How to Do a Research How to Do a Research ProjectProject

The Roaring 20’sThe Roaring 20’s

Step 1: Narrow the topicStep 1: Narrow the topic

• Jot down ideas of Jot down ideas of allall the subtopics the subtopics you could cover.you could cover.

• Try to organize this list a bit – decide Try to organize this list a bit – decide which subtopics are really important.which subtopics are really important.

• Plan to find information about those – Plan to find information about those – and not about every little detail.and not about every little detail.

Example: Religion in the Example: Religion in the 1920s1920s

Help me out…Help me out…

What do you think I might consider?What do you think I might consider?

Example: Religion in the Example: Religion in the 1920s1920s• Urban vs. RuralUrban vs. Rural• Wealthy vs. PoorWealthy vs. Poor• Race and ethnicityRace and ethnicity• Changes in major religionsChanges in major religions• New religions appearingNew religions appearing• Numbers of people/percentage of people in major Numbers of people/percentage of people in major

religious groupsreligious groups• Types of servicesTypes of services• Political influence of religionsPolitical influence of religions• ConflictsConflicts

Example: Religion in the Example: Religion in the 1920s1920s

• Can I cover all of this?Can I cover all of this?– Sure, if I am writing a Sure, if I am writing a reallyreally long paper. long paper.– This project requires 2 pages. I will This project requires 2 pages. I will

need to cut it down.need to cut it down.

• I will see what information is I will see what information is available. available. ThenThen, I’ll add and subtract , I’ll add and subtract subtopics from my list.subtopics from my list.

Your turn!Your turn!

• Doing it at home before you Doing it at home before you research? Good for you! Do your research? Good for you! Do your best. best.

• Remember, you’ll revise this list as Remember, you’ll revise this list as you learn more about your topic. you learn more about your topic. Revision means you are doing it Revision means you are doing it right!right!

Step 1: Narrow the topicStep 1: Narrow the topicClassroom Creation/Revision Classroom Creation/Revision TimeTime• Good news! You already have at least Good news! You already have at least

two articles, so you already have extra two articles, so you already have extra information to help you with this list.information to help you with this list.

• Using the sources you have with you, Using the sources you have with you, make a list of subtopics you would like to make a list of subtopics you would like to cover in your paper and presentation.cover in your paper and presentation.

• You have 5 minutes. Help each other!You have 5 minutes. Help each other!

Step 2: Find appropriate Step 2: Find appropriate sourcessources

• School databases are always School databases are always trustworthy.trustworthy.

• Be really choosy about sites you Be really choosy about sites you find on the internet!find on the internet!

• Wikipedia is good as a starting Wikipedia is good as a starting point, but point, but nevernever as a cited source. as a cited source.

Step 2 cont’dStep 2 cont’d

• How can you tell if the source is How can you tell if the source is good?good?– Good ones are published by Good ones are published by

recognized groups or companies.recognized groups or companies.– You You shouldshould be able to find all the be able to find all the

required citation information. If you required citation information. If you can’t, it’s probably not good.can’t, it’s probably not good.

Step 2 cont’dStep 2 cont’d• Print the source.Print the source.

• If it is long, only print the part you need.If it is long, only print the part you need.

• Get full citation information Get full citation information nownow, including , including the URL (in case the teacher wants it).the URL (in case the teacher wants it).– My rule is I My rule is I don’tdon’t want the URL if you want the URL if you

used a school database. I used a school database. I dodo want the want the URL if you used a website you found on URL if you used a website you found on the internet.the internet.

• If you aren’t sure what information you If you aren’t sure what information you need, use my website’s “MLA Format” page need, use my website’s “MLA Format” page to help you.to help you.

HMWK due 10/4-7HMWK due 10/4-7

• Find, skim read, and print at least 2 Find, skim read, and print at least 2 useful sources.useful sources.

Step 3: Annotate your Step 3: Annotate your sourcessources• Annotate is a fancy name for highlight Annotate is a fancy name for highlight

and label.and label.

• Annotate useful information in your Annotate useful information in your printed out sources.printed out sources.– How do you choose? Find facts about the How do you choose? Find facts about the

subtopics you planned to cover. Keep in subtopics you planned to cover. Keep in mind, you might need to revise your mind, you might need to revise your subtopic list when you learn more about subtopic list when you learn more about your topic.your topic.

Step 3: Annotate your sources Step 3: Annotate your sources HighlightingHighlighting

• Read your sources, and highlight Read your sources, and highlight information that really seems information that really seems relevant to your subtopic list.relevant to your subtopic list.

