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Planning a Research Project

Partner with your library staff when you begin to develop the activity.  They can be a very valuable resource and provide outstanding aide to both you and your students.

  1. Decide on the  type of project you want: summary, evaluative, original, combination.

  2. Determine if there are enough resources available and do all students have access.

  3. Establish the requirements:  timeline, number of sources, types of sources, number of note cards, end product & format details (paper, presentation, combination, etc.), due dates, assessment tool, student reflection statement.  Student should have a clear understanding of what is required.  NO surprises!!

  4. Famaralize yourself with the resources.  Do you  know which resources are best and how to use? 

  5. Talk about academic integrity and plagiarism.

  6. Give examples of note cards & source/bib cards.

  7. Famaralize yourself with the tool students will be using, whether it is Word, PowerPoint, or Access.  Is it far to as students to use a tool you can't help them with?

  8. Provide time for research and writing.

  9. Set aside time for individual student conferences throughout the process.

  10. Give examples of an exceptional projects to help them visualize the end product.  

Suggested project format (computer generated when possible):
crossword puzzle, short story, game, videotape, model, drawing, audiotape, slide show, bulletin board, lesson, transparency, booklet, pamphlet, poem, newspaper, mobile, advertisement, multi-media show, puppet show, comic book, letter to the editor, photograph album, play, collage, mural, travel brochure, guide, manual, chart or graph, animation, experiment, interview, oral history, map, book review, debate.