ges library mrs. follmer: librarian. the research paper leads you into the works of others and asks...
TRANSCRIPT
GES LibraryMrs. Follmer: Librarian
The research paper leads you into the works of others and asks you to compare their thoughts with your own.
Writing a research paper involves going to sources and synthesizing what you learn from them with your own ideas.
You must take particular care to narrow your topic so you don't get lost in a mountain of information.
Your topic can not be so broad it complicates the organization of your notes.
Broad topics create papers that are too general, and difficult to write.
It can not be so narrow there are no sources of information available or maybe just not enough information available to synthesize into two typed pages..
Books
Reference Books
Power Library
Databases
Educational Videos
Websites
?
Teachers realize you're going to use this website at some point.
Use the site during your initial stages of research, when you read many sources to familiarize yourself with your topic.
After that, go elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with returning to Wikipedia to confirm a fact that you find elsewhere, or for background info, but never cite Wikipedia as a source in your Works Consulted.
If it is too broad or vague you will find too much information and will need to narrow the focus.
If it is too specific or specialized or new, it will be difficult finding enough information to write your paper. In that case, you will need to broaden your idea
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Narrowing Broadening
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Immigration
Into the U.S. now
Narrowing Broadening
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Immigration in the past and Ellis Island
Immigration
Into the U.S. now
Immigration to other countries in the world
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Narrowing Broadening
Narrowed topic Topics Broadened Topic
Our Solar System
Narrowed topic Topics Broadened Topic
Pluto Our Solar System
Our galaxy, the Milky Way
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Hurricane Katrina
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hurricane Katrina
Natural Disasters
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Helen Keller ASL
American
Sign
Language
Blind Communication-
Braille, Voice Activated Technology, ASL
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
ASL
American
Sign
Language
• First, write four or more sentences about your topic.
• Next, underline all of the specific words in your topic and free write section.
• At the bottom, add to your list any other words that mean the same thing (synonyms) or are related terms.
• Think of more words or phrases that describe the topic. Add those to the list at the bottom.
They are called "key words" because they can "unlock" the doors that will lead you to useful information.
They will become your SEARCH WORDS to use during research.
You will use them when searching through books (using the index) and on the computer (using search screens in online reference sources or databases or searching the web.
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
Free Write
List of Key Words
Narrowed Topic Topic Broadened Topic
The World Trade Center
9/11/2001 Terrorism plots
Matt Mr. Gamauf
There were airplanes with hijackers. The airplanes were used like bombs. The Twin Towers, and the Pentagon were hit with airplanes. The White House was a target too. The people on Flight 93 stopped the hijackers from crashing into the White House. I want to know how the people on the airplane managed to do that.
Hijackers Flight 93 Suicide bombers terrorists Homeland Security Air Marshalls Osama Bin Laden Al Qaeda NY: Fire Department