Step One Questioning & Planning

 

Introducing the Question, Choice or Problem

Brainstorming

Creating Graphic Organizers

Assessments

The Research Process

1. Introducing the Question, Choice or Problem

	With the release of the book and movie Schindler's List, there has been a renewed focus on the Holocaust and it's meaning to citizens of the global community today. Do you know anyone who is a Holocaust survivor or the relative of a survivor? There are many accounts published in a variety of formats. Click here to read a child's memory. There are many books, movies, museums, and web sites dedicated to informing the world about the Holocaust. What meaning can we find for today?
	The Task You are a reporter/analyst covering the end of World War II. You are among the first to see a camp shortly after its liberation. You must report an analysis your findings to the world via a news report. Your report will need to cover the following: the 5 W's of reporting (Who, What, When, Where, Why) how the Holocaust was implemented by the Nazis the effect of your report on the folks back home the long term effect on the global community In addition, as a personal reflection you will write a letter home to your family describing your feelings about what you have seen at the camps.
	A Sample Product You will need to research this topic, then prepare a 3-5 minute newsreel segment (video format or "live") or a newspaper feature story (print or visual display). (Your teacher will determine the actual final product) Teachers! Click here to see other possible student products.

2. Brainstorming Questions

	As you look at the task above, list as many questions as you can that will help you to understand and investigate this topic. What do you already know about the problem? What do you need to know to begin your investigation? What do you need to know in order to predict the effects on the global community??
	Examples of questions: What was it like to be a prisoner? How were prisoners chosen to be deported? What were the underlying reasons for wanting to exterminate the Jews? Who were the people involved? For additional ideas for forming questions: The Question is the Answer Essential Questions Asking Questions, Structuring Tasks

3. Creating Graphic Organizers

	Think about how you want to organize your list of questions and how you will record your answers.
	You may also organize the related questions into groups using a cluster diagram using Inspiration software program. Click here to see an example of a cluster diagram created using Inspiration software. This cluster diagram example is based on the research question : Which city should we move to? The main research question is shaded gray, and the related questions are shaded blue and yellow. The related questions are supporting questions you would ask about your main research topic. You can think of them as subtopics.  Click here to see another example of a cluster diagram. You may also use Microsoft Works Draw module to create your own cluster diagram.. Be sure to save all of your work, and give it a file name so that you can use it again. Click here to see other examples of graphic organizers.

4. Assessment

	Grading for this project will be based on daily participation as well as the final presentation. Click here to see the rubric by which your research process will be assessed. Click here to see the rubric by which your newsreel story will be assessed. or if you are doing a newspaper feature, Click here to see the rubric by which your nepsaws story will be assessed.
	We will develop a scoring tool together in class together to assess your letter.

5. Research Process 

Step	Module	Research Activity
One	Questioning and Planning	Developing questions Using graphic organizers
Two	Gathering/Sorting/ Sifting 1	Using the Internet Browser basics
Three	Gathering/Sorting/ Sifting 2	Using print sources Searching the automated catalog Using reference sets
Four	Synthesis and Evaluation Time to stop and "take inventory"	Evaluating information Which questions are well answered? Which ones requre further investigation? Are there any new questions?
Five	Gathering/Sorting/ Sifting 3	Using the Internet Search engines Directories
Six	Final Synthesis and Evaluation	Creating a newsreel segment or newspaper feature story to inform
Seven	Presentation	Preparing for the presentation

 

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Steps in the Research Process:  Next   | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven |