BHS Junior Inquiry Research Project

Welcome!

What concerns do you have at the beginning of the research process?

Please write them down on an index card

Now is the time to take your research skills to the next level. You are expected to:

Locate and use a wide variety of sources

Critically evaluate the information you find

Synthesize information to construct your own original piece of work

Present a balanced and well-informed argument leading to your own conclusions

Inquiry Model

ofResearch

Guiding Questions:

Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy?

Did you read or hear a news story recently that piqued your interest, made you angry or anxious?

Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about?

What makes you angry? What breaks your heart?

What topic might help you learn more about a career that interests you?

Choose a topic

General Topic: health

Facets of Topic: autism, cancer, depression, diabetes, eating disorders , health care

Aspects: business, history, legal, physical, psychological, social

Time Span: 1990s; current

Population or Place (Demographics): African Americans, Hispanics, men, women, teenagers, United States

Narrowed Research Question: Does the media’s portrayal of the ideal female body contribute to eating disorders in women?

Narrowing your topic

Make sure this is what you want! No regrets! Make sure your topic meets the project requirements, Help you develop questions and a draft thesis statement to

guide your research. Good sources for summary information :

Encyclopedias: library books, Grolier Online, or even Wikipedia (yes, this can be a good resource to begin learning about a topic, but it is NOT an authoritative source for research).

Online databases: Opposing Viewpoints, Issues & Controversies, and SIRS Issues Researcher.

Find & read background information

1. Choose topic2. Background research3. Draft your thesis statement4. Gather sources

Nonfiction Books

Reference books

Pamphlet file

Public library

Interviews

Legal resources

Statistical resources

Types of Resources Magazine / Periodical articles

Newspaper articles

Social issues databases

Online Databases

eBooks

Internet

Finding library books, eBooks, reference books, pamphlet files in the library

Library Catalog – Destiny◦ There is an APP for that!

How do you determine the quality of a source?

Credentials — Is the author qualified?

Accuracy — Is the information accurate?

Currency — Is the information recent enough?

Viewpoint / Bias — Is there an opinion expressed? (example: newspaper editorial) Does bias affect the information’s accuracy?

Audience — who is the information written for? A specific readership, level of expertise or age/grade level? Is the audience focus appropriate for a research paper?

Evaluating a source

1. Get Started ◦ Choose a topic◦ Find & read background information◦ Develop questions, draft a thesis statement

2. Find and Evaluate Information

3. Use Information – READ, THINK CRITICALLY, take notes and cite

4. Construct an original piece of work – your research paper!

Steps

The thesis is a clear, concise statement of the position you will defend in your paper.

Violent television shows are responsible for the development of personality disorders in millions of young children.

Your draft thesis statement will guide your research.

Be flexible! You may need to or want to refine or change it

* The BHS library website has tools and information to help you develop your thesis statement!

Develop questions, draft a thesis statement to guide your research

Brainstorm search terms

As you start searching for information, you need to choose keywords that represent your research topic.

Keywords are significant words (usually nouns or noun phrases) that can be used as search terms in online catalogs, databases and the Internet.

Example:

Your research topic is: “Effects of media on women’s body image."

The main elements of the chosen topic are “media" and “women“ and “body image”

Think of synonyms that may also describe those concepts:

Advertising Female Physical appearanceMovies Woman PerceptionTelevision Girls Negative/positive body imageMusic Mental attitudeFashion Industry

Slides for session 2

If your topic is too broad or vague you will find too much information and will need to narrow the focus.◦ For example: impacts of global warming◦ Better: polar bear adaption to global warming in

the arctic

If it is too specific/narrow or specialized or new, it will be difficult finding enough information. ◦ Environmental impacts of Hurricane Sandy

Specific Topic: How has fishing in the James River in Richmond, VA affected the smallmouth bass population?

Alternate focus: freshwater fish, saltwater fish

Alternate Place: Southeastern United States, United States, rivers, oceans

Brainstorm Focus on: Person or Group: fishermen, fish & wildlife government departments

Brainstorm Focus on: Event or Aspect: fishery management, fishery regulations, fishing licenses, fish stocking

Broadened Research Question How has government fishing regulations in the United States affected the freshwater fish population?

Broaden your topic