1. Project Work and the CPSC Library
Information Systems 101: Keywords & Essential Questions

2. Where do we get information from?
Field Work
People
Places
Text
Books
Magazines
Brochures
Newspapers
Media
Internet
Television
Radio
Movies

3. Preparing for Field Work
When you go on a field trip, what do you do to prepare?
What do you need to bring?
What research do you do?
Landmark teapot marking the entrance of Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC

4. Moving from KWL to KWKEQ…
Know
Want to Know
Keywords
Essential Questions
Take 10 minutes to fill in your K and W sections on Old Salem

5. Keywords can come from K & W
Now, looking at your K and W sections, circle words that could be helpful in a book or online search. Re-write these words in your KEYWORDS column.
You can add words to the list if you think of more.
Discuss your list with your table, try to come up with at least 10 keywords.

6. Keep your Keywords Handy!
Keywords are helpful in internet searches, finding experts, searching book catalogs and developing interview questions!

7. What are Essential Questions?
Essential questions are questions that cover your many questions with one question. They are open ended and broad.
Essential Questions help to guide you through an entire project

8. Question Types Closed-Ended Questions Open-Ended Questions
Have specific answers.
Yes/No Questions are closed- ended.
Survey questions are often closed-ended.
Ask for facts or details.
Do not have one answer.
Encourage storytelling.
Encourage thought.
Controversial or debatable to spark conversation.
A jumping point for more essential questions.
Lead to theories and conclusions.
Can have many sub-questions within it (Things I Want to Know).
Why? How? Should? and What If?

9. How? EQ How was Old Salem started? How did Moravians live?
How did the Moravians come to NC?

10. What If? EQ What if’s are questions that pose hypothetical situations.
What if you were Morovian?

11. Should EQ
Should questions make a moral decision based on evidence collected through research, observation and personal experience.
Should Old Salem be protected as a historical site by the state of NC?
Should students be allowed to visit graveyards when they visit Old Salem?

12. Why EQ Why did the Moravians have slaves?
Why did the Moravians come to Old Salem?
Why are you visiting Old Salem?

13. Think Fat vs. Skinny
Skinny Questions
Fat Questions
Provide you with one- word or short, factual answers.
Lead you to research, field work.
Provide you with a wide-range of information that you draw conclusions from.

14. Write your own Essential Question!
Take the next week or so to write at least one essential question for your trip to Old Salem.
Write a “Fat” or Why, How, Should, What If
Question.
Make sure that you have this question in your mind as you head out on your trip to Winston-Salem!