Pre-search worksheet

1. 1.
3.
2.What is your assignment?
Persuasive essay
5 pages
8 sources (3 must be scholarly peer reviewed articles)?
What do you want to write about?
Are video games bad for children?
*How long is your paper? How many sources do you need? What kind?
Main idea from box 2
Concept Cloud
Write down anything related to your main idea. Use Wikipedia or
reference books and databases to help.
Synonyms?
Related topics?
People?
Profession?
Places?
Dates?
Presearch Thinking Tool: Choosing a Topic and keywords
Video games
Violent video
games
Aggressive
behavior
Children
aggression
Violent
Call of Duty
Teenagers
Adolescent
Internet
Games
Juvenile
Behavior disorder

2. 4. Use your concept map to come up with a more focused research question
aggression “video games” children
“behavior disorders” “video games” adolescent
violence “call of duty” teenagers
Tips:
Explore Questions to find a research question:
 Ask open-ended "how" and why" questions about your general topic.
 Consider the "so what" of your topic. Why does this topic matter to you? Why should it matter to others?
 Reflect on the questions you have considered. Identify one or two questions you find engaging and which could be
explored futher through research.
Example Research Questions:
Ok: Are video games bad for kids?
Better: Does playing violent video games lead to more aggressive behavior in children?
Ok: What is the effect on the environment from global warming?
Better: How is glacial melting affecting penquins in Antartica?
5. Your keyword combinations
*Your main keywords will come from the main ideas in your research question (ex. Glacial melting, penguins, Antartica). But
remember to use some of the other ideas you generated on your concept map.
Does playing violent video games lead to
more aggressive behavior in children?