Gathering Information

1. Gathering Information Lesson 13

2. Students’ learning objectives • Collect information about your readers’ interests and inquiries • Develop a plan for research • Evaluate sources of information

3. Students’ language objectives • Pose questions about a range of topics • Suggest sources of information about a range of topics • Target Word (put this in your glossary): • research, n. a diligent and systematic inquiry into a subject in order to discover information about a topic

4. Independent Writing Time-10 minutes • Begin writing about the topic for your essay. Possible ideas are as follows: • write about what you know about the topic or about your plans for research. • write a reflection, exploring the reasons that you are interested in this topic. • begin outlining your subtopics, exploring the most logical and reasonable order • Begin detailing a specific part of your paper, writing a sort of “zero draft” of information that may be included in the final product • http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/

5. Getting started-5 minutes • Write the name of your topic on at the top of a piece of paper. You should not write your own name on this paper, only the topic in big letters. • Write the word “Questions” underneath the topic name, and write one question that you have about your topic. At the end of the question, write your initials. Name of Topic Questions • Why do people wait for hours to get into Sammy’s cafe? (KK)

6. Turn your paper over • On the other side of your paper, write Sources of Information and create two columns—Source and Reason. • In the Source column, you should write one source of information that might help you learn more about the topic. • In the Reason column, you should write a note that explains why this might be a good source of information, and sign this entry with your initials. Sources of Information SOURCE REASON • Mrs. Brown (KK) • Goes to Sammy’s every Sunday after church (KK)

7. Work Period-20 minutes (2 minutes per student x 10 passes) • Pass your paper to another student based on the chart. • When you have received a paper with a topic written at the top, you should write down one question that you have about the topic. Write your initials at the end, so that the writer can be sure to provide the answer at a later date. • Then, turn the paper over and consider possible resources. Possibilities might include: • People • Books • Magazine articles • Pamphlets • Websites • Be specific! It is not helpful to tell someone to “go to the library” or “check the Internet.” Specific publications, names, search terms, or websites are more helpful

8. Closing • Retrieve your paper. • Highlight the questions that you can already answer. • Circle the questions that seem important but that you cannot currently answer. These will be questions to guide your research.

9. Closing • Find the “Planning the Research” page and list the questions you have circled in the left column.

10. Closing • Review possible sources of information, and highlight those that are most promising. You should make notes about any of the sources of information that could provide answers to the questions you have circled. These sources should be listed in the middle.

11. Closing • Using the Project Calendar • Add the dates, beginning with the current date • Write “Complete all Research” on the date that corresponds with Lesson 19

12. Use this to identify at least three resources that you plan to use in your research. • The preferred format for citation will be MLA style. Refer to the handout for directions. • Fill in the calendar dates to show when you will consult these resources. • In Lesson 16, we will address ways to evaluate electronic sources, including websites and blogs.