10 th grade i-search research project your next big writing assignment!

1010thth Grade I-Search Grade I-Search Research ProjectResearch Project

Your next BIG writing Your next BIG writing Assignment!Assignment!

THE I-SEARCH PAPER

Description: The I-Search paper is designed to teach the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic and about the nature of searching and discovery.

As opposed to the standard research paper where the writer usually assumes a detached and objective stance, the I-Search paper allows you to take an active role in your search, to experience some of the hunt for facts and truths first-hand, and to provide a step-by-step record of the discovery process.

THE I-SEARCH PAPER Topic: The cardinal rule in the I-Search paper is

to choose a topic that genuinely interests you and that you need to know more about.

You may want to research teenage alcoholism, a second career in interior design, the effects of divorce on the American family, etc.

The important point is that you choose the topic you will investigate, rather than having the instructor select a topic or even provide a number of options.

What You Must Submit on What You Must Submit on 11/23/09!11/23/09! Final Draft with Works Cited attached (I Final Draft with Works Cited attached (I

will show you an appropriate copy)will show you an appropriate copy) Final Draft of OutlineFinal Draft of Outline 10 Questions from Say What Chart…10 Questions from Say What Chart… IF YOU WANT ME TO READ A ROUGH IF YOU WANT ME TO READ A ROUGH

DRAFT, YOU MUST STAY AFTER DRAFT, YOU MUST STAY AFTER SCHOOL (SOME DAY BEFORE SCHOOL (SOME DAY BEFORE 11/19/09) IN ORDER FOR ME TO READ 11/19/09) IN ORDER FOR ME TO READ OVER THIS!OVER THIS!

What You Must Submit on What You Must Submit on 11/23/09!11/23/09! DO NOT GIVE ME ANY EXCUSES AS TO WHY YOU DO NOT GIVE ME ANY EXCUSES AS TO WHY YOU

DON’T HAVE YOUR PAPER ON THIS DAY. DON’T HAVE YOUR PAPER ON THIS DAY. IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR PAPER, THEN YOU IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR PAPER, THEN YOU

DON’T HAVE YOUR PAPER & YOU LOSE POINTS!DON’T HAVE YOUR PAPER & YOU LOSE POINTS! IF YOU TURN THIS PROJECT IN ON TUESDAY, IF YOU TURN THIS PROJECT IN ON TUESDAY,

11/24/09, THEN I WILL TAKE OF ONE LETTER 11/24/09, THEN I WILL TAKE OF ONE LETTER GRADE. So, the highest grade you will receive is a BGRADE. So, the highest grade you will receive is a B

IF YOU CHOOSE TO TURN IN THIS PROJECT ON IF YOU CHOOSE TO TURN IN THIS PROJECT ON MONDAY, 11/30/09, THEN THE HIGHEST GRADE MONDAY, 11/30/09, THEN THE HIGHEST GRADE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE IS A 60=D.YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE IS A 60=D.

I WILL NOT TAKE SUBMISSION BY EMAIL!I WILL NOT TAKE SUBMISSION BY EMAIL!

Finding a TopicFinding a TopicHere are some questions that may

help you in choosing a topic: Is there something that you would like to do in your free

time (i.e. sailboat racing, gourmet cooking, playing racquetball, some unusual hobby) that you want to know more about?

Are you saving up to buy anything (camera, home computer, bicycle, motorcycle, car) that you need to know more about?

Are you beginning to think about what you want to do when you graduate (go to college, get a particular kind of job, travel) and need more information to make a decision?

Do you think you might like to move to another city or country some day? If so, how much do you know about wherever that is?

Finding a TopicFinding a Topic Do you have any concerns about health (i.e. pros and

cons of certain diets and/or exercises, dangers from smoking, drinking, and/or drugs, the individual risk when a disease runs in the family) that you would like to explore?

What do you fear the most? Would you like to know why you fear it?

The most important thing to remember is to allow a topic to choose you, something you want to know or possess, intensely. Maybe it's a CD player, one that's right for your needs and budget. Maybe it's something else. Maybe it's a place in the U.S. or a foreign country where you would like to work or visit this summer. These are only suggestions, to give you the idea that, for a change, you are being asked to investigate something you are interested in, rather than something the teacher feels would be good for you to pursue.

