Pre-search
Guiding Questions
How do I choose a topic that will allow me to be successful?
How do I write a statement of intent?
How do I write a focused research question?
During PRE-SEARCH you will browse sources in order to gain a more global understanding of your subject. This will allow you to develop a focused research question.
Source: Globe by Steve Cadman under a Creative Commons license
Overview
Research begins with questions. During PRE-SEARCH you will choose a topic to learn about (or one may be provided by your teacher) and identify a specific focus for your work. You may brainstorm, talk about your topic with other people, and conduct preliminary research. By the end of this stage you will have developed a research question worthy of exploring within the guidelines of your assignment.
You could also say the P stands for PREVIEW and PURPOSE. Spending time upfront exploring your topic and focusing your approach will make you more successful and efficient during the entire research process. Plan to spend a good amount of time reading (or at least skimming) to gain a better grasp of your subject so that you can ask a meaningful and manageable question. Much of what you read may not even be included in your end product, which is why it’s actually better not to take too many notes at this stage. That’s okay; it’s all part of the process. Take your time. In some ways, PRE-SEARCH is the most important step, since you cannot succeed without an appropriate and achievable purpose.
Many researchers begin PRE-SEARCH feeling a little anxious or uncertain. This stage demands patience and concentration and may seem frustrating, but as you select and refine your topic, you are likely to feel more optimistic and excited.
Tool Tips
Tools you might use during this stage:
Assignment sheet, rubrics, checklists provided by your teacher (get started in the right direction, and refer back throughout)
Mind mapping tools to brainstorm areas of interest
Explain EDU (on school iPads)
Word clouds to visualize texts (identify and prioritize main ideas)
K-W-L or K-W-H-L charts to activate prior knowledge and areas of interest
Notable Quotable
"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing."
Source: Wernher von Braun, Aerospace Engineer