Name ______
Date ______
The I-Search Project
An I-Search is not a Re-Search, in which the job is to search again what someone has already searched, but an original search in which a person scratches an itch he feels.
Ken Macrorie, Searching Writing (1987)
What avail is it to win prescribed amounts of information about geography and history, to win ability to read and write, if in the process the individual loses his own soul: loses his appreciation of things worth while, of the values to which these things are relative; if he loses desire to apply what he has learned and, above all, loses the ability to extract meaning from his experiences as they occur?
John Dewey, Experience and Education (1938-1963)
Characteristics of an I-Search Paper
Places ownership and personal responsibility for learning onto students.
Allows students to make sense of their research on their own terms for their particular purposes and to express their own opinions.
Uses the 1st person voice.
Requires students to interact and reflect on the information gathered.
Requires students to write about their own learning processes.
The First Step – Select a Word
Choose an abstract word. This is a word for which there is no physical referent, a word that is subjective rather than objective. The words listed below are examples of abstract terms. You’ll select your word via a lottery for choosing order.
Name ______
Date ______
Passion
Avarice
Corruption
Pride
Envy
Revenge
Knowledge
Authority
Brotherhood
Dignity
Happiness
Wisdom
Betrayal
Solitude
Ambition
Curiosity
Trust
Hatred
Freedom
Poverty
Beauty
Wonder
Desire
Imagination
Praise
Justice
Chaos
Power
Jealousy
Kindness
Energy
Wealth
Honesty
Peace
Bravery
Honor
Fear
Patience
Privacy
Tolerance
Guilt
Enthusiasm
Prejudice
Success
Loyalty
Approval
Courage
Humor
Friendship
Mercy
Responsibility
Evil
Name ______
Date ______
Pre-Research Freewrite
Write freely about your initial thoughts and reactions to your word. What do you think it means? What does it remind you of? What real-life situation have you experienced that it relates to? Write until you have filled the page!
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The I-Search Project
Research Procedure
Source Log
A log is required for all seven sources.
Includes four parts: source information, notes, interpretation, and metacognitive log.
Source information – fill in the categories that will be used in your bibliography.
Notes – Take handwritten notes on your source, and attach printouts/photocopies.
Interpretation – Consider the information found in the source. Interpret its meaning and significance to your search.
Metacognitive log – Metacognition is thinking about thinking – to be aware of the learning process. In this section, you will tell the story of your search by describing how you learned about your word and what connections were made.
Required Reference Materials
Unabridged dictionary
Thesaurus
Periodical from Mel.org
Granger’s Index to Poetry
A religious text
Quotations
Other sources
Material Specific Instructions – Date each step when you complete the source log.
- Unabridged dictionary – Look up your word in an unabridged dictionary. These are the large dictionaries on the stands in the library. Copy the word’s etymology and all definitions.
Date completed: ______
- Thesaurus – Look up your word in a thesaurus. Copy the first group of synonyms and all the boldface words. You may need these synonyms as substitutes for your word if you run into difficulty finding your original word in some sources. These synonyms also illustrate the various shades of meaning your word has.
Date completed: ______
- Periodical from Mel.org – Directions to access the articles from mel.org are taped on the desks by the library computers. Look up your word and find one magazine article which deals with your word. Read the article and write a summary of the article on your source log.
Date completed: ______
- Granger’s Index to Poetry – This is on a CD ROM in library, and can only be accessed by one computer. The librarians can assist with this task. Find one poem pertaining to or containing your word. Copy the poem and evaluate it.
Date completed: ______
- A religious text – You will search online for one verse that contains your word. You should copy it, as well as surrounding text. Should you use the Bible, use bible.com, or you can find other religious text links at religiousresources.org.
Date completed: ______
- Quotations – Look up your word in an online quotation source. Read all the quotes and choose three favorite quotations using your word. Some useful sites are: bartleby.com, wisdomquotes.com, and quotegarden.com.
Date completed: ______
- Other sources – Find one additional source that you find interesting. Some ideas are from the “everything” site beaucoup.com, greeting cards, song lyrics, advertisements, etc.
Date completed: ______
Source Log
Source Information
Author/Editor ______
Title of Article/Poem/Etc. ______
Title of Publication ______
Place of Publication ______
Publisher ______
Date of Copyright______
Notes
(Take notes on your source…Be sure to paraphrase…Attach printouts/photocopies…)
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Interpretation
(Reflect on the information…Interpret its meaning…Determine its significance…)
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Metacognitive Log
(What I learned…How I understood…What I think…Connection to other sources…)
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The I-Search Project
Writing Your Paper
Tips
You must discuss all seven sources from your source logs.
Do not label the sections of your paper. Your writing should flow smoothly from one source to another.
Use the information and notes on your source logs as you write.
You may use first person!
You may choose any order you wish to discuss your sources, but make sure to keep the final definition and evaluation at the end.