THE I-SEARCH PAPER Format: The I-Search paper should be

written in three sections: 1. What I Know: Assume or Imagine:

this part is written before you start your research, going from what you know (and don't know) about your topic right now. Don't be afraid of being "wrong"-- that will make your discoveries more interesting.

Searching6. Talk to several experts. What if what they say differs

from what you have read? What if your experts disagree?

Decide if your expert is a reputable one.7. Use both first-hand sources (people who talk to you

who are doing what you want to do, or your own observations) and second-hand sources (people whose knowledge and observations you have to use because they've been there and you haven't).

Remember that an expert is someone who knows a lot about something. He/she need not hold an official position or be a certain age; your neighbor may be the best authority on skiing in your area.

8. Remember to use parenthetical citations whenever you use words or ideas from your sources. See the model paper for examples.

I-Search Paper Format I-Search Paper Format GuideGuide

Text: Double Space, 12 point, Times Text: Double Space, 12 point, Times Roman, 1" Margins All AroundRoman, 1" Margins All Around

Running Head: Name of Teacher Running Head: Name of Teacher NameName ClassClass DateDate Title (Topic)—This must be Title (Topic)—This must be

centeredcentered

Phase 1-APhase 1-A

Why I Chose My Topic Why I Chose My Topic (2-3 (2-3 paragraphs)paragraphs)

Here is where you write two or three Here is where you write two or three paragraphs identifying your topic of paragraphs identifying your topic of interest, tell what you want to learn, interest, tell what you want to learn, and why you chose this topic.and why you chose this topic.

This is due on Friday, October 30This is due on Friday, October 30thth..

Phase 1-BPhase 1-B Brainstorm: Brainstorm: Complete your Complete your KWL Chart KWL Chart to to

draw upon prior knowledge. The KWL Chart draw upon prior knowledge. The KWL Chart will be collected but should not be included will be collected but should not be included in the completed I-Search paper.in the completed I-Search paper.

K = What I already K = What I already KNOW KNOW about the topicabout the topic W = What I W = What I WANT WANT to know (3-4 questions)to know (3-4 questions) L = What I want to L = What I want to LEARN LEARN about the topic.about the topic.

THE I-SEARCH PAPER 2. The Search: in this section you will talk about

what you did to learn more about your topic. You will need to do at least two of the

following research activities, and “a” and “d” are especially encouraged. In fact, if you do not interview someone, you will need to establish why that is impossible.

You must also use at least three other sources. Be resourceful! Each time you use information from a source, even if you are paraphrasing, use a parenthetical citation.

Phase 1-B ContinuedPhase 1-B Continued Part 1-B What I Already Know About Part 1-B What I Already Know About

My Topic My Topic (1-3 paragraphs)(1-3 paragraphs) (Refer to the KWL Chart)(Refer to the KWL Chart) Here is where you write one to three Here is where you write one to three

paragraphs, discussing what knowledge, paragraphs, discussing what knowledge, experience, or background you already experience, or background you already have about your topic, BEFORE having have about your topic, BEFORE having done any research on it (the K in the done any research on it (the K in the KWL chart).KWL chart).

How to come up w/ How to come up w/ Interesting QuestionsInteresting Questions WHAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION (IQ)?WHAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION (IQ)? AN INTERESTING QUESTION (IQ) IS A AN INTERESTING QUESTION (IQ) IS A

QUESTION THAT HELPS YOU WRITE A GOOD QUESTION THAT HELPS YOU WRITE A GOOD RESEARCH PAPER. AN IQ:RESEARCH PAPER. AN IQ:

1) ASKS YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS 1) ASKS YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS INTERESTING TO YOUINTERESTING TO YOU

2) ASKS YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT 2) ASKS YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TOPIC WOULD BE RICH AND TOPIC WOULD BE RICH AND

IMPORTANT FOR YOUR IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RESEARCH RESEARCH PAPER.PAPER.

How to come up w/ How to come up w/ Interesting QuestionsInteresting Questions

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INTERESTING QUESTIONS (IQ's)? INTERESTING QUESTIONS (IQ's)?

DEFINITION OF AN INTERESTING QUESTION DEFINITION OF AN INTERESTING QUESTION (IQ) :(IQ) : AN IQ AN IQ IS A QUESTION THAT IS A QUESTION THAT REQUIRES REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE PARAGRAPHAT LEAST ONE PARAGRAPH TO TO ANSWER. ANSWER.

