pathfinderSS8

Research Pathfinder **How Do Events in History Impact Today's World?** || Be sure the topic really interests you and relates to American History. Look for cause and effect, solutions to problems. Check out a list of possible topics. This is an excellent source for magazines based on a subject [|www.magportal.com]. What do I already know about this topic? If the answer is not much, then check out these [|subject links]to learn a little more. It will help you generate questions later. Also, do a [|keyword search on the web]or read some reference books or encyclopedia articles on the topic. Is there more than one side to this issue, problem or question? If so, be sure to understand differing views. Jot down questions you have about the topic. Use words like describe, compare/contrast, what were the results of, why. Choose a narrower guiding question. It should be the question you keep coming back to as you research. For example, if your topic was immigration, the guiding question could be: How is immigration good for the economy? It should be something you don't know the answer to, and even better, your teacher doesn't know the answer to it either. Be thinking about how you want to present your findings. To whom will you be presenting? What would be the best way to present what you discovered? What will your final product look like? For information about the topic today, look for updated resources. By this time, you should be feeling confident that you know your topic well and you have thoroughly researched your guiding question and related questions. Now it is time to put it all together in a logical piece of work that your audience will be able to understand.
 * ==Grade 8 Social Studies/English Language Arts==
 * || **Step 1 - Choose a topic.**
 * Ask yourself:**
 * Ask yourself:**
 * Step 2 -Develop questions**.
 * Step 3 - Define audience and product.**
 * Step 4 - Find appropriate resources.**
 * Review of the Literature - just as in science research, this is where you discover what has already been looked at by researchers on this question. Who are the experts? What are their opinions? How are they supported by facts?**
 * [|Periodical databases] - EBSCOhost, E-Library
 * American Journey textbook
 * Current books - use the OPAC and be sure to interlibrary loan those resources you need and we don't have at FMS
 * Web sites - especially those containing primary documents like the United States Census Bureau
 * Experts in the field.Then you must search for the roots of this issue back in time.
 * Frequently, the current articles you read will mention the connection of this issue to the past.
 * If they don't, look for clues in your textbook including the timelines and chapter headings.
 * Still stumped? Ask an expert in the field to help you out.Look at your resources with an eye towards your final product. Examples: Would that information work well in a chart? Does that primary document support my thesis? Should I put it in my slides?
 * Step 5 - Gather information.**
 * Take notes from your sources adding your bibliographic information to your EasyBib folder.
 * Be sure the notes are answering your questions. Also note any new questions you have as a result of your research.
 * Design any surveys or conduct the necessary interviews for your primary research.
 * Step 6 - Produce the product.**
 * Step 7 - Share and evaluate.**
 * How well did you achieve your goals?
 * If you could explore this topic further, what question(s) would you pursue? ||