AdVENTURE Research Papers

1. February-March 2011 AdVENTURE Research Papers

2. I wonder…

3. WHO is the greatest scientist of all time? • WHAT is the science behind those cool skateboarding tricks? • HOW has technology influenced music? • WHO was MC Escher?

4. What do YOU Wonder? • Your job is to choose a topic that interests you, research that topic, and share your research with the class.

5. Project Overview Research Reports

6. Goals • I can… • Write a 500-700 word, five paragraph research report • Read grade level appropriate non-fiction books and articles • Use grade level grammar and conventions • Use technology to research a topic and present my work • Deliver an effective and engaging oral presentation about my topic

7. Assessment • Your research papers will be graded using a rubric that focuses on 6+1 Traits on Writing, STEM content, and 21st Century Skills • Ideas & Organization • Sentence Fluency & Word Choice • Conventions & Presentation • Content • Productivity & Accountability

8. Our Work Plan Research Reports

10. Week of February 7 Goal: Select a topic

11. An Introduction to Research Reports • http://www.videojug.com/interview/middle-school-research-paper-tips It’s important to start with a specific topic that is interesting to YOU!

12. Writing your topic statement. I DO • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkULrcEBXvw

13. Writing your topic sentence. WE DO • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0JYHRxJmBs&feature=channel • Using the information in this video as research how could we answer this question? • What are you writing about? • I am writing about ___________________.

14. Writing your topic sentenceYOU DO • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-acX-Zt3LfEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-acX-Zt3LfE • What are you writing about? • I am writing about ___________?

15. Your Task Today, Monday, 2/7/11 MUST DO • Keep all notes in your yellow legal pad. • Start a list of possible topics that you might want to use for your research report. • Have three-five by the end of class. • Circle the one that you like the best. • For the topic you circled, start writing a list of questions that have. Try to get ten questions. • Please finish writing questions for homework tonight.

16. Tuesday, February Starting with a good topic

17. Selecting a topic: I DO • The best writing begins with a good topic. Make your topic as specific as possible. • The questions you generated yesterday will help you narrow your topic.

18. Selecting a topic: WE DO, YOU DO MUST DO • Create your own pyramid to develop a specific topic. • Write your notes in your yellow legal pad. • Be ready to share your idea at the end of class.

19. Selecting a topic – what if I’m stuck? • May I suggest… • STEM – great achievements by great men and women • I will share in class and post on the wiki a ppt that lists a number of influential STEM individuals. • This ppt also provides a list of selected resources that you can use. • This is the perfect option if you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many choices.

20. Wednesday, February 9 Researching your topic

21. Conducting your research • You will need 5 references. • 3 may be websites; 2 may be books, magazines, articles. • You can use the netbooks, your home computers, the public library and the Herman library.

22. Questions to ask about your source • . Who is the AUTHOR of this book or web site?    * What are the author's credentials? Do you know anything about the author's       education, training or experience?    * In the case of web sites, do you know whether they are commercial, educational,      governmental, etc.? (.com, .edu, .gov) •  2. Is the CONTENT of the book or site accurate and reliable?    * Is there support for statistics and facts?     * Could you verify the information in other sources?    * How current is the information? If it is a web site, when was it last updated? • 3. Do you know the PURPOSE of the information? Is it intended to inform, teach, sell,    persuade, entertain?    * Does the presentation of the information seem fair?    * Can you distinguish between facts and opinion? http://www.sayreschool.org/page.cfm?p=131

23. Taking Notes – in generalhttp://www.videojug.com/interview/how-to-use-the-internet-to-find-sources-for-your-high-school-research-paper

24. Taking notes using index cards • Your Name • Author’s Last Name • A list of summarized key points that you may want to use. • Anything not in your own words, must be in quotation marks

25. Let’s practice… • WE DO • First, we’ll practice looking at books and websites together. • Your MUST DO • Use the books in the room and the netbooks (perhaps the Herman library, we’ll see) to start gathering your own research.

26. Thursday, February 10 Creating a bibliography

27. How to write a bibliography • http://www.ehow.com/how_5835591_write-bibliography-middle-school.html

28. Writing your bibliography • List all of your citations in alphabetical order in the bibliography. When alphabetizing, remember that "the" and "a" don't count. Indent (five spaces) any information that does not fit on the first line of the citation. Mix different kinds of sources (books, articles, websites) as long as they are alphabetized. • Keep track our your sources in your yellow notepad. http://www.ehow.com/how_5835591_write-bibliography-middle-school.html

29. Sources from a book • Put the elements of bibliographic information in this order when citing a book: • Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. Title. (The title is underlined or italicized.) Place of Publication: Name of Publisher, Year of Publication. • Pay particular attention to the punctuation between the elements of the citation. Find most of this information on the title page of the book, and the date of publication on the reverse side of the title page. If more than one place is listed, use the first one. If more than one date is listed, use the most recent one. http://www.ehow.com/how_5835591_write-bibliography-middle-school.html

30. Sources from a magazine • Create a magazine citation with this format: • Last Name of the Author, First Name of the Author. "Title of Article." Name of Magazine (The name of the magazine is underlined or italicized.) Date of Magazine: Pages. • Notice that there is no punctuation between the name of the magazine and the date. http://www.ehow.com/how_5835591_write-bibliography-middle-school.html

31. Sources from a website • Cite a website like this: • Author (if available). Name of Site. Name of Institution, Organization or Publisher, Date site was created (if available). "Web" (or other medium of publication). Date the site was viewed. http://www.ehow.com/how_5835591_write-bibliography-middle-school.html

32. Friday, February 11 Main idea and supporting details

33. Main Idea and Supporting Details – Rule of 3 • Today we begin using the research you’ve been collecting! • A good topic sentence clearly states the main idea of the paragraph and is supported by interesting details. • You should have 3 support statements for each paragraph.

34. Main Idea and Supporting Details - Rule of 3 • I Do • I’ll show you a paragraph with a good topic sentence. • I’ll also point out the details that support it. • We’ll record them all in a graphic organizer.

35. Main Idea and Supporting Details - Rule of 3 • We do • Now let’s try it using one of your topics.

36. You try it! MUST DO: • Complete the graphic organizer. • Have a specific topic sentence. • In the circles write at least three supporting details. • Turn in your folders with the graphic organizers at the end of class.

37. Due this week! • Your first paragraph, complete with topic sentence and three supporting details. • Next week, we’ll look at organization. • Keep those questions that you generated earlier this week – they will guide the rest of your paper.