Use every opportunity you can to make connections between and among your sources.
Unabridged dictionary – Give the multiple definitions of your words and its etymology. Perhaps discuss which definition you pursued in your research. Were there any surprises?
Thesaurus – Discuss synonyms, shades of meaning among synonyms, back-up words and whether you needed to rely on a synonym to complete your research.
Poetry – Introduce the poem and poet. Interpret and discuss the poem. Explain the meaning of your word in the poem. Include the entire poem if it is one page or less in length. If it is longer, include an appropriate excerpt.
Religious text – Introduce the verse and identify where it came from, and tell why it was selected. Tell what is going on in the passage and explain the meaning of your word in this context.
Periodical – Identify the title, author, and the periodical in which it was published. Summarize the article and explain what is says about the meaning of your word. Include appropriate quotations if you wish.
Three Quotations – Use all of three of your quotes. Introduce the quote and identify who said it. Discuss what the quote says about the meaning of your word. You may discuss all three quotes in one sections of your paper or spread them throughout your paper to provide transitions between other sources. If you discuss all three at once, remember to cover each one completely before going on to the next.
Additional source – Present and discuss your additional source. As always, discuss what it brought to the meaning of your word.
Search Story – Tell the story of completing your project. Be sure to use the notes in your metacognitive logs. You might wish to discuss some of the reference materials you used, problems you encountered and how you solved them, successes you experienced, interesting things that happened, frustrations, personal insights, surprises, time management issues, etc.
**Final Definition – What is your final definition of your abstract term based on the material discussed in your paper?
**Evaluation– Write your response to this project and its process. Overall, what did you learn about your word, about conducting research, about reference materials, about organization and time management, about yourself as a learner, about your thinking and writing abilities, etc.?
**Write a Great Title – Do not title your paper with the name of the assignment or the word you’ve chosen. However, you can use your word in your title. Example: Jealousy: The Green-Eyed Monster.
Works Cited – Prepare your citations using an online source such as easybib.com. Alphabetize them according to the first word on the line. Begin the first line of a citation at the margin and indent and continuation lines. Single-space each citation and double space between citations.
**Do these three items AFTER you’ve written the rest of your paper.
Final Draft Requirements:
Double spaced
12 point Times New Roman font
Name/date/hour in upper-right hand corner The I-Search Project
An Example Paper
Directions: Choose one person in your group to be the recorder. Skim the attached example essay. Discuss the following questions with your group, and have the recorder write down your ideas.
- What makes “Knowledge for Dummies” a good title?
- What does the writer include in the introduction?
- Why is the introduction effective?
- How does the writer organize the paper?
- Where are direct quotes used? Why?
- How did the writer come up with their final definition?
- What is missing from this paper that you are REQUIRED to have in yours?
I-Search Paper Revising Checklist
Title
______Original title – not just your word.
Introduction
______Introduces word to be discussed.
______Sentences offer a general preview of your paper.
Body Paragraphs
______Has 11 paragraphs: intro/seven sources/search story/final definition/evaluation
______Each paragraph has a topic sentence.
______Includes appropriate quotes and summaries for research sources.
______Each source is discussed and interpreted.
______Uses third person to discuss sources.
______Uses first person to discuss interpretations and the story of your research.
Citations
______At least one in-text citation for every body paragraph.
______In-text citation after every direct quotation.
______In-text citations follow correct form:
When author is known – (Author page).
When author is unknown – (“Title” page).
______Period comes AFTER in-text citation.
______Works cited page at end & in alphabetical order.
I-Search Rubric
_____ / 6 Attached:
*Outline
*Rough Draft
*Rubric
_____ / 5 Writing Requirements:
*Great title (not just your word!)
*Body paragraphs use topic sentences
*Information is appropriately categorized
*Includes search story
*Final definition and evaluation at the end
_____ / 40 Content:
_____ / 4 Introduction – provide general introduction about your word
_____ / 4 Unabridged dictionary – Definitions, etymology, interpretation
_____ / 4 Thesaurus – Synonyms, shades of meaning, interpretation
_____ / 4 Poetry –Name poem/poet & include/explain excerpt, interpretation
_____ / 4 Religious text – Include quotation, discuss meaning of word in passage
_____ / 4 Periodical – Name title/author, summarize, discuss meaning of word
_____ / 4 Three Quotations – 3 quotes, discuss each and meaning of your word
_____ / 4 Additional source – Name source, interpret meaning of your word
_____ / 4 Final Definition – Give final definition of word based on all research
_____ / 4 Evaluation – Respond to this project and process, what did you learn?
_____ / 10 Works Cited:
*Includes in-text citations with correct format
*Includes works cited page with correct format
_____ / 4 Final Draft:
*Evidence of edits and revisions (5 errors = -2)
*Double spaced, left justified
*12 point Times New Roman font
*Name/date/hour in upper-right hand corner
Total
______/ 65 points