West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards ELA.9.26:
Conduct short, as well as more sustained, research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
Purpose: It is a vital part of the human experience to ask hard questions, acknowledge difficult problems, and develop quality solutions. For this reason, you will come up with a problem-based research idea that questions an aspect of the world around you.
Timeline: The following due dates are tentative and subject to change depending on curriculum, school activities, and weather. More information will be provided for all components as the school year progresses.
Proposal due October 4: The student will submit a proposal describing his or her problem-based research idea and outlining his or her research plan for the year. Once the student’s proposal is approved by a parent/guardian and the teacher, the student may begin researching.
Annotated Bibliography due October 25: The student will gather information from at least ten credible sources that help further his or her understanding of the research question. The student will submit his or her findings through an annotated bibliography complete with MLA citations, the credibility of the source, and a summary of the information found. The student will conference with the teacher about his or her research to discuss findings and develop ideas for other avenues of exploration.
Research Outline due December 6: After conducting additional research following the teacher conference, the student will submit a detailed outline of his or her research notes in preparation for writing his or her literature review. A finalized MLA citations page will also be included with the outline.
Literature Review due January 13: The student will submit an essay that summarizes his or her findings based on the research of the current literature available concerning their problem-based research ideas. This formal essay will serve as the first half of the student’s final research thesis.
Primary Research due February 21: The student will conduct his or her own primary research in which he or she will gather raw data to analyze and compare to his or her literature review. For the primary research component, the student may choose to complete a survey of at least 100 participants, an interview with a subject expert, an observation in an environment that pertains to the problem-based research question, or participate in a volunteer activity that involves their field of study. After completing his or her chosen research activity, the student will be asked to submit a summary and analysis of his or her findings.
First Draft of Research Thesis due March 20: The student will use his or her first semester literature review along with the primary research analysis to develop a quality solution for the problem he or she has chosen to study. The student will create a research thesis in which he or she proposes the best solution for said problem and support his or her claims with evidence from the research completed. The student will receive teacher and peer feedback after this submission and prior to turning in his or her final research thesis.
Final Draft of Research Thesis due TO BE DETERMINED: The student will use the feedback given on his or her first draft of the research thesis to make improvements in order to submit a polished, well-thought-out, complete final draft of his or her research thesis for final grading and publication.
Presentations Begin due TO BE DETERMINED: The student will present his or her research thesis to the class in an engaging ten-minute presentation. The student may present his or her work though a PowerPoint, Prezi, or video medium. After the initial presentation, the student will conduct a brief question and answer session with a group of peers, which will then conclude his or her year-long research process.