ss+Step+One+Get+started


 * Step One: Get Started **

**1. Make sure you understand your research assignment.** Start a journal or notebook and begin jotting notes about not only "what" you plan to do but also "how" you plan to do it.

Start with a broad topic of interest to you. What do you already know about your topic? What else about your topic would you like to know?
 * 2. Brainstorm Possible Topics **


 * 3. Presearch! **

**Find an overview of your topic**. //If you cannot find an overview, your topic might be too narrow.//
 * Read the overview and take notes about what interests you. //Pay attention to the table of contents, headings and subheadings, index, and bibliography. They will help you develop a list of keywords.//
 * **Sources To Use for an Overview:** Encyclopedias, Text Books, Library Databases, Reference Books, Class Notes

Good databases for exploring a topic:
General Reference
 * World Book Encyclopedia
 * [|Encyclopedia Britannica]
 * Gale Virtual Reference Library
 * Oxford African American Resource Center
 * World History: Ancient & Medieval Eras (ABC-Clio)
 * World History: The Modern Era (ABC-Clio)
 * World History in Context (Gale)
 * World Religions (ABC-Clio)
 * Biography In Context (Gale)

= Google Search Skills for Research Projects: =
 * **To search only college/university sites**, add **site:edu** to the search box. This limits your search to ".edu" sites. You still need to evaluate the source!
 * **Search Tips:** Google Advanced Search: On the Advanced Search page, you can enter your search terms or numbers and then choose one or more filters to modify the results you see. These filters can help you find the most relevant information possible the first time you search.
 * Video Tutorial on Google Advanced Search

Before you start your research, you are going to need keywords to help you search for information. Identify the main concepts and [|keywords]. Make a list of words or short phrases that describe your topic and closely related topics.
 * Start a List of Key Words **

= **Test your topic** = Using your keywords, test your topic by searching the BHS library and/or Brookline Pulic Library catalogs as well as sources available on the internet. For your topic to pass the test, information should be found in several different sources.
 * If you are overwhelmed with sources, try narrowing your topic.
 * For best results, put quotations around phrases when searching. For example: "sleep deprivation" and "high school students".
 * If you are underwhelmed with sources (can't find enough), try broadening your topic. This can be done by using "or". For example: students or teenagers and "sleep deprivation".
 * If you are not finding information, try a different angle on your topic or start over with a different topic.
 * Still having trouble finding information? Ask your teacher or librarian for advice.

Effective research means answering specific questions, not just collecting facts. A topic question will help you develop a thesis statement and focus your research. A good research question is debatable. (Do not develop a thesis until later in the research process.)
 * 3. Develop A Research Question **

Good Research Question: How effective was the Settlement House Movement in responding to issues of poverty and immigration of the late 1800s?

Bad Research Question: What reforms did the Settlement House Movement implement during the Progressive Era?

**Tools to Help You Plan Your Project** Research Project Calculator The calculator customizes the steps for your project according to your research task.

Now submit a [|research proposal] to your teacher. If your teacher approves your proposal, you are ready for Step Two, Creating a Research Strategy.
 * 4. Submit a Research Proposal **