CHANGE THE WORLD
10th Grade Research Project
Introduction: For your research project you will be required to build a research folder withresearch questions, copies of articles, notes from books,reference cards, and an annotated bibliography. The annotated bibliography and PowerPoint presentation will be the final products. An annotated bibliography is a listing of literary works that contains a brief summary, a reader’s explanatory notes and critical comments for each entry. Its purpose is to keep track of reading materials and sources so you can “affirm what you know, challenge your thinking and extend your learning” (Atwell, Nancy. In the Middle. 1987).
- Write a question that frames the context of your research.
Your question cannot ask the definition of the topic:
What is global warming? What are hate crimes? What is anger management?These are examples of questions you CANNOT ask.
Instead ask: How will global warming affect our planet in 20 years?
What legislation addresses hate crimes? What are the effects of anger management classes?
- Generate sub-questions that extend your research question.
If my research question is: Should the death penalty be legal? I need to look at
both sides. So I would ask: What are the advantages of the death penalty? What are the
disadvantages? I would also need to consider questions/answers that would shape my opinion. For example, does capital punishment hurt the person? Is capital punishment murder?
- Begin your research.
You should read books, articles, essays, editorials and commentaries that provide information about both sides of your topic.
*You CANNOT use Wikipedia OR general google searches.
*You MUST use at least one book that is NOT a dictionary.
*You CAN use online data (online newspapers or periodicals) To assure the credibility of the information, select web sites and media sources that include as many of the following as possible:
- The author’s name, title and/ or position
- The sites organizational affiliation, if any
- The date the page was created or updated
- Contact information, such as an e-mail address
*To further ensure credibility use the library databases that we will discuss.
- Create reference cards for each source you use.
You should have a Reference Card for each source you use, including the information below.
Online source
- Highlight important information in each article you print (or book notes you take) and summarize main points on the back of each.
When you are looking for information in a book, check the index to see if your topic or sub-topics are listed. If you are using articles, skim the contents to see what topics are covered. Your goal is to summarize the main points in your own words and to record quotations that you might use in your research project.
The back of each source should include the following information:
- Summary of the information read in source
- 2 quotes from the source
- Page number (for books only)
- Information about the author
- Create your Annotated Bibliography
Your annotated bibliography will serve as a reading record of the selections you have found the most beneficial for your research question.
*Remember, your annotated bibliography MUST have 3 different sources
(5 sources for Pre-AP). One of these sources must be a book, and your
online sources must follow guidelines stated earlier.
*Each entry on the annotated bibliography will include:
– summary of author and credentials
– summary of the article with at least 1 quote
– an analysis of the article. This can include:
*Your opinion of the information in the article
*How you would use this information in your
research paper if you were writing one
*How this information answers your research
question/sub-questions
- Create your PowerPoint Presentation.
Your PowerPoint presentation will include the following:
- Title slide with thesis statement
- Minimum 3 informational slides containing what you learned – also tell us what you could not find
- Source slide listing sources used in presentation – tell us which provided you with the best information
- Engaging, relevant visuals
- Be prepared to answer limited questions from the audience
- Due Dates:
- Research Topic: Monday, December 1, 2008
- Research Question and Subquestions: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 (daily)
- Reference Cards and Printed Articles: minimum of 1 per day each day we are in the library (daily)
- Annotated Bibliography and Research Folder: Monday, December 15th (major)
- PowerPoint: Wednesday, December 17th (major)
HELPFUL WEBSITES
1. Eazybib.com – will help you write your bibliography
2. Library Databases – use for sources
3. Owl @ PurdueUniversity:
- Annotated Bibliography -
- MLA Formatting -
- Writing a Works Cited/Bibliography -
NOTECARD CHECKLIST
The purpose of this checklist is to help you “check” your sources. When you write a research paper, you want your argument to be solid, and believable. In order to achieve this, your sources must be both solid and believable. Use the below checklist to make sure you are on the right track.
Answer questions to make sure your source fits the criteriaWhat about this source makes it believable?
Does the web site URL end in gov., edu., or org.? NOT personal.
What is the author’s education, background and training? (expert, uninformed observer, experienced enthusiast)
Does the language in the text contain emotional, inflammatory, profane or confusing language? Errors in spelling and grammar indicate carelessness and suggest other informational errors as well.
Is the information provided up-to-date, factual, detailed, exact and comprehensible?
Is the information fair, objective, moderate and consistent?
Can the information be corroborated? (backed up; confirmed)
Do the graphics included on the web site convey information, add interest, provide interactivity, or simply distract?
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY CHECKLIST
Before you complete the final draft of your annotated bibliography, make sure that your entries addresses AT LEAST one of the below questions. In many cases your annotated bibliography should show more than 1 of the below questions. Go through this checklist for each entry!
Answer the questionsExplain main point/ purpose of the work.
Critique (evaluate) the authority or qualifications of the author.
Comment on the effectiveness (usefulness) of the work in terms of the topic being researched.
What was the point of view from which the work was written? (was the author biased or trying to reach a particular audience)
Establish connections to other aspects of the same argument or opposing views (sub-questions).
MLA Citation Style
Below are sample works entries for different types of sources you may use on your annotated bibliography. To get specific information on what type of information is included in each type of entry, go to the bottom of the page found at and click on the type of entry you are using. You will be graded on having the correct information on your annotated bibliography.
Book
(First or single author's name is written last name, first name; if more than one author subsequent author names are written first name, last name. Title of book. ).
Okuda, Michael, and Denise Okuda. Star Trek Chronology: The History
of the Future. New York: Pocket, 1993.
Newspaper or Magazine Article
Di Rado, Alicia. "Trekking through College: Classes Explore Modern
Society Using the World of Star Trek." Los Angeles Times 15 Mar.
1995: A3.
Book Article or Chapter
James, Nancy E. "Two Sides of Paradise: The Eden Myth According to
Kirk and Spock." Spectrum of the Fantastic. Ed. Donald Palumbo.
Westport: Greenwood, 1988. 219-223.
Encyclopedia Article (well known reference books)
Sturgeon, Theodore. "Science Fiction." The Encyclopedia Americana.
International ed. 1995.
Website
Lynch, Tim. "DSN Trials and Tribble-ations Review." Psi Phi: Bradley's
Science Fiction Club. 1996. BradleyUniversity. 8 Oct. 1997 <
Newspaper or Magazine Article on the Internet
Andreadis, Athena. "The Enterprise Finds Twin Earths Everywhere It
Goes, But Future Colonizers of Distant Planets Won't Be So Lucky."
Astronomy Jan. 1999: 64-. Academic Universe. Lexis-Nexis. B.
Davis Schwartz Memorial Lib., Brookville, NY. 7 Feb. 1999 <
web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
Notice that the first line in each entry is NOT indented. All subsequent lines ARE indented! Also, the entries are listed in alphabetical order.