1. Topic

Curiosity is essential for a topic being "good," but information is the key!

How to create a good topic

Concepts:

Strategies that apply to print and digital sources:

Interest: Research will be more rewarding if you like your topic, or if you become truly interested in it and curious to investigate it without being told.

Information/Inquiry: A topic without information that is both available and readable is useless. Seeking information to support a topic involves inquiry: "The primary objective of guided inquiry is to promote learning through student investigation..." (Rutherford, 2017)

There are three levels for selecting a topic:

No choice: a topic is assigned
Some choice: teacher's list, textbook or unit of study, variation of an assigned topic
Free choice: Choose a topic on your own using effective selection strategies or topic resources such as CQ Researcher and Credo Reference.

⭐NEW: Print to Digital Skills⭐

Teachers: Topic

Students: Hyperdoc

Library (Print) tasks and skills:

As we begin this first of the six steps of research, what is meant by print library skills? Here are some samples of scope and sequence:

National: National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.
State: Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools
District example: Council Rock School District
District example: St. Joseph School District

Beginning with writing down your topic, in pencil so you can erase and change your mind, use your Checklist to guide the steps of research. Write your topic on your research Independent Study Guide if you are an advanced researcher.

Locate topic ideas:
- Grade-level texts
- Current unit of study
- Teacher's list
- Print materials with general information overviews such as reference books, i.e., encyclopedias.
Triangulate: Rules of three for research:
- A topic must have a minimum of three subtopics.
- A topic must be supported by a minimum of three kinds of sources such as nonfiction print books, reference, and Web site.
Narrow or broaden a topic based on information found.
- Example of narrowing: cells --- cell parts --- mitochondria.
- Example of broadening: chlorophyl --- photosynthesis --- plant cells
- "Strategies for narrowing the Research Topic"
Write a thesis statement to explore your topic.
- From the thesis statement, pull keywords to use as search terms.
- Expand search terms with keyword synonyms.

Narrow or broaden a topic

Miller, K. and Childs, T.

⭐Connection with Digital Citizenship:

1) As you begin extensive use of the Internet for research:

A) Be aware of your district or site's AUA (Acceptable Use Agreement).

You agreed to be punished for violations!

-(Unit 1.2.a) Sample AUA template

B) Be aware of your digital footprint:

-(Unit 3.1.a) For everyone: "5 Ways to Make a Positive Digital Footprint"

-(Unit 3.1.a) For younger students: "Follow the Digital Trail"

2) To have a broader search experience when trying to locate a good topic view this YouTube video:

-(Unit 1.2.a) "Internet Censorship and the Filter Bubble"

Digital tasks and skills:

Perhaps store your eChecklist in Google docs for easy access

Locate topic ideas:
- "Using the Internet to Jumpstart Research" (video)
- Online resources such as NHD's lists of History Day topics.
- See video below.
Triangulate:
- Confirm your topic in three kinds of online tools: Web site, library database, nonfiction eBook or online reference
- See video below.
Narrow or broaden a topic, print or nonprint:
- Use the "W's" to add Web searching filters:
  - Who discovered cells?
  - What are the parts of a cell?
  - When and Where were cells discovered?
  - Why are cells important?
- See video below.
Write a thesis statement:
- Use Google doc/Google sheet to write your thesis statement for easy access from any device.
- See video below

Student handouts

A typical student research packet includes: a Checklist for guiding research, MLA citation forms to correctly cite sources, and note sheets that could be in the form of index cards, Cornell-style sheets, a graphic organizer, a specially designed note sheet for a content area, or even notebook paper with guidelines for setup for advanced researchers. Checklist choices are below, and other packet pages appear on other pages of this Web site.

- Checklist for elementary
- Checklist for middle school ELA
- Checklist for independent study
- eChecklist to download and use for electronic research

Powerpoints

- View PowerPoint about topics, grades 3-6, by Mrs. Stanley

View PowerPoint about topics, grades 7-12, by Mrs. Stanley

Videos

Use search skills to locate or confirm your topic

Skills for Online Searching

How to locate a topic

Triangulate: Use at least three kinds of sources to pre-search a topic

Narrow or broaden your topic

Write a thesis statement to explore the topic. (Begin at frame 0.10)