--THAT MEANS THAT AN IQ CANNOT BE --THAT MEANS THAT AN IQ CANNOT BE ANSWERED BY A "YES" OR "NO" ANSWERED BY A "YES" OR "NO"

ANSWER.ANSWER. --THAT MEANS THAT AN IQ MUST CANNOT --THAT MEANS THAT AN IQ MUST CANNOT

BE ANSWERED WITH ONE OR TWO BE ANSWERED WITH ONE OR TWO SENTENCES.SENTENCES.


FOR EXAMPLE, THESE FOR EXAMPLE, THESE ARE NOTARE NOT IQ's: IQ's:

1) HOW MANY NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS 1) HOW MANY NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS DID THE CHICAGO BULLS WIN WITH DID THE CHICAGO BULLS WIN WITH

MICHAEL JORDAN?MICHAEL JORDAN?

2) DO YOU HAVE TO BE "JUMPED" TO 2) DO YOU HAVE TO BE "JUMPED" TO JOIN A GANG?JOIN A GANG?

3) HOW MANY KINDS OF MARIJUANA 3) HOW MANY KINDS OF MARIJUANA ARE THERE?ARE THERE?


AN INTERESTING QUESTION IS A AN INTERESTING QUESTION IS A QUESTION THAT REQUIRES AT LEAST QUESTION THAT REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE PARAGRAPH TO ANSWER.ONE PARAGRAPH TO ANSWER. A A PARAGRAPH IS DEFINED AS:PARAGRAPH IS DEFINED AS:

1) 1 OPENING SENTENCE (THE TOPIC 1) 1 OPENING SENTENCE (THE TOPIC SENTENCE)SENTENCE)

2) 3 SUPPORTING SENTENCES 2) 3 SUPPORTING SENTENCES

3) 1 CONCLUDING SENTENCE 3) 1 CONCLUDING SENTENCE

2, 4, 6, 8…Come ON Brain, Elaborate!2, 4, 6, 8…Come ON Brain, Elaborate!

Say Say

What?What?

is/areis/are

was/werewas/were

do/doesdo/does

did did

cancan

could could

will/will/wouldwould

What What WhatWhat

is/are/was/wereis/are/was/were

2 2

WhatWhat

do/does/diddo/does/did

2 2

What can/couldWhat can/could

4 4

What will/wouldWhat will/would

4 4

WhenWhen

Where Where

When or WhereWhen or Where


2 2



2 2


can/couldcan/could

4 4


will/wouldwill/would

4 4

Who Who WhoWho


4 4

WhoWho


4 4

Who can/couldWho can/could

4 4

Who will/wouldWho will/would

4 4

Why Why WhyWhy


8 8

Why do/does/didWhy do/does/did

8 8

Why can/couldWhy can/could

8 8

Why will/wouldWhy will/would

8 8

How How HowHow


8 8

How do/does/didHow do/does/did

88

How can/couldHow can/could

8 8

How will/wouldHow will/would

8 8

Searching Once you've decided what you want to know more about,

and you've written (at least in rough draft) what you know, assume or imagine about it, you are ready to go after your topic. (Be sure to review “The Search,” above, for the required source materials and research activities).

1. Find other people who are interested in this topic. Ask them where to find the most useful books, magazines, newspapers, films, tapes, or whatever, on this topic, and who in your community knows the most about it. Check for information on the Internet.

2. Look at or listen to this information and these ideas.

3. Visit the local library or the school library to find books on your topic.

Searching4. Then think about interviewing persons who know a lot about

the topic. What would be the best way to approach them? Then would they be most likely to have time and inclination to

talk to you? Do you need an introduction of some sort from someone else? If you are largely ignorant about the topic you are asking them about, they may resent your taking up their time, and you won't get much out of talking to them. So, know something about it before you talk to them; that way, you can ask intelligent questions about things that maybe this person knows and you can't find anywhere else.

Don't waste your time and theirs.5. If you are worried that your expert may not want to give you

much time, begin by asking him/her where you might best look for information and advice about your topic. Then if he/she can't talk at length with you, you at least have other sources to turn to.

Preliminary Source Preliminary Source OutlineOutline

For your I-Search Paper, you will prepare your preliminary source outline prior to beginning your research, and it will list the question you are seeking an answer for and the main sources which you hope will provide you with the answers you seek.

