| A kidcyber reference page |
kidcyber guide to Researching a topic
1. Choosing a topic
Your teacher may have set the topic but, if you have a choice, the topic you choose can be one you already know something about and about which you want to learn more, or you can choose a topic about which you know nothing.
Think about : a place, a person, an occupation, a product,
machine or invention, an animal.
2. Making up questions to guide your
research
Here are some useful question starters:
| What do....? | What might....? | What is....? | What should....? |
| What will ....? | How did...? | How would....? | How can....? |
| How is....? | How do....? | Where will....? | Where do....? |
| Why....? | Why should....? | When? | Who...? |
| non-fiction books | encyclopaedias | magazines & newspapers | |
| video tapes and television | audio tapes | CD Rom | |
| the internet | pictures & charts | www.kidcyber.com.au |
Remember : as you use them, list all the sources of information . You'll need this information for your bibliography.
4. Make notes that answer your questions
The best assignments are those written
in your own words. Your teacher, parent,
friends and others who read your work want to know what you've
found out and what you think about the topic.
As you read about the topic make notes about what you think is
important. Copy out unusual words, proper names and dates, and
make notes about pictures, diagrams and maps that you might want
to include in the final presentation of your work.
5. Using your notes, write the first
copy of the report
Put the notes into proper sentences. You should do this without
looking at or copying the sources of information.
Ask yourself: Do my sentences answer my questions?
If not, go back to the source and read, look, listen again or
ask for more information.
6. Read your first copy and correct any
mistakes.
This is called proof reading. Sometimes it's a good
idea after you've read the report yourself, to ask a teacher,
parent or a friend to proof read your first copy. Correct any
mistakes they find and rewrite the work to make it more easily
understood by others.
7. Decide how you will present your project
| a book? | a chart? | a model? |
| a video? | a computerised report? | an audio tape? |
| a set of labelled photographs or drawings? | a spoken report to an audience? | or a combination of any of the above? |
9. Complete the Bibliography
This is the list of ALL the sources of information you have used.
Need help writing a bibliography? Go to http://www.kidcyber.com.au/bibliog.html
10. Share your project with others
Be proud of your work! Be prepared to discuss and answer questions about the work.
Go here to find a chart for recording your research notes
updated October 2008 © kidcyber