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The resources listed here are student activities (including graphical organizers), tip sheets, lesson plans and links related to the steps of the research process. One of the resources included is a link to dribbling* exercises gathered for the Metronet Information Literacy Initiative (MILI). Exercises for each step of the process have been selected a wide variety of Internet sites.
*What's dribbling got to do with research? Dribbling exercises build skills to prepare students to navigate the research process. Just as basketball players need to practice basic dribbling skills in order to become proficient in their game, students need to practice basic research skills. Use these exercises to develop the skills necessary for your students to be champion researchers!
Step 1: Question
Resources
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Instructional Planning Guide (for the library media specialist)
Record information for the project, including goals, roles for participants and resources. -
Student Research Planning Guide
Handout that students might use to record their progress -
Narrowing a Topic Using a General to Specific Triangle (graphical organizer)
Exercise to guide students in narrowing a topic -
The Research Process: Questions and answers (graphical organizer)
This page is one of a two part series that might be used by students to record their progress. Part one outlines identifying a topic, creating a question, selecting a thesis and organizing information to support the thesis. Part two is the Outline Organizer linked from step three. -
What's My Angle? Generating Topics and Research Questions (graphical organizer)
This worksheet may be used to identify a unique angle on a topic. -
Generate a Research Question Based on Personal Interests (graphical organizer)
If students generate topics based on personal interests, this graphical organizer could be used to brainstorm ideas. -
KWL and Q Chart
This exercise may be used to help students record what they know and what they want to learn about a topic. After preliminary research, they record what they learned and generate specific research questions. This may be useful when students have very little background in the topic they will pursue. -
What Is Research? (Poster)
This document provides definition and clarification on what research is. It may be reproduced as a poster for handout. -
Planning for Plagiarism-Proof Assignments
Tips that will help teachers create research assignments that minimize the likelihood of plagiarism -
Plagiarism Proofing Assignments
Guidelines and examples of four levels of questions related to a topic
Download PDF [1 page]
Download MS Word [1 page]Links
- Ohio Guidelines for Effective School Library Media Programs
- Metronet's selected Web links for Step 1: Question
Step 2: Gather
Resources
- MINITEX ELM Database Tutorials: MINITEX reference librarians have identified tutorials created by vendors of ELM databases. Use the tutorials to learn about the many special features offered by each database.
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Research Aloud Lesson Plan
Lesson description for conducting a "research aloud" session based on the "read aloud" concept where the teacher makes thinking and processes explicit -
Interview Tip Sheet
Useful tips for students planning an interviews -
Boolean Basics
An basic introduction to Boolean concepts that underlie database searching -
Improve Your Google Search Tip Sheet
This tip sheet provides a basic introduction to how Google works. -
10 Questions for Evaluating Web Sites (Student activity)
Select a few sample Web sites and ask students to evaluate the content using these 10 questions. Exercise includes an introduction with pointers for each question. -
Viewing to Learn: Summarizing Video (Student activity)
Exercise to practice summarizing a video and creating a citation. A second lesson focuses on intent and bias in video communication. -
Reading to Learn: Summarizing a Magazine Article (Student activity)
Summarize a magazine article and create a citation. -
Listening to Learn: Summarizing Audio (Student activity)
Exercise to practice summarizing an audio clip (podcast) and creating a citation. -
Taking Notes (Graphical organizer)
Consider using this graphical organizer for note taking instead of note cards. -
APA Publication Manual
: Social studies
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Chicago Manual of Style
: Journalism
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MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papaers
: English
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A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
by Kate Turabian: Historians, History Day projects
Links
- Metronet's selected Web links for Step 2: Gather
Step 3: Conclude
Resources
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Sample Idea Sketch
This is an example of a freehand idea sketch. -
Outline Organizer (Graphical organizer)
Consider using this outline tool to help students create a general outline. This is part-two of the The Research Process: Questions and answers (graphical organizer) mentioned in Step 1.
Links
- Metronet's selected Web links for Step 3: Conclude
Step 4: Communicate
Resources
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Copyright and Fair Use Tip Sheet
General guidelines for copyright and fair use -
Permission to Use Copyrighted Resource Tip Sheet
Guidelines for requesting permission to use copyright materials. Includes a sample permission letter. -
Educational Multimedia Guidelines Tip Sheet
Guidelines for the use, without permission, of portions copyrighted works
Essay
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Useful Transitional Words Tip Sheet
This list of transitions may be useful for young writers. -
Keyhole Essay Tip Sheet
Introduces the keyhole essay concept and a few tips for constructing an essay -
10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer (Poster)
Simple advice on becoming a better writer
Video
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Video Storyboard (six panels)
Sketch visual ideas for a video production using this organizer. -
Video Storyboard (16 panels)
Sketch visual ideas for a video production using this organizer. -
Video Production: Step-by-Step Guide
Use this outline to assign roles and plan for various parts of the video production process. -
Video Script and Shot List (for recording scenes from a video tape)
Complete a script, with shooting details and instructions.
Oral presentation with electronic slides
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Storyboard
Plan you electronic slide show using this template. Sketch graphics and write speaker notes. -
Public Speaking Tip Sheet
Become a better public speaker with these tips.
Links
- Oregon School Library Information System's Copyright Issues
- Metronet's selected Web links for Step 4: Communicate
Step 5: Evaluation
Resources
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Grading Rubric for the Research Process
Links
- Metronet's selected Web links for Step 5: Evaluate
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