The Research Process

• http://www.schooltube.com/video/bfb6358e949745c9aed5/SNL%20Seinfeld%20History%20Lesson

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0wtuaoIoVU

Research & the Standards

• Language Arts, History, Science, Technology:

• “Research to Build and Present Knowledge”

“Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects…”

• “…to answer a question or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.”

“Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources…”

• “…using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.”

“Corresponding College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard”

• “Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.”

“Corresponding College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard”

• “Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.”

Research Skills

• Generate a Research Question/Topic/Thesis

InfOhio sample topic chart

• Search the Internet• Assess Website Credibility

• Record Sources

• Take Notes

Writing Skills

•Outline

• Synthesize Sources to Maintain Idea Flow

•Deal with Discrepancies

•Avoid Plagiarism

• Follow Standard Citation Format

Technology Skills

• Internet Search Skills

•Website Credibility

•Bibme.org, iCONN bibliographic information, Word References

•Word and Google Docs

Research Skills

Generate a Research Question/Topic/Thesis

•Depends on length & type of assignment

•A short, “find out about…” assignment will not need a developed topic or thesis

•A research report/paper should have a thesis

Search the Internet

• So much more than Google

• iCONN, a service of the CT State Library www.iconn.org

• Tell students how many websites they must use for their research

Assess Website Credibility

• Show students how to asses the credibility of internet resources

Record Sources

•Record bibliographic details of electronic sources while conducting the research to cite sources effectively and return to the source to check facts and avoid plagiarism

One method for recording sources…

•Record URL’s in a Word document• designate each source by letter

(Source A, Source B, etc.)

• Source A: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED540359.pdf

Citation Helpers

• Bibme.org

• Citation feature in iCONN

• Article citation provided

• References feature in Word

• Create a Works Cited “cheat sheet” and a “parenthetical citations” cheat sheet

Take Notes

• Index Cards• Source Letter (see slide 18)

• Paraphrase OR Direct Quotation in quotation marks (with page # if applicable)

• ONE fact per card

• Tell students how many index cards they need

• The index cards are later used to create the outline of the research report

Source A

“Memorizing facts fails to provide adequate understanding of the concept.” page 4

Source A

Learning is not guaranteed when students are asked only to remember isolated bits of information.

Writing Skills

Outline

• Index cards are spread out on the desk and student physically organizes them into 3 or 4 logical subsets by putting cards with similar facts together

Synthesize Sources to Maintain Idea Flow

•Working the researched ideas into the body of the report

•Goal: fluency

Deal with Discrepancies

•What to do when sources do not agree

• Student as reporter, not evaluator, of research

Avoid Plagiarism

• Take careful notes

• InfOhio sample search chart• Paraphrase correctly

• Use direct quotations sparingly

• Cite all research with in-text citations

• Credit all research sources with appropriate format

Follow Standard Citation Format

•Prepares students for college

•Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

•OWL

Technology

Internet Search Skills

• iCONN

Part of the Connecticut Education Network

Free 24/7 access to multiple magazines and EBSCO databases.

Website Credibility

•C.R.A.P.

•Currency, Reliability, Authority, Point of View

•CRAPpy Song

Bibme.org, iCONN bibliographic information, Word References

•Bibme.org

• iCONN bibliographic information

•Word: References feature

Word and Google Docs

•Type assignment in Word• Spell Check

• References Feature

•Upload and share using Google Docs

Recap

• Students need to learn how to conduct responsible internet research

• Students need numerous opportunities to practice and build research skills