Standard 4 - Research0501.4.1 Define and Narrow Topic for Research

Saguaros "sah-wah-roh"

0501.4.1 Define and Narrow Topic for Research• Questions to consider:

What am I interested in?

What do I want to write about?

What is my purpose for writing?

Who is my audience?

0501.4.1 Define and Narrow Topic for Research I am writing a report. So I know I will need

to be gathering information on a topic. What do I know about? I like to travel... So I’m thinking I could write about a different place. And I know most of you have never been to the desert. So maybe I could write about the desert.

The Desert

The desert is a lot to write about. What part of the desert am I interested in? And what would my audience find interesting? I have always found those large cacti very interesting. Perhaps I could write about Saguaros.

Your turn! Narrow these topics:

• Space

• Insects

• Presidents

• Native Americans

• The Ocean

Your turn! Narrow these topics:

• Space: astronauts, spaceships, planets

• Insects: butterflies, metamorphosis

• Presidents: Lincoln, Election, White House

• Native Americans: Culture, Cherokee, Weapons

• The Ocean: shipwrecks, tides, sharks

Choose a topic!

• Remember!

What are you interested in?

What do you want to write about?

What is your purpose for writing?

Who is your audience?