Research
Smarter Balanced Assessment Claim: Research
Students can produce effective and well-grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.
Students can produce effective and well-grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.
With technology at our fingertips, finding information is not a problem; it is discerning quality information that becomes a challenge for our students. Both students and teachers tend to cringe at the mention of the word "research," because we become accustomed to long, drawn-out research projects and papers. However, research doesn't have to be so time consuming. Students also need to understand the connection between research and supporting an argument with detail. If I ask my students to discuss the sociological concept of nature vs. nurture in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I would expect that their first step would be to research that concept and then apply it to the text. This quick, mini-research project becomes the basis and background for a well-argued paper. Keeping research projects short and relevant to other tasks teaches student the value of research. Once they can see that connection, they can then apply research to longer, more formal research papers and projects.
Also...make friends with your media specialist. He/she can save you a lot of time helping you find resources and databases that would benefit both you and your students.
Also...make friends with your media specialist. He/she can save you a lot of time helping you find resources and databases that would benefit both you and your students.
Resources
Evaluating Internet Resources
Searching the Web
- Evaluating Internet Sources: Tips and Tricks for Evaluating Web Sites from the University of Illinois: This is a great resouce to help students evaluate the quality of an Internet source.
- Finding Reputable Sources: A Guide by WriteCheck
- How Can My Students Know If an Internet Source Is Reliable?: Techease
- Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask: UC Berkley
Searching the Web
- Google Advanced Search
- Searching the World Wide Web: Purdue OWL
- Sqworl: Visually bookmark multiple URLs for presentation or reference.
- Creative Commons: a nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools
- Easybib: School accounts include the APA tools
- Citation Style Chart: PDF side-by-side comparison of MLA, APA, and CMS
Example Assignments
- Nature vs. Nurture Concept Research and Annotated Bibliography Assignment (APA Format)
- Research & Inquiry Form: This is an assignment I use for miniature research assignments in class.
Instructional Resources
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