The I-SearchThe I-Search

What is it and how the heck do I What is it and how the heck do I choose a topic to research?choose a topic to research?

Make 2 columns on your paper. Make 2 columns on your paper. For each column, you’ll write a For each column, you’ll write a bullet-pointed list:bullet-pointed list:

KK What do you What do you

already already kknow or now or what have you what have you heard about the heard about the I-Search paper?I-Search paper?

WW What do you What do you wwant ant

to know about it? to know about it? What questions What questions pop into your mind pop into your mind when your teacher when your teacher says, “We are says, “We are going to write a going to write a research paper”?research paper”?

Interest SurveyInterest Survey

This part is to get your brain This part is to get your brain thinking about what the heck thinking about what the heck you could write about. As you you could write about. As you answer the questions, look for answer the questions, look for patterns. patterns.

Ready??Ready??

What Not to Do…What Not to Do…These were chosen because they These were chosen because they aren’t really researchable…aren’t really researchable… Things on Things on MythbustersMythbusters Conspiracy theories, unsolved Conspiracy theories, unsolved

mysteries, or things that can’t be mysteries, or things that can’t be proved (like Amelia Earhart, the proved (like Amelia Earhart, the Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, Aliens, Roswell, etc.)Monster, Aliens, Roswell, etc.)

Dreams and the meanings ofDreams and the meanings of Famous Deaths (JFK or Marilyn Famous Deaths (JFK or Marilyn

Monroe) or “Is ___ really dead?” Monroe) or “Is ___ really dead?” The answer is yes.The answer is yes.

More things not to do…More things not to do… Biographies of bands and people. Biographies of bands and people.

All you have to do is watch All you have to do is watch Behind Behind the Music the Music or read one book, and or read one book, and you’re doneyou’re done

Vampires…just becauseVampires…just because Werewolves…same reasonWerewolves…same reason How do I…? (plan a vacation, make How do I…? (plan a vacation, make

a million before I’m 30.)a million before I’m 30.) Darwinism vs. Creationism: which Darwinism vs. Creationism: which

one is one is rightright?? Anything else I deem appropriate to Anything else I deem appropriate to

add to the list…add to the list…

Final Note on what you can’t Final Note on what you can’t do…do…You have to choose something that You have to choose something that

can be written about for 6 to 8 can be written about for 6 to 8 pages. pages.

You need You need at least at least 5 sources; these 5 sources; these can’t all be the same kind of source. can’t all be the same kind of source. You will need at least 2 different You will need at least 2 different kinds of resources (more on that kinds of resources (more on that later…) Most essays have 5-10 later…) Most essays have 5-10 sources by the end.sources by the end.

Your research question/topic can have Your research question/topic can have multiple parts and it will multiple parts and it will ultimatelyultimately reflect your position on some issue.reflect your position on some issue.

So what am I actually doing??So what am I actually doing?? This research paper is in This research paper is in the style of the style of

an argumentative essayan argumentative essay, which , which means…means…

You are going to form an You are going to form an opinion/state your position on a opinion/state your position on a relevant, possibly controversial topic relevant, possibly controversial topic but…but…

You don’t know what your position You don’t know what your position about this issue about this issue isis until you have until you have done some research…hence the done some research…hence the name name researchresearch paper paper

What else do I need to know What else do I need to know about choosing what to research?about choosing what to research? You should be You should be genuinely interested genuinely interested in in

this topic; otherwise, your next 10 weeks this topic; otherwise, your next 10 weeks are going to be painful.are going to be painful.

There needs to be more than one side to There needs to be more than one side to the issue; it has to be “arguable,” which the issue; it has to be “arguable,” which means there is no simple, easy answermeans there is no simple, easy answer

YOU should have no fixed or really strong YOU should have no fixed or really strong opinions about which side you’re on b/c opinions about which side you’re on b/c you’ll figure this out as you do your you’ll figure this out as you do your research. So, be open-minded!research. So, be open-minded!

Finally, you need to choose something that Finally, you need to choose something that somehow impacts you and the world we somehow impacts you and the world we live in today.live in today.

