Lesson 2
We will organize into research teams based on our subtopics, review what we think about our subtopics and what we know so far, and plan what we will read, analyze, delineate, and evaluate to extend our understanding of our subtopics.
Lesson Goals
Can I effectively focus the subtopic, perspective, and position I am likely to pursue and explain my thinking to a peer research team?
Can I work effectively with a peer research team to collaboratively expand our understanding of a common subtopic?
Texts
Optional
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- “The State of the Nation’s Housing,” Harvard Joint Studies for Housing Studies, Harvard Joint Studies for Housing Studies, 2018
Materials
Tools
Reference Guides
Editable Google Docs
Activity 1: Discuss
We will each join a research team with other students interested in the same subtopic, compare perspectives on the subtopic, review what we have examined so far, and organize ourselves for further research.
Join a research team with other students interested in the same subtopic as you.
Using the subtopic explanation you wrote in the previous lesson, explain your understanding of the issue and questions, as well as the perspective or position you currently have.
Compare your perspective to those of other students in your team. Identify which team members seem to have more "pro" perspective on the issue or controversy, which have a more "con" perspective, and who is still uncertain or more nuanced in their perspective.
Activity 2: Read
We will participate in a class overview of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University’s “State Of The Nation’s Housing” in order to determine what in the report might be relevant to our subtopics.
Follow along as your teacher provides an overview of the purpose, organization, and major sections of the “State of the Nation’s Housing,” a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Discuss any key sections or relevant data displays.
Individually, determine if you might use this data source as part of your further research into your subtopic, and, if so, what information you might examine.
Activity 3: Read – Discuss
In our research teams, we will determine what further reading and research might be needed, select and assign texts from the suggested text list, and plan internet searches for further information.
In your research team, discuss your thoughts about the “State of the Nation’s Housing Report” and how it might be useful to your team’s research.
Access and review the Subtopic Supplemental Texts Handout that has been identified for your subtopic.
Determine sources from the list that your team may want to examine and analyze.
Identify possible keywords you can use to conduct additional searches for external sources related to your subtopic. Assign one or more reading or research tasks to each member of the team.
Activity 4: Read – Write
For homework, we will further research our subtopics. We will also develop draft questions to guide the research and development of our final arguments.
For homework, access the Subtopic Supplemental Texts Handout for your subtopic and take a look at the texts listed. You can use the information about the texts’ titles, authors, and publishers to do a search for them on the Internet.
Based on the reading or research task assigned to you by your team, read and analyze an information source or argument related to your subtopic issue. Prepare a summary of what you find, which will be shared with your research team.
Write new or interesting words you encounter in your Vocabulary Journal.
After considering your subtopic issue, a specific focus you might want to pursue, and your current understanding of and perspective on the subtopic, draft a question that could set up an argument you might want to develop.