The document provides guidance on selecting a topic for a research project. It discusses finding topic ideas from textbooks, teachers, and libraries. A good topic has available information from multiple sources, is readable, fulfills curriculum standards, and allows the student to learn. Students are advised to pre-search topics in at least three formats to check for supporting information before selecting a topic to research.

1. The Research Process Putting the pieces together. Topic Subtopics Sources Read/Think/Select Notetake Sort & Number Notes

2. Copyright 2002 Deborah B. Stanley All rights reserved No part of this CD-ROM may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the author. Each copy of this CD-ROM is a single user copy to be used by that person for student instruction and/or staff presentation. Made and distributed by Deborah B. Stanley [email_address] All images are from MS PowerPoint Clip Art Gallery and from the Microsoft Office “Design Gallery Live” at http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1

3. I’ve got a research project due! Help!

4. Let’s start at the beginning and focus on selecting a: Topic Topic

5. Concepts to Consider Where do topics come from? How do I search for topic information? What makes a topic “good”? What is a topic? Topic Topic

6. What is a topic? A topic is something that has… Information Topic

7. Where do topics come from? Textbooks Teacher’s list Library sources Topic

8. Finding Your Topic Topics Topics Topics Topics Topics Topics should be pre-searched by the student in at least three kinds of sources (formats) such as a book, an encyclopedia, and an Internet web site for supporting information. could have been checked (pre-searched) by the library media teacher to match library sources as well as a student’s learning (dis)abilities. automatically match the teacher ’s standards-based unit of study and the student’s grade level. Topics discovered in library sources Topics found in textbooks Topics from the teacher’s list Topic

9. Use an encyclopedia to narrow or broaden a topic. Water Uses of Water Irrigation Decorating the White House WH History White House Narrow Broaden When there’s too much information… When there’s not enough information… Topic

10. What makes a topic “good”? Availability of information Readability of information Fulfills curriculum standards or unit requirements Will I learn? Topic

11. A “good” topic… is the on-ramp to the information super highway. A “bad” topic… leads NO-where! Topic

12. How do I search for topic information? What types of violent weather occur on earth? violent weather hurricanes wind storms hail lightning tornadoes and later, write a thesis statement. Create a search question to guide information exploration, Focus on keywords in the search question, i.e.: Use topic synonyms to expand a search. Topic

13. Review topic strategies: Topic Selection Locate Ideas Check Sources Search Strategies Cross- Check LOCATE topic ideas in teacher list, grade level texts, or library sources. CHECK in the library media center for three formats with supporting information. CROSS-CHECK in an encyclopedia to narrow or broaden a topic. CREATE a search question, then use keywords and synonyms to investigate the topic. Topic

14. Pre-search to research! Remember: Topic

15. Now you try it! Here is a great web site for topic ideas: http://www.researchpaper.com Topic