Research Unit
Research Unit
Students will write a research paper using a self-created thesis statement and multiple open-ended research questions to guide their research on a chosen topic.
Students will write a research paper using a self-created thesis statement and multiple open-ended research questions to guide their research on a chosen topic.
Students will learn to distinguish the qualities of a credible website, understand the how to use a working research document, understand the differences between paraphrasing and summarizing, and master the process of creating parenthetical (in-text) citations and a properly formatted work cited page.
Students will learn to distinguish the qualities of a credible website, understand the how to use a working research document, understand the differences between paraphrasing and summarizing, and master the process of creating parenthetical (in-text) citations and a properly formatted work cited page.
Tentative Due Date: Friday, March 27th
Tentative Due Date: Friday, March 27th
This year you may choose any topic you want to research! Below are some examples of topics we have had kids research in the past. We wanted to keep these here so if you needed any ideas they were here.
- Keep in mind that your topic must be large enough for you to gather enough information from multiple sources, but not so large that your focus is too big.
- Restrictions: We would like you to stay away from research people and topics there are fairly common knowledge such as the game of basketball, football, etc...
Topic Options:
Topic Options:
1. Scientific discoveries made possible by technology. How has technology helped scientific discoveries in space, medicine/health, weather, communications?
1. Scientific discoveries made possible by technology. How has technology helped scientific discoveries in space, medicine/health, weather, communications?
Possible topics:
Possible topics:
- Hubble telescope & stellar evolution
- Composition & structure of the universe
- The electron microscope & cell organelles
- Sonar & the composition of the Earth
- Manned & unmanned space missions & space exploration
- Doppler radar & weather conditions
- MRI & CAT-scans & brain activity
- Marine Biology
2. Identify & evaluate the physical, social, economic & and/or environmental problems that may be overcome using science & technology.
2. Identify & evaluate the physical, social, economic & and/or environmental problems that may be overcome using science & technology.
Possible Topics:
Possible Topics:
- Alternative fuels
- Planet (Mars) Exploration
- Public Space Travel -- Spacex, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Stratolaunch
- Black Hole
3. Describe the difficulty science innovators experience as they attempt to break through accepted ideas (hypotheses, laws, theories) of their time to reach conclusions that may lead to changes in those ideas and serve to advance scientific understanding.
3. Describe the difficulty science innovators experience as they attempt to break through accepted ideas (hypotheses, laws, theories) of their time to reach conclusions that may lead to changes in those ideas and serve to advance scientific understanding.
Possible Topics:
Possible Topics:
- Copernicus
- Newton Law of Gravity
- Marie Curie
- Periodic Table
4. Wars that our country has fought.
4. Wars that our country has fought.
Possible Topics:
Possible Topics:
- Civil War -- specific battles or part of the war
- World War 1
- World War 2
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
