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THINKING GUIDES TO RESEARCH

Task definition

a. Define the problem. What is it that you need to know? What questions do you need to ask to get the information? (You may need to read a basic peice of information about your topic before you ask questions. World Book Online is a good place to start)
b. How are you going to present it - a report, a PowerPoint, poster or seminar?
c. Identify the type of information needed. Do you need facts, pictures, eyewitness accounts, statistics, historical or current information?

Develop a search strategy

a. Think of all possible sources (books, library, websites, people) of information
b. Select the best sources for your task

Find and access the information

a. Find the sources by using keywords (underline the main idea in the question - think of words that mean the same thing. These are your key words)
b. Find information within sources by skim reading to match your keywords. Read the titles and subtitles, captions and the first sentences of the paragraphs

Use the information

a. Extract the relevant information - highlight, copy and paste
b. Make dot and jot notes. Hint: it is helpful to organise your notes under your question headings. Click here to see how you can organise all your information
c. Judge the reliability of your sources Thinking Critically About Text
d. Record everything you need for your bibliography

Synthesis and presenting

a. Put all your information together. If you have used the data retrieval chart this is the time when you read all the infomation and have a conclusion, and write a final conclusion (that answers your question
b. Organise an outline for your presentation
c. Make sure all your questions are answered
d. Include your bibliography
e. Present your information. You may have to write it up as a research report or turn it into a PowerPoint

Evaluation

Judge how well you managed to find and present information that answered your research questions

 

Once you have found you infomaiton apply your critical thinking skills. How relevant is the information? How up to date is it? How reliable is it? Visit this page to help you: Thinking Critically About Text