Your Assignment: 4/19/11

1. Finish the partner projects and select a date/time to present.

2. Finish the web quest from yesterday: http://bartlettyancey.nc.cch.schoolinsites.com/?PageName=TeacherPage&Page=3&StaffID=95660&iSection=Teachers&CorrespondingID=95660

3. Work on the senior project planning sheet today (all planning materials due Friday).

Planning the Senior Paper1. Select a topic you are interested in.2. Turn it to a main research question.– Your research paper will be the answer to this

question. Remember, not to broad or narrow!3. Develop 4 or 5 subordinate research

questions – Each paragraph in your paper will answer one of

these questions.4. Begin researching online– Evaluate your sources so that they are credible.– Write down the sources that you use.

Let’s Practice• Step 1: Select a topic you are interested in.• Sample topics:– The US Economy– Integrating technology into classrooms– Paranormal investigations– Cell phones in society– Cyber-bullying– Treatment of celebrities vs. “normal” people– Music education in schools

More Practice• Step 2: Turn it into a research question.• Sample Questions:– How does the current state of the economy affect

the number of students able to go to college in America?

– How do paranormal investigators inspect metaphysical activity?

– How has the rapid growth of cell phone usage impacted American society?

– How and why has cyber-bullying become a major problem in our nation’s schools?

Additional Practice• Step 3: Create sub-questions for your main

research question. Sample sub-questions:Sample Main Question: How do paranormal investigators inspect metaphysical activity?–Sub-question 1: What kinds of activities are considered “paranormal”?–Sub-question 2: What digital/analogue equipment is used to detect activity?–Sub-question 3: According to the experts, what kind of evidence determines whether or not paranormal activity has taken place?–Sub-question 5: Why have TV shows about paranormal investigations become so popular today?

How should I keep up with my preliminary research?

• During this planning stage, keep a running list of notes.– List the websites that you have found a wealth of

information on.– List the brief answers you have found for your sub-

questions.– List further questions you have about the topic.– List areas where you need help.

• Once your topic has been approved, you will begin evaluating sources and keeping notes on notecards as you complete your research.