint ResourcesBooksEncyclopediasReference MaterialsAMS LibrarySearch in the Destiny Discover catalogOnline Subscription DatabasesEncyclopedia EntriesMagazine/Newspaper ArticlesEssaysAMS Library Database websitePublic Websites/Search Engines AMS Library Resources websiteDestiny Discover (log in, search your topic, and click on websites)GoogleNow that you have found some resources, keep track of your sources using NoodleTools.Go back to the start ................
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