Planning Your Project

• Step 1- Identify your topic. Selecting a topic that is workable is the most important part of the project.

• Step 2- Create six questions to help you find out the who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Choosing Research Materials

• Gather research materials.• Begin with general books

such as your textbook, notes from class, or encyclopedias.

• Next, search for library books.

• Your research material must be nonfiction.

Distinguishing Fact From Opinion

• First determine if the source is trustworthy.

• Second, determine if the source is biased or untrustworthy by looking for opinions in the text.

• Historical research should rely on facts and primary sources rather than opinion.

Researching on the Internet

• Reliable articles will be signed by well-known experts on the subject.

• Authors should include details about their credentials.

• An article may also be worth using if the article is on the site of a university, government office , or museum, it is probably reliable.

Web URLs

• The ending of a URL tells a great deal about the content.

• .gov- governemt entity. Probably contains accurate data.

• .edu- site for an educational institution. Pride themselves on accuracy, however sites may contain opinions in addition to facts.

• .org- may be very accuarte, however, often gather information to support their cause.

Plagiarism

• To present the ideas or words of another person as your own.

• To avoid plagiarism, follow these rules:

1. Put information in your own words.

2. When you restate an opinion from something you read, include a reference to the author: “According to Thomas and Jones,…”

3. Always include a footnote when you use a direct quotation from one of your sorces.