I-Search Basics

What is an I-Search?• Inquiry based approach

• An individualized approach to researchAn individualized approach to research

• Works with any grade level

• Students take an active role in process.

• Encourages student writing and reflection.Encourages student writing and reflection.

• Stresses metacognitive thinkingStresses metacognitive thinking

• Choose their own topics.– Common themes:

• Careers• Hobbies / interests

• Students may already be familiar with topics.

Components• Summary of what students

already knows.• Statement of why student

chose the topic.• Questions about the topic

student wishes to address.• Record of research activities

(story of the hunt)• Reflections about what was

discovered or learned.

Four Tasks of an I-Search

Selecting a topic – Selecting a topic – exploring interests

Finding information – Finding information – generating questionsgenerating questions

Using information – Using information – analyzing notesanalyzing notes

Developing a final product – Developing a final product – sharing and reflecting on experience.sharing and reflecting on experience.

Selecting a topic

Part I – What I already know.Part I – What I already know.Here is where you write one or two paragraphs, discussing Here is where you write one or two paragraphs, discussing what knowledge, experience, or background you already what knowledge, experience, or background you already have about your topic, BEFORE having done any research have about your topic, BEFORE having done any research on it.on it.

Part II – What I want to find out.Part II – What I want to find out.Here is where you put down one or two paragraphs worth Here is where you put down one or two paragraphs worth of questions about your topic, questions you want badly, of questions about your topic, questions you want badly, even desperately, to have answered. These questions will even desperately, to have answered. These questions will lead you to those sources that will answer your questions. lead you to those sources that will answer your questions.

Finding Information

Action PlanAction PlanHere is where you develop a plan of attack for your Here is where you develop a plan of attack for your research. What resources, materials will you need to find? research. What resources, materials will you need to find? What steps do you need to take to complete your research? What steps do you need to take to complete your research? What are the possible problems you might encounter? What are the possible problems you might encounter?

Research / Response LogResearch / Response LogHere is where you make notations and keep track of what Here is where you make notations and keep track of what research you have done and what the outcome are. You research you have done and what the outcome are. You should also make notes on what steps you have taken and should also make notes on what steps you have taken and whether that step has been effective in completing your whether that step has been effective in completing your action plan. action plan.

Using Information

• Here you will focus on three or four major Here you will focus on three or four major findings or conclusions and support them with findings or conclusions and support them with examples, stories, or arguments that will help examples, stories, or arguments that will help the reader understand how you arrived at those the reader understand how you arrived at those conclusions. conclusions.

• You will try to connect your findings with your You will try to connect your findings with your original questions. They might also suggest original questions. They might also suggest further questions to explore in the future. further questions to explore in the future.

• You should include any analyses you did You should include any analyses you did ....cause and effect,....cause and effect, pro/con, compare and pro/con, compare and contrast, or sequencing. contrast, or sequencing.

Developing a final product• What This Means To Me

– Describe how you have developed as a researcher.

– "What do you now know about searching for information that you didn't know before?"

– Describe those findings that meant the most to you.

– Discuss how your newly found knowledge will affect the way you act or think in the future.

– Discuss the skills you have developed as a researcher and writer. 

• What I Already Knew…

– Discuss information you knew before you began your I-Search.

– How has this information changed?

– What do you know now that you didn’t know before?

Developing a final product• What I Wanted to Know

– State the purpose for your research– What question(s) were you trying to answer.– Open-ended question

• How I Searched (The Story of the Hunt)– What steps did I take in my research– Which resources worked well.– Which ones will I avoid in the future

• What I learned– Includes results of interviews and library searches– Information can be presented as best determined

by the student.

• Documentation– Standard Bibiliography (MLA format)