Day 10

  To find out how important facts have changed over time.  To understand an issue or situation in today’s world.  To gather information and present a comprehensive synthesis of the latest knowledge. Why do Research?

  Choose a topic that interests you!  Choose a topic that is narrow enough that you will be able to cover it sufficiently in your paper.  Choose a topic that your readers will perceive as significant. Choosing a Topic

 NO: Social Networking YES: What are the effects of Facebook on job applications? NO: Immigration YES: How will the immigration crisis affect America's public schools? NO: Education YES: How does educating children in 3 rd world countries can help the entire community? NO: Girls education YES: How does providing education for girls help the global economy? Too Broad

 NO: Different kinds of fast food. YES: The relationship between fast food and obesity NO: How many new TV shows were introduced this year. YES: How many new TV shows are rated MA as opposed to TV shows 5 years ago. Something that Matters

  Talk with others  Browse the internet  Pay attention to news and current events  Browse text books in your area of interest  Browse the library or a good book store Ways to Find a Research Topic

  Obviously you are going to be writing about why education is important, but that could take many different directions.  Take a few minutes and consider the paper that you will have to write.  Take 10 minutes and brain storm some ideas. Your Take Home Essay

  Compare what ideas you came up with. In Groups

  Hopefully you have a bunch of random reasons written down on a piece of paper.  Now try to group these ideas into related clusters.  If there are any that you think just will not work, feel free to just cross them out and ignore them. Sift through the Ideas

 Your topic should be… broad enough to be researched established enough that there are enough sources to research significant enough that you can demonstrate your critical thinking skills (the why should I care part)

 Thesis Statement The controlling idea for your entire paper. Topic+opinion=thesis tells your reader what the main body of your essay will be and sets guidelines for the paragraphs in the body of your essay. Keep in mind your thesis might change as you work!

  Look at the different groups of ideas that you have.  For each group (hopefully you have at least 2) decide what the subject is for that group of reasons.  Try to come up with a working thesis statement for each group. Thesis

  Compare what you have come up with with several other people.  Give each other some feedback/help! In Groups

  Instead of the paraphrase assignment that you have on the syllabus, I want you to write down at least 2 thesis statements that you might use for you’re THE and turn them in to me.  I will tell you what I think and get them back to you on Monday so you will have something to research when we see the Librarian on Monday. Instead of the Paraphrase

  Take a few minutes and think about some topics that interest you.  You are going to have to spend a lot of time with this topic, so you should pick something that you find interesting.  Consider things that affect your life directly, topics that you have heard in the new, something you heard about in this class or another.  Try to think of at least 2-3 topics that you could possibly use for a research paper. Think About It