“Newsmakers”An event or person

that has had an impact on our nation

or our world.

You should already be…•Divided into groups of 3•Each person in group should already have a topic in mind.

Is This A Good Topic For A Research Project?

• Will I be able to find enough information to tell the story of my person or event?

• Are there reliable and accurate sources for my information?

• What type of questions will help me tell the whole story of the impact and importance of my topic?

Good Topic?• The Snow Storms of 2011, or

Hurricane Katrina?• Taylor Swift or

Nelson Mandela

What’s The Secret to Picking a Good Topic?

• The secret to picking a good topic for your research paper is to make sure you pick something you're interested in.

(This is something you are going to have to be spending a lot of time on, looking up news articles, books, and magazines; so make sure the topic is something that you have an interest in.)

Books, Online Databases & Encyclopedias, Free Websites

Questions to ask yourself when looking for information:• Is the free web the right tool?• What type of source is likely to contain the information I

need?• Where am I likely to find the information I need?• What key words or phrases are likely to appear on the page I

am looking for?

Check out our library for many of your information needs.