Sample Source Outline for the I-Search Paper

(Basic Format)Question: I. What I Know, Assume or Imagine II. Source 1 III. Source 2 IV. Source 3 V. Source 4 VI. What I Learned


(Basic Format)Question: Should I have laser surgery to

correct my vision?

I. What I Know, Assume or Imagine

II. Interviews with doctors

III. Medical Journal articles

IV. Pamphlets

V. Advertisements

VI. What I Learned


Question: Should I have laser surgery to correct my vision?

I. What I Know, Assume or ImagineII. Interviews wit doctors

A. Dr. JonesB. Dr. Smith

III. Internet SourcesIV. Interviews with patients who have undergone the treatment

A. Susan JonesB. John SmithC. Phyllis Lee

V. MagazinesVI. Articles from “general-audience” magazinesVIII. What I Learned

THE I-SEARCH PAPER You Must Have 4 Sources in order to

get full credit for this research Project. 1. Interview one or two people about your topic.

2. Magazine, Journal, or Newspaper Article.

3. Website (not Wikipedia)

4. Your Choice: Can be another of one listed, a book, a movie, a pamphlet, etc

Phase 2-APhase 2-A Search LogSearch Log: : Begin a log of your search, including Begin a log of your search, including

dates, notes and sources (minimum of 10 entries). dates, notes and sources (minimum of 10 entries). This search log can help you: describe the This search log can help you: describe the sequences of steps you took to complete your sequences of steps you took to complete your research, summarize information you learned from research, summarize information you learned from each source, indicate what was or was not useful, each source, indicate what was or was not useful, and create your “Work Cited” page. The search log, and create your “Work Cited” page. The search log, your rough notes, along with any questions you your rough notes, along with any questions you were trying to answer (there is no need to recopy were trying to answer (there is no need to recopy them) should be included in your portfolio).them) should be included in your portfolio).

Date Notes and/or Sources_____Date Notes and/or Sources_____ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

I-Search Paper FormatI-Search Paper Format WHAT I KNEW / MY RESEARCH QUESTION (1 WHAT I KNEW / MY RESEARCH QUESTION (1

paragraph)paragraph) What did you know about this topic What did you know about this topic before you did any research? End the paragraph before you did any research? End the paragraph with a research question. with a research question.

MY SEARCH PROCESS (1-2 paragraphs)MY SEARCH PROCESS (1-2 paragraphs) Use Use the entries from your search journal to compose the entries from your search journal to compose this section. List each source, describe very briefly this section. List each source, describe very briefly what you found in it, and evaluate the usefulness what you found in it, and evaluate the usefulness of the information. At the end of this section write a of the information. At the end of this section write a thesis statement: My main goal is to see why most thesis statement: My main goal is to see why most women choose to stay in Islam and what is really women choose to stay in Islam and what is really behind the Islamic stereotypes. behind the Islamic stereotypes.

I-Search Paper FormatI-Search Paper Format WHAT I LEARNED / THE SEARCH WHAT I LEARNED / THE SEARCH

RESULTS ( 4-6 paragraphs) RESULTS ( 4-6 paragraphs) Write Write paragraphs with detail that support your paragraphs with detail that support your thesis. My paragraphs/sources were on (1 thesis. My paragraphs/sources were on (1 Paragraph) (2 Paragraph) (3 Paragraph) (4 Paragraph) (2 Paragraph) (3 Paragraph) (4 Paragraph)Paragraph) What you find through your research will What you find through your research will determine the subtopics of your paragraphs.determine the subtopics of your paragraphs.

Don’t forget to include parenthetical citation.Don’t forget to include parenthetical citation. I will show you how to do this!I will show you how to do this!

I-Search Paper FormatI-Search Paper Format MY GROWTH AS A RESEARCHER MY GROWTH AS A RESEARCHER

(1 paragraph)(1 paragraph) What impact has this What impact has this research had on you? research had on you?

WORKS CITEDWORKS CITEDUse a website like Easybib.com to Use a website like Easybib.com to create an MLA formatted Works Cited create an MLA formatted Works Cited page.page.

10 th grade i-search research project your next big writing assignment!

Documents

isearch paperdescription

search papertopic

search research projectyour

standard research paper

chosen topic

highest grade

letter grade

rough draft