Transcript Click here to access the 5th Grade Research Lesson 1 PowerPoint

5th Grade
Internet Research
What is a Research Paper?
•A research paper is like a report.
•Before you write it, you use books,
articles, the internet, and other sources
to find information about your topic.
•You gather information from these
sources and use that information in your
paper to tell your readers about your
topic.
•Here are the steps you will need to take
to complete your research!
1) Choosing a Topic
Pick a topic:
You may have a list of approved topics
to choose from, or you may have to
choose on your own.
Try to choose something you are
interested in.
For example:
Thanksgiving
2) Narrow Your Topic
“Thanksgiving” is a very broad topic. Try make
your topic smaller and more specific by asking
a question like:
What about Thanksgiving do I want to
write?
Smaller Topic:
The History of Thanksgiving
3) Essential Questions
Now you should come up with a question you
can research about your topic:
When was the first
Thanksgiving?
4) Key Words:
Key Words are the most important words related to a
subject, which you type into a search engine to find the
information you want.
Keywords need to be clear and precise. You can use
synonyms and/or alternate words.
When was the first Thanksgiving?
Key words
This is How We Break it Down:
Thanksgiving
Sports
Focus
(more specific)
First Thanksgiving
basketball
Research or
Essential
Question
When was the first
Thanksgiving?
Who is the inventor
of basketball?
Key Words
Key Words:
First + Thanksgiving
Key Words:
inventor + basketball
Theme/Topic
(general)
Let’s try it together:
Theme/Topic
(general)
Focus
(more specific)
Research or
Essential
Question
Key Words
Key Words:
Key Words:
Step 5: Search Engine
To find Web sites on a specific topic, we will need to use a
search engine. A search engine works like a library catalog.
There are many different kind. Can you name a few? A search
engine helps you to find other Web sites.
We will be using the search engine called “Safe Search Kids”.
It is a search engine created by Google made especially for
kids. You will need to type your key words into the search
engine to begin your search.
First Thanksgiving
Step 6: Evaluating Sites:
The search engine will then
search the Web and show you
a list of sites that contain
information that matches your
key words. Search engines
usually give descriptions of the
sites they list. You should read
the descriptions to find which
site best matches your topic.
This is the kind of list, with
descriptions, that a search
engine will show you. Let’s
take a closer look at the
results pages!
Step 7: Choosing the Best Web Site
When you read a
description of a Web site
that sounds useful, click on
the name of the site. That
Web site will automatically
appear on your computer
screen. You can then read
what is there to see if it has
the information you are
looking for. Sometimes you
need to look at several sites
before you find the one
that is best for your
research.
This site would be really
useful for my report on
“The First Thankgsiving”!
Getting down to the research:
The Internet
 Reliability
◦ Since anyone can post anything to the web, you have
to be careful about choosing your sources.
 Good Bets are:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Education websites (.edu)
Government websites (.gov)
Some Non-Profit websites (.org)
Teacher approved sites
Websites maintained by someone you know – like
your teacher.
Wikipedia
Now Let’s Practice using the first 7 steps!
1) Here is our topic: Presidents
2) Narrow down your topic (focus):
3) Create a research/essential question.
4) Pull out KEY WORDS:
5) Enter your key words into the search engine: “Google Kids”.
6) Evaluate your Sites
7) Chose a reliable source.
**Can you find one fact from the website you chose? Write it
down!
Now Let’s Practice using the first 7 steps!
1) Here is our topic: Presidents
2) Narrow down your topic (focus):
3) Create a research/essential question.
4) Pull out KEY WORDS:
5) Enter your key words into the search engine: “Google Kids”.
6) Evaluate your Sites
7) Chose a reliable source.
**Can you find one fact from the website you chose? Write it
down!
Now Let’s Practice using the first 7 steps!
1) Here is our topic:
2) Narrow down your topic (focus):
3) Creating a research/essential question.
4) Pull out KEY WORDS:
5) Enter your key words into the search engine: “Google Kids”.
6) Evaluate your Sites
7) Chose a reliable source.
**Can you find one fact from the website you chose? Write it
down!