Conducting Research

If Sarah wants to write about the history of the Salvation Army, which research question would least likely help her?

• Who established the Salvation Army?

• Where is the nearest Salvation Army store?

• When did the Salvation Army begin?

• Why was the Salvation founded?

Pedro is doing a research paper on the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Which would be most relevant research question to ask?

• Where was JFK born and raised?

• Who were JFK's mother and father?

• What were JFK's accoplishments?

• Where did JFK attend high school?

Danny is writing a report on William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Which research question is too broad for him to cover in one research paper?

• Does the history of the period influence the story?

• Why does the main character give in to his evil side?

• How does this play compare to Shakespeare's other plays?

• What is the significance of the apparitions that the character sees?

If Tisha is writing a report about how the Industrial Revolution influenced American literature, which research question wold be too narrow to use for the entire page?

• What literary movements were inspired by the Industrial Revolution?

• Why did Mark Twain call this period "the Gilded Age"?

• Which authors were writing at the time of the Industrial Revolution?

• What new literacy subjects arose and gained prominence during this era?

Why is it important to use research questions when beginning a project?

• The research questions tell you what to research for the project.

• The research questions do the research for you.

• The research questions provide sources to use.

• The research questions help narrow down a topic and provide more avenues of research.

A primary source is one that has a first-hand relationship to the topic. Which below is not considered a primary source?

• Public speeches or eyewitness accounts

• Diaries or private journals

• Letters

• Encyclopedias

• Eyewitness accounts

Secondary sources might include a document written years later about an event. Which are considered secondary sources? (check all that apply)

• Internet

• Computer software

• Newspapers

• Journals and magazines

• Encyclopedias

If Jeremy is searching for topographical maps of South America, which source would give him the best results?

• a documentary

• a dictionary

• an almanac

• an atlas

If Alaina is researching the 1849 Gold Rush of California, which of the following sources would be least helpful?

• a documentary about gold miners

• an encyclopedia entry about gold

• a film about California's history

• a book about famous gold mines

Anderson is using an Internet search engine to find information about animals native to Australia. Which key words would help him search most effectively?

• Australia information

• Australia tourism

• Australian wildlife

• Australia nature