There are endless different ways you can go about a research project. Your teacher may have a certain way he or she would like for you to conduct research. If your method of research is open to you, check out the BadgerLink Super 3 Research Guide below. It is an easy to follow, step-by-step process.
Before you start your project, you need to think about what you have been asked to do. Here are some things to think about.
What do I need to do to complete the task?
Do I need...
Where do I need to look for information?
Do I need...
Do I know what a good job looks like?
Google Doc Checklist for Step 1 Plan
Now that you have thought about what your project will be like, you need to do your research and write your project. In this section you will read, listen, look, touch, taste, or smell to gather information. Then you will take notes, organize your thoughts, and write or draw your project.
Research
During your research, you will be asked to gather facts on a topic. Depending on the assignment, you could gather facts from many different sources. Look at the list that you created from Step 1 Plan and start finding information!
When you are doing research...
You should notice what the page looks like. Sometimes there are options or links listed at the top or on the side of a page. These links may take you to a dictionary, table of contents, glossary, or may be a menu. These options will help you find information!
Some words might be different colors and some words might be different sizes. Usually when words are different colors or sizes, it means that you should pay attention to them.
Vocabulary
During your research you might find words you don't know. You can read the word in the sentence and try to figure out what it means or look up the word in a dictionary.
Taking Notes
The key to good note taking is writing down the main topic and most important key details.
To help you take notes, you may want to use a data chart (click on the link to open a Google Doc that has an example of a data chart)
Make sure your notes are accurate and complete!
Putting Information Together
Not all reports are written. You assignment may be to put together a booklet, draw a picture, create a PowerPoint, or create a chart.
Defining Relationships
No matter what kind of project you are doing, you should think about the information you have gathered and how you are going to organize and present it. When you are putting your information together from your notes, you should describe relationships that you find.
These relationships may include:
Connection between 2 individuals
Series of historical events
Scientific ideas or concepts
Steps in a procedure
Sequence or cause and effect
When you are thinking about the relationships of your ideas, you may also want to think about
How the pictures in an article helped make a point
Reasons an author gives to support points in a text
Similarities or differences in articles that you have read
Writing
Types of Writing
There are different kinds of essays or reports you can write.
Opinion - giving your opinion on a topic with supporting evidence
Informative/explainatory- explaining a concept including facts, definitions, and details
Narrative- describing an experience with a sequence of events and possibly dialogue
Good Paragraphs
If your assignment does require writing, make sure that you have written a good paragraph which consists of a main idea, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.
If you have questions about what makes a good paragraph, ask your teacher.
Proofread
Proofreading means you have read what you have written and made sure that it doesn't have any errors. You MUSTproofread your writing and then make changes based on what you have read. This process is called revising or editing.
Here are some tips to help you proofread your assignment:
Print out your paper to proofread it.
Try reading the paper aloud.
Ask an adult or a classmate to read your paper.
Google Doc Checklist for Step 2 Do
Your teacher may ask you to post your assignment on a Blog, submit it using Google Docs, hand in your assignment in some other format. Be sure to follow the instructions!
Think about what you have learned during the creation of your project.
Once you've turned in your project, you're done! Good job!
BadgerLink Super 3 Research Guide for Grades K - 5 can be found on the BadgerLink Website under Educators & Instructional Tools at http://badgerlink.net/educators/instructional-tools. There is also a BadgerLink Research Guide geared towards grades 5 - 12.
See the Ready Reference page for more information on resources offered by BadgerLink!