Conducting a Research Project
Common Core Standards
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is the subject-and what does it say about that?
Which specific details are most important to cite?
What is the setting (time, place, atmosphere)?
Who is involved? What do they say, do, think, and feel?
Which parts of the text are ambiguous or vague?
SOPHISTICATED
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.2
Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis; provide an objective summary of the text.
Analyze a complex set of ideas or sequence of events and explain how specific individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop over the course of the text.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What key ideas play an important role througout the text?
How does the author treat or develop these ideas throughout the text?
What events or details contribute most at different junctures throughout the text?
What details are so integral to the text they must be included in the summary?
STEP 1
Choose one of the topics from the list to research. The topic you choose should be of high interest to you. You are going to be researching that topic at length.
STEP 2
Find 3-5 contemporary articles from reputable sources. Choosing resources for your paper can be challenging. Make sure your sources are reputable and respected articles or websites.
Step 3
Conduct a survey of 50 of your peers.
Write a yes/no question about your topic. Survey your peers to find out how relevant your topic is or how many of your peers have experience with the problem you have chosen.
Step 4
Tally up the results and find a percentage that relates to the number of your peers who have expressed that your topic is relevant to their lives or who have admitted having first hand experience with your topic.
This PERCENTAGE will be included in the introduction of your paper.
Step 5
Summarize, paraphrase and jot down quotes from the articles. After you have chosen your sources, use the handout below to jot down facts, quotes and other information that is pertinent to your topic.
Step 6
Create an outline for your paper. List five questions you are going to address using your research. These questions will be subheadings of your paper.
Step 7
Write your introductory paragraph which includes your "should" question, your survey results and a summary of your major points. This paragraph should be interesting and should also provide your reader with a plan for the rest of your paper.
Step 8
Address the counterarguments. After you have presented your introductory paragraph, you have to address those people who will disagree with your premise. Address the counterarguments in one paragraph.
Step 9
Find five sources that convey the magnitude of your issue or topic. Discuss how these convey their message. Include pictures in your project.
Examination of the use of pathos in Homestretch.
Evaluating Pathos Handout
Step 10
Conduct an interview of someone who has had experience with your topic. Write down ten questions for your interviewee. Write down your interviewee's answers. Transcribe the interview and include it in your project.
