Choosing a Topic for Research
A WebQuest for 8th Grade

Designed by Mrs. Nazareth <nazarets@saline.k12.mi.us>

Introduction | Task | Browsing for Topics| Gathering Information| Deciding Your Topic


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Introduction

YIKES! Your teacher wants you to write a research paper! Where do you start? How do you choose what to write about? Where can you find the answers? Relax. This webquest will answer all these questions.

 

Task

You are going to spend your time browsing books and websites to CHOOSE possible topics for a research paper, COLLECT bits of information on as well as DECIDE if there are enough resources (like books, magazines and websites) to support your research.


DAY ONE BROWSING FOR TOPICS

ON THE COMPUTER?

USING BOOKS ONLY?

STEP ONE: Get out a sheet of paper and label it NOTES. Put your name at the top.

STEP TWO: Browse topics using the links below. COLLECT 2 IDEAS on your NOTES sheet. You'll have about 15 minutes.
Browse Our Library Catalog | Browse MeL Internet Categories | Controversial Issues | Hot Paper Topics

STEP THREE: SWAP! Swap sides and complete step two.

STEP ONE: Get out a sheet of paper and label it NOTES. Put your name at the top.

STEP TWO: Go and browse the indexes of encyclopedias and reference books, and the non-fiction collection, trying to get an idea for your topic. COLLECT 2 IDEAS on your NOTES sheet. You'll have about 15 minutes.

STEP THREE: SWAP! Swap sides and complete step two.

 


YOU SHOULD NOW HAVE AT LEAST 4 POSSIBLE TOPICS TO WRITE ABOUT.

 

 

 

 

 

DAY TWO GATHERING INFORMATION
ON THE COMPUTER?
USING BOOKS ONLY?

STEP ONE: Open up a Word Document, and quickly type in your 4 TOPICS. Using the links below, COLLECT AND PASTE in book titles, website addresses, and the names and titles of magazine articles about each of your 4 topics. You'll have about 20 minutes.

Library Catalog | MeL | Grolier Online

STEP TWO: SWAP! Swap sides and complete step one.

STEP ONE: Look up each of your 4 topics using the card catalog and find non-fiction books and encyclopedias in our library. COLLECT AND WRITE DOWN the TITLES and PAGE NUMBERS of items that have information on your topic. You'll have about 20 minutes.

STEP TWO: SWAP! Swap sides and complete step one.

YOU SHOULD NOW HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON EACH OF YOUR 4 POSSIBLE TOPICS.

 

 

 

 

 

DAY THREE YOUR FINAL TOPIC
ON THE COMPUTER?
USING BOOKS ONLY?
STEP ONE: Go into Word and print your notes. Log off. Go to a table and get out your handwritten notes. STEP ONE: Get out your handwritten notes. Wait for a free computer. Print your notes. Go to STEP TWO.

STEP TWO: Take your handwritten notes and your printed notes and keep them together. Look at your notes, and DECIDE which of your topics you can find lots of info on. Get ready to TURN YOUR TOPIC INTO A QUESTION. Turning your topic into a question changes it into a THESIS! Use the QUESTION STEMS to REWRITE 2 of your topics into question form.

EXAMPLES:

  1. Topic 1: Skateboarding QUESTION: "Should Saline have a skatepark?"
  2. Topic 2: Driving Age QUESTION: "Should the driving age be reduced to age 14?"

QUESTION STEMS: (*from Power Tools Recharged by Joyce Valenza)

  • What should the audience/reader do/feel/believe?
  • Who are the major players on both sides and how did they contribute to?
  • Which are the most important?
  • What was the impact of?
  • Can I compare? How is X like or unlike Y?
  • What if? Can I predict?
  • How could we solve/improve/design/deal with?
  • Is there a better solution to?
  • How can I defend?
  • What changes would I recommend to?
  • Why did this happen? Why did it succeed or fail?
  • What should be? What are/would be the possible outcomes of?
  • What were the reasons behind?
  • Why are people protesting?
  • What is my personal response to?
  • What case can I make for?
  • What is the significance of?
  • What is the value or benefit of?
  • What are three/four/five reasons for people to believe?

STEP THREE: THESIS TESTYou should have 2 topics rewritten as possible THESIS STATEMENTS. Now, put them to the test!

  1. Does the thesis inspire a reasonable reader to ask, "How?" or "Why?"
  2. Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with "DUH!" or "So, what?"
  3. Does the thesis avoid general phrasing and/or sweeping words such as ALL, NONE, or EVERY?
  4. Can you write enough about it to fulfill the requirements of this paper?
IF YOU CANNOT ANSWER YES TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS, CHANGE YOUR THESIS IN ORDER FOR IT TO PASS THE TEST.

You did it! You generated topics and looked for supporting research! Then you developed 2 thesis statements and put them to the test! Now, the FUN begins--choosing only 1 thesis to write about. SO! Get out there and research!

Need help finding information? Use what you have learned, or ask a teacher or librarian.