Lesson 2

Lesson Goals

Texts

Materials

Tools

• Exploring a Topic Tool

Question Sets

• Application Unit: Section 1 Question Set

Editable Google Docs

• Exploring a Topic Tool

• Application Unit: Section 1 Question Set

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will use the Exploring a Topic Tool to home in on potential ideas for our research.

Step 1

As your teacher models how to use the Exploring a Topic Tool, keep in mind any questions you have.

In your team, each member will use the tool to identify one or two potential Central Research Questions (within your team’s broader topic or theme) that might lead to valuable questions and problems to explore in your research.

Step 2

Individually, complete the sections for two Potential Areas of Investigation. These will help your team arrive at potential Central Research Questions to guide your research.

Activity 2: Discuss

We will discuss our Exploring a Topic Tools with our research teams to determine which central research questions are most interesting to us.

Share your Exploring a Topic Tool with the other members of your team.

With your team, take turns reading your tools. As each team member reads their tool, discuss the following questions:

1. Which potential Central Research Questions are most interesting? Which specific aspects?

2. How are the potential Central Research Questions related?

3. Which of our peers’ potential topics should we explore further?

Activity 3: Read

We will learn efficient ways to conduct internet searches.

The Internet contains an abundance of information. Researchers use specific search engine techniques to locate relevant information efficiently. Practice using the following techniques with your topic:

Keywords

Choose keywords for your topic. Combine keywords to narrow searches. Use key phrases too.

Quotation Marks

Putting a phrase in quotation marks tells the search engine to list pages that include that exact phrase.

Skim and Select

Search engines typically list billions of pages. Not every source listed will be relevant for your research. Skim the list and choose those that seem most relevant. If you do not see anything that matches your objective, you will need to change your search slightly to see if you get more relevant results.

Open in Another Tab

As you begin your research and initial exploration of a topic, you will need to investigate lots of sources. Opening links to sources in multiple browser tabs allows you to skim lots of sources while still keeping your initial search list.

Use Words from Sources as Keywords for New Searches

The more you read about a topic from rich sources, the more you will encounter keywords and phrases within that topic. Begin keeping a record of keywords and phrases you identify from sources to conduct new searches.

Activity 4: Read – Write

For homework, we will explore our topic further through internet searches, going to the library, and having discussions with our learning community.

Outside of class, talk with peers, other teachers, librarians, or other members of your learning community, asking them what they know about the topic and what about it interests them. Independently, or with your team, informally search the Internet, libraries, and other sources to begin exploring various dimensions of the topic. Be sure to write down any potential sources you hear about or encounter. These are your leads, and they might reveal important ideas or information about your Central Research Question.

Complete additional Potential Areas of Investigation sections or additional potential Central Research Questions on your Exploring a Topic Tool to discuss with your team in the next lesson.