Research Skills

The Project

Project Guidelines

Define Task/Problem

Identify Topic

Example: Meditation

K/W Chart

  • What do you already know about this topic? What do you want to know about this topic? (If necessary, do some background research.)
Know/Want to Know Chart

Keywords/Phrases

  • Identify keywords and phrases that are associated with your topic.
Example: Mindfulness

Narrow Topic

  • If necessary, narrow your topic.
Example: Impact of Meditation on Health

Turn topic into questions.

    • Never Use Yes/No Questions!
    • Use questioning words:
      • Who
      • What
      • When
      • Where
      • Why
      • How
      • In what way
    • Write a How, Why or In What Way question that covers your big idea.
Example: In what ways can meditation impact your health?
    • Write additional Who, What, When, Where questions to support your big idea question.
Example: What is meditation?What are the different forms of meditation?Which of the 5 Aspects of Health can be impacted by meditation?How does it impact each Aspect of Health?

Search for Information

Types of Sources:

    • Books
    • Magazine/Newspaper Articles
    • Online Encyclopedias
    • Online Databases
    • Websites
    • Videos
    • Interviews

Evaluate Sources:

  • C.R.A.P. Test
    • Currency - How recent is the information? When was it published?
    • Reliability - Is it opinion or fact? Do they list other sources? Do links work?
    • Authority - Who is the author? What are their credentials?
    • Purpose/Point of View - Why was the information published? Fact or opinion? Is there any bias?

Keeping Track of Online Sources:

  • Websites/Online Articles/Online Encyclopedia Articles:
    • Create a RESEARCH FOLDER in your bookmarks.
    • Bookmark items and save them in your RESEARCH FOLDER.
  • Gale Resources (Health & Wellness, Opposing Viewpoints, Research in Context):
    • Save to Google Drive

Analyze & Use Sources

Where to Start:

Possible Sources for This Project:

BOOKS

ENCYCLOPEDIA

NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE ARTICLES

ONLINE DATABASES

(Usernames & Passwords)

Digging in:

  • Scan
  • Read
  • Take Notes

Organizing Information:

  • Outlining - Use research questions and subquestions as the basis of your outline.

Citing Sources:

Bibliography Template