The document provides guidance on choosing a topic for a research project. It advises starting with a broad interest and narrowing it down through more specific themes and issues to arrive at an approachable topic that allows for an in-depth exploration of one aspect. An example is provided of narrowing a politics interest to the ratification of the 19th amendment on women's suffrage. The topic should be specific enough to convince readers of its impact in changing the US.
4. Make it specific!
Below is an example of how an interest can be narrowed down to an
approachable topic for your project:
Interest: Politics
Theme: Equal Rights
Topic: Women's Suffrage
Issue: Ratification of the 19th Amendment
The issue, Ratification of the 19th Amendment, is the final topic.
Notice that it's neither too broad nor too narrow, but will provide an
in-depth look at one aspect of Women's Suffrage.
7. 2.01 Choosing a Research Topic
This is the purpose and goal of your project! You need to convince your reader
that your event changed the US, and explain the impact!
This is not a SUMMARY of an event!
Sample Topic: The invention of the
telephone
Explain to students that you ill explain in further detail how to do each assignment as they approach, and that each assignment has a video with it to help them complete the work.
This lesson is to specifically focus on how many assignments, due dates, where to find the assignments.
Go over the three questions asked first so they know what is included in the assignment.
Ask students to circle topics that they think would work for a 3 or 5 page paper/ project
As they choose topics, discuss if they are too broad or too narrow. (lead into next page)
This slide can serve as a way to get the students thinking about what is covered in Part B of the course, and also a short topic list to choose from if they are stuck and cant pick on their own.
Have students list possible topics on the board and have students state if it is ok, or if it could be more specific and offer some suggestions
Use an example from material that has already been covered in the course.
Show how a topic can be narrowed down, and then lead that to the second part question 1: Why is it a turning point?
Have students use whiteboard to complete number 2 for this sample event. What would they include?
Explain that this is the point of the research: to convince the reader that their event was a turning point in US History.
Have students look at the research project format options
Use polling to see which format that are thinking about choosing: A-D