Key points:

1. Choose an issue that you are interested in learning about to research.

2. You can choose an issue:

> From the 3B. Specific issues to research page;

> From the 3C. Websites for researching different issues page;

> Or a different issue that you are interested in.

3. Talk with a partner about

> which issue you are interested in;

> why you are interested in it/how you got interested in it;

> what you already know/think about it;

> what you want to find out/learn/understand about it.

4. In your notebook/on your device, write the issue you are interested in and three research questions you have about it.

5. Find three interesting sources of information about your issue from:

        > the 3B. Specific issues to research page;

> the 3C. Websites for researching different issues page; and/or

> your own search for information.

6. If you do your own search for information, you can get help here:

>  the 3D. Information in English about Japan page;

> the 3E. Help with searching for information page.

7. Read the parts of your sources of information that are interesting for you – you don’t have to read everything and can skip parts that are not useful for your research.

8. Make notes of the interesting/important information and ideas in your sources. In an A4 notebook, make a double-page (two pages) of notes. In a B5 notebook or on a tablet, make three pages of notes.

9. Make your notes clear and visual: use words and phrases (not long sentences and paragraphs); use lines, boxes, arrows, bullet points, colour and different sizes of text; include visuals (photos, graphs, diagrams, maps, etc) in your notes.

10.  Put your research questions into your notes to help organise them.

11. Write Research Notes 1/2/3 and the date at the top of your notes.

12. Write the references for your sources of information at the end of your notes (date, author/organization, title, etc).

13. See the 3F. Examples of note-taking on issues page for help with making your notes.

13. Upload your notes to the manaba assignment.

14. Use your notes to explain your research to other students in class.