Rookie Researcher

Prepare

Do you have a topic? Here is a Simple Web Worksheet to help you decide on a research topic.

Brainstorm

Start brainstorming ideas. Here are some questions to ask to help you get started:

• Have I shared ideas with others?
• Have I grouped and sorted my ideas?
• What is my focus?

Question

You need to create questions about your topic to help guide your research. Here are some tools that you can use to come up with research questions:

• KWL Chart
• Five Ws Chart

Try asking yourself these questions before you begin your research:

• What do I think I know about my topic?
• What questions do I have about my topic?
• Where can I look to find out?
• What are my key questions?

Evaluate

Here are some worksheets that you can use to help you evaluate your research:

• Fishbone Organizer
• Venn Diagram
• Mind Map
• Sequence Chart
• Pros and Cons Chart
• Spiderweb
• Cluster

You can take research notes in a variety of ways, including:

• Point form notes
• Pictures
• Graphic organizers

Here are some questions to ask to help you evaluate the sources:

• Did I record the information that answers my research question?
• Have I taken notes in my own words that make sense to me?

Question

While processing your research, you'll want to make sure that no information is missing to help you complete the project. If you haven't answered all of your research questions, you can do more research through the GECDSB Virtual Library.

Make connections

Visit Little Explorers Picture Dictionary to help with your research.

Here are some questions you can ask to help you make connections:

• Can I share my information in my own words?
• Do I understand what I found?
• Can I relate what I found to what I know or thought I knew?

First draft

Here are some resources you can use to help create the first draft of your research project:

• Create Outline Worksheet
• Storyboard Worksheet
• Organizing a Report from a Web or Outline
• Organizing a Report Without a Graphic Web Outline
• Writing a Conclusion Worksheet

Here are some questions you can ask to help you create your first draft:

• What format will I use to share my work with others?
• Who is my audience?

Revising and editing

After you've finished the first draft, you'll want to edit your work before you submit the final copy to your teacher. Here are some questions you can ask to help guide you through the editing process:

• Do I know the success criteria for my project?
• Have I shared my draft with a peer and had them check to see if I followed the instructions?
• Have I checked my project to see that I have met the success criteria for the assignment?

Presenting and reflecting

Complete the Student Reflection Sheet to find out if there are ways that you can improve your research skills in the future. Here are some questions to ask while reflecting on your research:

• Have I done what my teacher asked?
• What do I know now?
• What did I do well?
• What can I do better?