Homework to be completed by Homework to be completed by next time!next time!

Pick 3 topics you are interested in Pick 3 topics you are interested in researching, and researching, and for each topic for each topic Write a question Write a question you would like to you would like to

answeranswer Write a few sentences about Write a few sentences about why why

you’re interested you’re interested in this topic andin this topic and its relevance in your world/the its relevance in your world/the

world around usworld around us In our next class, we will discuss In our next class, we will discuss

how to write good research how to write good research questions.questions.

The thing about your research The thing about your research question is…question is…

It should It should notnot be a yes/no question or be a yes/no question or a one-word answer (like which a one-word answer (like which country has the largest population…country has the largest population…it’s China!)it’s China!)

It shouldIt should not not be something you be something you already know the answer to!already know the answer to!

It should be something you are It should be something you are genuinely interested in (remember?)genuinely interested in (remember?)

It should be able to be answered in 6 It should be able to be answered in 6 to 8 pages with at least 5 sources.to 8 pages with at least 5 sources.

More about writing successful More about writing successful research questionsresearch questions It can’t be too broad or too specificIt can’t be too broad or too specific

This one is a bit This one is a bit too broadtoo broad::

Are Kindles or other e-readers better than Are Kindles or other e-readers better than real books? real books?

That question has potential, but it needs to be That question has potential, but it needs to be narrowed down to narrowed down to specific fields or contexts specific fields or contexts so so you can look atyou can look at where and the ways in which where and the ways in which they’re superior or inferior. So they’re superior or inferior. So in what in what environments or contexts is the issue of online environments or contexts is the issue of online books relevant?books relevant?

New and improvedNew and improved: : Are digital/online books Are digital/online books better for educational environments than better for educational environments than actual textbooks? actual textbooks?

Are the following researchable topics for the argumentative I-Search paper?1. When and where did Fencing originate

and how did it evolve into the sport I love today?

2. Do I have what it takes to be a Navy Seal? What does the training consist of and could I make a career out of this?

3. Is the food/sugar industry responsible for contributing to the obesity epidemic in today’s school-age children and teens?

4. Does video game violence lead to more aggressive and violent behavior in teens?

5. Are more stringent gun control laws effective in reducing the number of school shootings?

How to form a question on… How to form a question on… Gun violenceGun violenceWhere? What are the sides to the issue? Where? What are the sides to the issue? What sorts of things can be debated about What sorts of things can be debated about this issue?this issue?Does legislation on gun control create a Does legislation on gun control create a safer environment for its citizens?safer environment for its citizens?This works because there are two sides to This works because there are two sides to what “a safer environment” means. You may what “a safer environment” means. You may feel more protected with a gun in your house, feel more protected with a gun in your house, but I may feel unsafe coming into your house but I may feel unsafe coming into your house for fear of an accident. So, what makes for fear of an accident. So, what makes people feel safe differs depending on the people feel safe differs depending on the person and the environment.person and the environment.

Sample I-Search Questions Sample I-Search Questions That Worked WellThat Worked Well Has social media had more Has social media had more

beneficial or detrimental effects on beneficial or detrimental effects on society? Why?society? Why?

Was Gaius Julius Caesar or Was Gaius Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great the more Alexander the Great the more effective leader?effective leader?

Which green energy resources are Which green energy resources are making the best impact on improving making the best impact on improving our environment?our environment?

Is the portrayal of race receiving a Is the portrayal of race receiving a more equitable representation on more equitable representation on television and movies these days?television and movies these days?

What are the advantages and What are the advantages and disadvantages of President disadvantages of President Obama’s plan for Increasing Obama’s plan for Increasing Troops in Afghanistan, and from Troops in Afghanistan, and from the knowledge obtained in my the knowledge obtained in my research, what is my opinion on research, what is my opinion on how it affects the best interest of how it affects the best interest of the United States of America?the United States of America?

You can’t do this one. It’s from You can’t do this one. It’s from Joseph Song, who is a junior at Joseph Song, who is a junior at Harvard right now. I just wanted Harvard right now. I just wanted to show you a great example for to show you a great example for this, the last slide.this, the last slide.