Lesson 4

Lesson Goals

Texts

Materials

Tools

• Potential Sources Tool

• Application Unit: Research Frame Tool

• Research Note-Taking Tool

Reference Guides

• Annotating and Note-Taking Reference Guide
• Assessing Sources Reference Guide

Question Sets

• Application Unit: Section 2 Question Set

Editable Google Docs

• Potential Sources Tool

• Application Unit: Research Frame Tool

• Research Note-Taking Tool

• Application Unit: Section 2 Question Set

Activity 1: Read – Write – Discuss

We will learn more about annotating sources and using the research Note-Taking Tool as part of our Research Process.

Step 1

Individually, read the Annotating and Note-Taking Reference Guide and review the ResearchNote-Taking Tool. Note any questions you have and be prepared to share with the class.

Discuss the following with the whole group:

1. What is the difference between annotating and note-taking?

2. Why are both necessary in the research process?

3. How are the Potential Sources, Research Note-Taking, and Research Frame Tools related? How does each aid the research process?

Step 2

Remember, the first step in recording important information about a source is annotating a printed version of the source with pencil, highlighter, or markers or annotating an electronic version of the source using electronic highlighting and commenting tools.

The annotation process includes the following:

• marking key information, words, and concepts

• recording initial impressions

• identifying areas for possible further exploration

• making connections to other sources

• coding details to the inquiry paths of the research frame

Step 3

The Research Note-Taking Tool helps us make and organize notes on sources with respect to our Research Frame Tool. It is helpful when doing research involving multiple sources, specifically to track the sources, page numbers, notes you take, and notes you make. This tool organizes your notes by question or idea, rather than by source. Listen as your teacher introduces the Research Note-Taking Tool and its various parts. Ask questions or clarify points of confusion as needed.

Ask any questions or share any observations with the class in order to clarify your understanding of both of these activities, which you will get to practice in the next activity.

Activity 2: Read – Write – Discuss

We will practice effective annotation and note-taking with one of our team’s sources and the research Note-Taking Tool.

Step 1

Meet with your research team and choose one of the potential sources you have found.

Individually, read and annotate the article in a manner that is effective for you or try using the annotation key on the Annotating and Note-Taking Reference Guide if you’d like to expand your annotation skills.

Step 2

Use the Research Note-Taking Tool to note relevant information from that source with regard to the relevant inquiry path and question. Remember to read the source closely, using your inquiry question as the guiding question for the focus of your notes. Also use your annotations to identify important details that can be noted on the tool.

Step 3

Once all members of the team are finished, share and discuss both your annotated texts as well as your completed Research Note-Taking Tool. Look for similarities and differences.

Share and discuss with the whole group your observations about each team member’s annotations and use of the Research Note-Taking Tool as well as how you might approach note-taking differently with the next source and why.

Activity 3: Read – Write – Discuss

We will continue searching for, assessing, and annotating sources for our own investigations, revising our Research Frame Tool as needed.

Step 1

In your research teams, revisit your Research Frame Tools to review your Central Research Question, inquiry paths and inquiry questions. Make a clear plan about which member will be initially researching which inquiry paths and questions.

Individually, use your keywords to start searching in some of the places you brainstormed. Revise your keywords as needed to improve your search results. As you find potential sources, add them to your Potential Sources Tool and then begin assessing them for their usefulness using the Assessing Sources Reference Guide as needed. Begin annotating them using the Research Note-Taking Tool and Annotating and Note-Taking Reference Guide.

Be sure to meet as a team before the end of the lesson to share your findings and progress, make a plan for moving forward, and revise or add to your Research Frame Tool as needed, based on the results of your search.

Step 2

Throughout all these activities, it is important to maintain an organized research portfolio. You should be storing all your sources, tools, and notes, coding and organizing them with respect to your Research Frame Tool. You might need to make clean copies of some tools from their draft originals. This will allow you to refine your notes and more easily find important information as you begin to prepare for your presentation.

Activity 4: Discuss

We will conference with our teacher about our team’s project and progress.

While the teams are researching, your teacher will visit each team to review your tools and list of sources to offer help in determining what is missing, incomplete, or lacking in richness, relevance, and credibility. Be prepared to ask any questions. With help from your teacher and your team, you can deepen your sense of what is required for the sources to be useful to you.

Activity 5: Read – Write

For homework, we will continue to search for texts, add them to the Potential Sources Tool, and assess them for their usefulness.

Continue your search for texts based on the decisions made by the team in the previous activity. Use and revise your keywords as needed to improve your search results. As you find potential sources, add them to your Potential Sources Tool, and then begin assessing them for their usefulness using the Assessing Sources Reference Guide as needed, and begin annotating them using the Research Note-Taking Tool and the Annotating and Note-Taking Reference Guide.

Be ready to share and continue your progress with your team in the next lesson.