1. Don’t get stuck with a dud!
The I-search Proposal
Don’t get stuck with a dud!

2. Page 24 Fill in each box with what it is asking for
Page 24 Fill in each box with what it is asking for. FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES ON THE PAGE!!!
1-2 minutes
Topic
Just one or two words
Research question
From the middle circle of your web on page 21.
Subtopic questions
From the outer circles of your web on page 21.
Thesis statement
There is an example on the page. Notice how the parts of the thesis statement come from the subtopic questions listed above it? If you need more help on this, look at the next slide…

3. Page 24: Thesis example
Subtopic Questions: How much does it cost to breed a dog? Where would I find potential mates for Fifi? How do I make sure Fifi is healthy while she is pregnant? How do I find the best vet? How much time will I have to commit to breeding? What should I know about the whelping procedure? How do I sell the puppies?
Thesis Statement: In order to learn how to start breeding my dog Fifi, I will need to find out how much it will cost, where to find potential mates, how much time it will take me, how to find a vet who can keep Fifi healthy during pregnancy, how to help with the whelping, and how to sell the puppies.
Write the best thesis statement you can using the example as your model. It is a rough draft and will probably need to be revised.

4. STOP!
If I have already written down your topic, I will need to check page 24, but you can continue on with this PP until I get to you.
If I have NOT already written down your topic, you need to come find me and have me check your topic BEFORE you move on.

5. Brainstorm Keywords
Flip back to page 23. You probably have some extra room there to write.
When you start to research your topic, you should NOT just type your research question into Google. Instead, you need to search key words (not whole sentences).
Go to the next slide for an example before you start.

6. Brainstorm Keywords Example:
My research question: How do I buy a house?
My key words and phrases:
Mortgage rates MN
House price salary
Best neighborhoods Osseo
House down payment
Find realtor MN
Question realtor
Inspection house
Average home price MN
Homebuyers tax credit
Buy house paperwork
Afford house how much
Foreclosures MN
Pay realtor
Realtor certification
Negotiate price house
Make offer house
Buy home MN
Things to notice:
I did NOT use complete sentences.
I have a whole bunch of ideas for key phrases
I based them off my subtopics, not just my big RQ.
If I can’t find stuff for some of these, I can change “house” and “home”
As I search, I will find more key phrases to look for.
When you are ready, go to the next slide.

7. Now, you do it.
5 minutes
On page 23, make a list of key words and phrases you could search to find info about each of your subtopics.
You should have at least 20 different phrases.
When you are done, move to the next slide.

8. Now, let’s think about sources:
What types of sources are likely to have information about your subtopics?
You may use ONE website for your paper, but you will need print sources in addition to that (books, magazine articles, newspaper articles, fliers, pamphlets).
Look at my example on the next page.

9. Where might I find info about this subtopic?
Sources Example:
Research Question: How can I understand my grandpa’s experience in WWII?
Subtopic Q:
Where might I find info about this subtopic?
Where was he, specifically?
Interview with grandpa, history textbook, map from that time period.
What were conditions like in general? Food, clothes, housing
Might be books about this—look for memoirs. Interview too.
How did the war affect the soldiers psychologically?
Probably psych articles about this. Psychology Today magazine? Could be newspaper articles interviewing old vets. My interview too?
What battles did he take part in? What were they like?
Interview first to find out battles, then find books on those specific battles.

10. Now, you try.
5 minutes
On page 23 (or staple in another piece of paper if you ran out of room), make your own grid.
Fill in your subtopic questions, and brainstorm where you might be able to find information about them.
Remember, you only get ONE website. So try to think of OTHER places you could get info.
Go do this now. Move to the next slide when you’re done.

11. Okay, you’re finally ready to start finding sources.
There are several types of sources you can use:
Websites: you find these by searching on Google. Google itself is NOT a website.
Magazine or newspaper articles: these are articles you actually HOLD in your hands. Not stuff you find on the computer.
Database articles: these are magazine and newspaper articles that someone typed up and made available on the computer. The next slide has more info about these.
Books and pamphlets: these are print books you get from the library, or pamphlets you get from the CRC or the person you are interviewing. These are objects you can actually HOLD in your hands.
Next slide has more about Database articles.

12. Database Articles:
3-4 minutes
You can find database articles by using your key phrases to search on the databases provided by OSH.
Take a few minutes, and try it out.
Click on the link below and scroll DOWN to find a database (proquest, infotrac, SIRS and EBSCO are good ones to start with)
Type in some of your key phrases. See what you find.
Spend about 2-3 minutes, and then come back here for more instructions:
Database link
*Remember that you have to be “playing” the slide show for the link above to work!

13. 3-4 minutes to find one article
Database Articles:
3-4 minutes to find one article
Now that you’ve searched around a bit, you’re going to use the subtopic grid you made on page 23 and your keyword list to try to find some sources that give you information on each of your subtopics.
First, turn to page 26 in your handbook. This is where you will write the information about your sources once you find them.
Go ahead and look on the databases for a source you think might be good. When you find one, go to the next slide to see what to do with it.
Database link

14. Before you start anything, create a folder:
On the computer, open your home folder.
In the upper left corner, go to File >> New >> Folder.
Name the folder: I-Search.
Close that window, and move to the next slide.

15. Those doing a career search
Please see pages in your handbook for some more information.
If you have nothing to do with careers, keep going.

16. 3-4 minutes
Database Articles:
So you found an article you want to use? Here’s what to do:
Open a new Word document on your computer. Save it
in your I-Search folder with the name “Source A.”
Copy and paste the ENTIRE article into this Word document.
At the top of the document, type or copy and paste this information: (if there is a “cite” button, click on that for the needed information)
The database where you found this article (Proquest, Infotrac, etc.)
The keywords you searched to find it
The author’s name
The entire title of the article
Save the document.
Then, write that SAME information in the left hand column on page 26 in your handbook.
In the right hand column, write 2-3 SENTENCES about what info you think this article will give you. Which subtopics will it deal with? What do you expect to learn?
When you are done with that, go find another article you want to use. Look on multiple databases if you are having trouble.

17. 3-4 minutes to find each article, 2 minutes each to copy, paste, and write it down.
Database Articles:
When you find another article you want to use, follow the same steps, except title the document “Source B” or “Source C” etc.
You will need to have at least 3-5 secondary sources for your paper (NOT including your interviews). Only one may be a website.
When you have found a few database articles, go ahead and search for a website.
Follow the same process for the website.
If you think there might be books about your topic, talk to me to find them.
Once you are done with page 26, have me check it. Go ahead and move on until she is available.

18. If you want to find actual books
Go back to the Research Quick Links
Click on ISD Card Catalog Destiny
Find OSH Library on the right side of screen and click on it
A search bar will pop up. Type in key words to find possible books the library might have.
YOU MAY NOT CHECK OUT ANY BOOKS. We have to share them with other classes.
Books could be outdated and not all that helpful.

19. Turn to Page 25:
5 minutes
Now that you have thought about print sources, it’s time to think about your interview.
Who will you interview? Complete this page fully.
When you are filling out the credentials part, you need to fully explain how this person counts as an expert on your topic. There is a reason we gave you so much space on this page.
If you don’t have this info right now, you need to get it by Friday, Oct. 1.
***YOUR INTERVIEWS NEED TO BE COMPLETED BY MONDAY, OCT SCHEDULE THEM NOW!

20. And that’s all for now…
You’re done with the Topic Proposal. If you followed all the instructions here, you have just set yourself up to write a really awesome paper.
Thursday of this week, we will be having another Montana reading day in class.
Friday, we will be talking about the sources you found today.