1. AP Seminar Mini Lesson Monday
14 January 2019

2. AGENDA Research Question Tips Source Selection Tips
MLA Format: Citations
Annotated Bibliography: Checklist for Completion

3. RESEARCH QUESTION: TIPS FOR SUCCESS
As you refine your research question, consider:
Does the question require judgement or evaluation, as opposed to simply summarized information or description?
Will the question lead to relevant and credible resources?
Does the question involve current points of ongoing debate from a wide variety of perspectives?
Is the question broad enough to be considered from multiple viewpoints, but not so broad as to lead to research which is too GENERAL?
Does the question lead to multiple answers, rather than a simple “yes” or “no”?
Is the question focused on ONE rather than multiple issues?
Is the question worded in a clear and specific way that leads to quantifiable data?

4. SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
With a partner, evaluate the questions listed on the right.
Be prepared to share constructive feedback that will lead to a better research question based on the criteria.
To what extent is suicide glorified to teens in the media?
What are the withstanding effects on the Chinese economy after the One-child Policy was abolished in October 2015?

5. SOURCE SELECTION: Tips for Success
As you select your sources, keep your working research question in mind. Revisit this question with your group as you are working on your individual research. To what extent does your question need revision based on the sources you are finding?
Use RAVEN, PACE, and CRAP techniques to vet your sources.
When selecting your sources for your Individual Research Report, consider:
Is this source from a reputable, reliable publication--scholarly, not journalistic? How do I know?
What do I know about the bias of the author and/or the publication where I found this source? What will that bias add to my understanding of the information in this source?
To what extent will the information in this source lead to a potential answer to my group’s research question?
Do the sources I find represent MORE THAN ONE potential perspective about my group’s topic?

6. MLA FORMAT FOR CITATIONS:
WHEN CREATING YOUR ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OR WORKS CITED:
List source information in the required order (See MLA List of Core Elements)
If author is missing, list Title of Source First!
Punctuate correctly! See model.
MUST list organization responsible for publishing the source. If this is missing, how do you know it is reliable?
Check indentations and spacing--see model!
PRACTICE: How would you cite this source?

7. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: Checklist
Points will be awarded on basis of completing the following tasks. I cannot give you individual feedback on the QUALITY of your work. We will do a PEER REVIEW activity on Friday so you can determine whether you are ready to submit or if you need to revise by next class meeting.
Annotated Bibliography includes a minimum of 8 quality sources that are relevant to the research question determined by the group.
All sources are from credible, scholarly materials.
Annotations clearly and completely describe the content and scope of each selected source.
Annotations clearly evaluate the usefulness and reliability of each selected source in relation to your group’s research question.
Each source is identified by a proper MLA formatted citation.
The document is formatted in correct MLA format in terms of spacing, margins, and labeling.
The document is virtually free from mechanical, grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors, and all requirements of the assignment were met.