• DON’T highlight everything.DON’T highlight everything.– Highlight important sentences.Highlight important sentences.– Even better, highlight important Even better, highlight important

phrases.phrases.

Step 3: Annotate your sources Step 3: Annotate your sources About About LabelingLabeling

• When you are done reading all your When you are done reading all your sources, you should have more than sources, you should have more than enough material highlighted. If you enough material highlighted. If you don’t, find more sources, read and don’t, find more sources, read and highlight, and then come back to this highlight, and then come back to this part.part.

Step 3: Annotate your sources Step 3: Annotate your sources About About Labeling Labeling (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Now, decide how you should group Now, decide how you should group the information. You might use your the information. You might use your whole original subtopic list, or you whole original subtopic list, or you might use part of it, or you might might use part of it, or you might reorganize your subtopics entirely.reorganize your subtopics entirely.

• Assign a symbol to each subtopic Assign a symbol to each subtopic that you will cover in your paper.that you will cover in your paper.

• In the margins of the sources, label In the margins of the sources, label each highlighted fact.each highlighted fact.

Example: Religion in the 1920s Example: Religion in the 1920s – my list revised after – my list revised after skimming several sources!skimming several sources!• Major religious groups & their associated Major religious groups & their associated

beliefsbeliefs– In different geographical areasIn different geographical areas

• urban vs. rural AND/OR north vs. southurban vs. rural AND/OR north vs. south

– Membership: # people/ percentage of populationMembership: # people/ percentage of population• Social class (rich vs. poor)Social class (rich vs. poor)• Race & ethnicityRace & ethnicity• Gender & age factorsGender & age factors

• Causes of changeCauses of change– ImmigrationImmigration– The Great WarThe Great War

HMWK due Tues-Wed, 10/8-HMWK due Tues-Wed, 10/8-99• Annotate your sources.Annotate your sources.

– Highlight all relevant material.Highlight all relevant material.– Decide which subtopics to cover.Decide which subtopics to cover.– Decide how you will group facts in the Decide how you will group facts in the

paper.paper.– Label your annotated sources accordingly.Label your annotated sources accordingly.

• Note that completing this step Note that completing this step requires having enough sources to requires having enough sources to find all the material you need!find all the material you need!

Heads up!Heads up!

• Before you can effectively move on Before you can effectively move on to Step 4, you must have completed to Step 4, you must have completed research and created a final subtopic research and created a final subtopic list. list.

• If you want to begin writing the If you want to begin writing the paper before your research is done, paper before your research is done, be prepared to make major revisions.be prepared to make major revisions.

Step 4Step 4: Writing the Rough Draft: Writing the Rough DraftIntroductionIntroduction

• Start with an interesting hook. A common Start with an interesting hook. A common knowledge fact about your topic might work knowledge fact about your topic might work well.well.

• Include a Main Idea Statement. (In some Include a Main Idea Statement. (In some cases, this is an official “thesis” statement.) cases, this is an official “thesis” statement.) Sum up the point of your paper in 1 sentence.Sum up the point of your paper in 1 sentence.

• List your main subtopics, in order. You might List your main subtopics, in order. You might want to give each one a sentence of its own.want to give each one a sentence of its own.

Step 4Step 4: Writing the Rough Draft: Writing the Rough DraftBody ParagraphsBody Paragraphs• Following your own organization plan, Following your own organization plan,

write the body paragraphs of your write the body paragraphs of your paper. You decide how many paper. You decide how many paragraphs there will be.paragraphs there will be.

• Remember to include a topic and Remember to include a topic and closing sentence for each body closing sentence for each body paragraph.paragraph.

• You can actually write the body You can actually write the body paragraphs in any order. When all are paragraphs in any order. When all are written, you will make a final decision written, you will make a final decision about their order in the paper.about their order in the paper.

Step 4Step 4: Writing the Rough Draft: Writing the Rough DraftBody ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

This paper requires you to paraphrase info This paper requires you to paraphrase info and weave quotes!and weave quotes!

• We discussed this with a literary work. We discussed this with a literary work. You make the same decisions with You make the same decisions with nonfiction reference material.nonfiction reference material.

• Paraphrase most material.Paraphrase most material.• Quote when the original phrase is just Quote when the original phrase is just

perfect already. Weave quotes into your perfect already. Weave quotes into your own sentences.own sentences.

Step 4Step 4: Writing the Rough Draft: Writing the Rough DraftConclusionConclusion

• Start by restating the paper’s Main Start by restating the paper’s Main Idea Statement.Idea Statement.

• Review the main subtopics.Review the main subtopics.

• End with an interesting idea. A End with an interesting idea. A suggestion of a connection between suggestion of a connection between then and now might work.then and now might work.

