Standards:

W.8.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Overview: Freshman students will begin working on the skills to write a research paper using the Go! Ask, Act, Active model from INFOhio. This assignment will cover the first question in the Ask step, "What problem do I want to solve?" of the research process only.

Materials Needed: 

Projector and computer

Devices or computers

Access to INFOhio Databases

Instructional Plan:

Day One

1. The class will begin with a discussion of what students understand about the research process. Students may work individually or in groups of 2-3 but must turn in their individual work.

2. Groups will compile a list of things they find difficult about writing or creating research assignments, and we will discuss possible ways to tackle these difficulties.

3. The class will be given time to search through IWonder and/or DOGONews to help they decide on a topic. 

4. For homework, each student is to have a topic ready for class.

Day 2

1. Students share their topics with the class.

2. Students are to narrow their topics by completing and turning in online assignment from Think Tank or Narrowing your Topics in the first module (Ask) "What problem do I want to Solve?"

Differentiation/Modifications: Students with difficulty reading can choose to follow a guided lesson with the media specialist and classroom teacher, using IWonder and using the Narrowing your Topic handout.

Time Required: Two Days

Assessment:

The homework activity, the follow-up class activity, and the class discussion will be the assessment of this activity.