research+paper

 ** SIX STEPS TO AN AWESOME RESEARCH PROJECT! ** **Mrs. Marciano, Ludlow Public Schools Elementary Librarian **
 * Research can be as easy as 1-2-3… 4-5-6. Just follow these steps and you will end up with a great product. **
 * 1. ** **TASK DEFINITION** – what needs to get done? Do you understand the assignment? Do you know what questions you need to answer? This is a good time to write a list of questions you need answers to.


 * 2. INFORMATION SEEKING STRATEGIES ** – What can I use to find what I need? Library books? Encyclopedias? Web sites? List those resources you know you will be able to find easily.
 * 3. WHERE CAN I FIND WHAT I NEED? ** - Once you have a book or web site, how do you find out if it has what you need? Here are some hints that will help you find what you need.

Books: Look at the index (back of the book) or table of contents (front of the book) for your topic and keywords  Encyclopedias:  Use the index volume (usually the last volume in the set) for the topic and keywords.  Reference Web sites  that are subscribed to by your library (such as Gale, Worldbook Online, etc.): type either your topic or keywords in the search box. Try keywords separately and some together. Ask your librarian for help if needed.

Free web sites: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> use topic or keywords in subject directories such as <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> [|http://www.yahooligans.com]. Try <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> keywords separately and some together. Ask your librarian for help if needed. 4. USE THE INFORMATION **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> – Take only the most important things from each source. When taking notes, LESS IS MORE! Do not copy every word. For example if a sentence in a book reads:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

“Wilma Rudolph was born in 1940 in Bethlehem, Tenn.” You will write:

“Born 1940 Bethlehem Tenn.”

If you think it will help, use the “note-taking worksheet” (located on the last page) for each resource. 5. HOW TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> v  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Decide what you are doing. Is it a written report? An oral report? A visual project of some kind? If you are writing a report, begin with an __outline__. For example, if researching a person:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

1. Introduce subject. Why is it important we know about this person? 2. Early life. 3. Growing up (is there anything in this part that relates to why this person is famous? If so, emphasize it). 4. Major achievements as an adult. (Don’t get bogged down in details.) 5. Later life 6. Conclusion. (This part restates what you said in the introduction.)

v  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">After your outline, write your __rough draft.__ REMEMBER, copying exact words from a source is not allowed! Put everything in your own words. If you want to use someone else’s words, put it in quotes, and make sure you give credit to who said it!

v  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Have someone else read through it. __Edit it__.

v  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Write your __final copy__. Make sure you have answered all the questions about your subject.

v  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Write your __bibliography__. This is very important, and you should follow the format your teacher wants. But here are some __examples__:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Author's Last Name, First Name. __Title of Book__. City: Publisher, Copyright Year
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> BOOK **

Parson, Alexander. __Amazing Spiders__. New York: Knopf, 1990.

Author's Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” __Encyclopedia Title__. Year.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

Minch, Edwin W. “Spiders.” __The World Book Encyclopedia__. 1997 ed.

Author, if given (not web page creator). __Title of Site or Page__. Name of Institution or Sponsoring Organization. Date of Visit to Site <URL of Page>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">WEB PAGE **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

Gilbert, Tim. __Anansi The Spider__. Manteno Community Unit School District #5, Manteno, IL. 9 Apr. 2003 <http://www.manteno.k12.il.us/webquest/elementary/LanguageArts/Anasi/timgilbertwe bquest.html>.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">6. EVALUATE – **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Before you turn it in, compare your product to your assignment. Did you include everything required? Is it neat? Have you given credit to all your sources.?

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**NOTE-TAKING MADE EASY** You may find it helpful to use this template for each of your resources as a way to keep organized. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Your Name: Today's Date:

Source (title, author, publication, date, URL,etc):

Information needed (you cand write these as question):

NOTES (important information-write only what you need to answer the above question. Do not copy and paste or write a lot of text you will not use in your paper).

IDEAS (record your ideas and reactions to the information, ways to use it in your assignment, your opinions, or further research/help you may need to answer the question).

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