Step 5: CitationsStep 5: Citations

• This is NOT really a separate step. This is NOT really a separate step. You should do this You should do this whilewhile you write you write the rough draft (in Step 4). I include the rough draft (in Step 4). I include it as a step to remind you to check it as a step to remind you to check that you have done this correctly that you have done this correctly throughout the paper.throughout the paper.

Step 5: CitationsStep 5: Citations

• This includesThis includes– In-text citations in EVERY sentence with someone else’s In-text citations in EVERY sentence with someone else’s

ideasideas– Works Cited pageWorks Cited page

• The MAJOR difference (from a literary analysis): You The MAJOR difference (from a literary analysis): You must cite both paraphrased and quoted material!must cite both paraphrased and quoted material!

• Why? Because you must differentiate between your Why? Because you must differentiate between your own ideas and the researched material you have own ideas and the researched material you have found.found.

• Think of it this way: when you are referring to a Think of it this way: when you are referring to a book’s events, your reader book’s events, your reader knowsknows the material is not the material is not yours. When you are referring to anything else, the yours. When you are referring to anything else, the reader just cannot tell.reader just cannot tell.

Step 5 (cont’d)Step 5 (cont’d)

• Follow the MLA Format rules for the Follow the MLA Format rules for the in-text citations and the Works Cited in-text citations and the Works Cited page.page.

• Use my “MLA Format” page for help.Use my “MLA Format” page for help.– Seriously, you need to spend some time Seriously, you need to spend some time

actually reading through this material. actually reading through this material. It explains almost everything.It explains almost everything.

HMWK due Thurs-Fri, 10/10-HMWK due Thurs-Fri, 10/10-1111• Type and print your rough draft, following Type and print your rough draft, following

ALL MLA requirements for formatALL MLA requirements for format– IntroductionIntroduction– ALL body paragraphsALL body paragraphs

• Topic sentencesTopic sentences

• Paraphrased and/or quoted information + in-text Paraphrased and/or quoted information + in-text citationscitations

• Closing sentencesClosing sentences

– ConclusionConclusion– Works CitedWorks Cited

Step 6: Revise & ProofreadStep 6: Revise & Proofread• Peer edit! Check each other’s work for Peer edit! Check each other’s work for

structure, clarity, and correctness. structure, clarity, and correctness. Look out for anything confusing, Look out for anything confusing, unclear, or grammatically flawed.unclear, or grammatically flawed.

• Look back at the Step 4 Writing the Look back at the Step 4 Writing the Rough Draft slides for ideas.Rough Draft slides for ideas.

• If you have to, go back to your sources If you have to, go back to your sources – or even find additional sources – to – or even find additional sources – to get more information.get more information.

Step 7: The Final ProductStep 7: The Final Product

• Print a clean and perfect copy of your Print a clean and perfect copy of your paper, including the Works Cited. Follow all paper, including the Works Cited. Follow all MLA rules, as posted on my website.MLA rules, as posted on my website.

• Staple or clip your packet together, as Staple or clip your packet together, as follows:follows:– Paper (inc. Works Cited) – on TOPPaper (inc. Works Cited) – on TOP– No rough draft required. If you have one, attach No rough draft required. If you have one, attach

it.it.– Annotated sources, in alphabetical order – on Annotated sources, in alphabetical order – on

BOTTOMBOTTOM

Step 8: About presentingStep 8: About presenting• Your purpose, in this case, is to educate Your purpose, in this case, is to educate

all of us about your subject. Plan to all of us about your subject. Plan to spend 2-3 minutes telling the class about spend 2-3 minutes telling the class about your subject’s important subtopics.your subject’s important subtopics.

• You You maymay bring up notes with you. I do bring up notes with you. I do notnot advise you to read a copy of your advise you to read a copy of your paper.paper.

• You You may notmay not use the copy of your paper use the copy of your paper that you are handing in.that you are handing in.

• This first presentation is not graded.This first presentation is not graded.

Step 9: the Visual AidStep 9: the Visual Aid

At least 3 printed 4”x6” (or larger) At least 3 printed 4”x6” (or larger) photographs, arranged into a mini-photographs, arranged into a mini-poster, with an attached (single-poster, with an attached (single-spaced) paragraph explaining them.spaced) paragraph explaining them.

Use this visual aid while you present!Use this visual aid while you present! No citations or Works Cited required No citations or Works Cited required

for this partfor this part

HMWK due Tues-Wed, HMWK due Tues-Wed, 10/15-1610/15-16

• Final Paper + Annotated SourcesFinal Paper + Annotated Sources

• Mini-posterMini-poster

• PresentationsPresentations