Plan Your Research

Plan your Research

Start by writing your research question:

Fill out the following graphic organizer to begin your research:

*What I already* know**	What I need to learn

Consider which sources will be most effective

Example:

What factors could have enabled the South to win the Civil War?

Some possible sources: Encyclopedias, online informational databases, general Internet searches, library books, videos, history channel, interview a historian, other.

Find the best source:

The best sources are accessible, relevant, accurate, and trustworthy information. So, Encyclopedias, online databases, library books, and free Internet searches are good starting points since we have them available at school. Videos, television programs, and interviews can potentially offer excellent information but they are less accessible.

A natural first stop is to check the library catalog. It is located in the “Lib Resources” folder of the Start menu. The “Lib Resources” folder also contains numerous online encyclopedias as well as more specialized online databases.

Free and excellent quality online databases are also available with a library card for the Kitsap Regional Library.

Brainstorm all possible sources for your research question.

Identify TEN keywords associated with your topic:

1.	6.
2.	7.
3.	8.
4.	9.
5.	10.

Use those keywords to write at least five search phrases for Internet Research (using search math)