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Ela 8

Getting Started on your research

Check out some of these reliable websites to get started on your research. Make sure to keep track of where you found your information!

PBS  - helpful for current events

History Channel - great for historical events

Encyclopedia Britannica - helpful for general/background information

Women's History - excellent source if your topic is a woman!

Smithsonian - world's largest museum

Biographies - remember to focus on info relevant to civil disobedience!

Paraphrasing

What is paraphrasing?

  • Repeating information in your own words.
  • Paraphrasing is more detailed than a summary, but more concise than a quotation.

When do we paraphrase?

  • We use this in all types of writing, including research and narrative writing.
  • Haven't you ever re-told someone else's story? You probably didn't quote them word-for word!

Why do we need to paraphrase?

  • Simplifies complex information
  • Ensures you actually understand the information
  • Prevents you from quoting too often/too much

How to paraphrase:

  1. Read over carefully what you want to paraphrase.
  2. Flip the paper over or cover up the text.
  3. Write the ideas in your own words.
  4. Check your version against the original. If there are phrases you can't re-word, put them in quotation marks.
  5. Include a citation.

RESEARCH BASICS

1. Form a question: This question will be centered around your person/organization and civil disobedience.

2. Decide on resources: Not every resource is good for every question/problem! The sites to the left are good starting points, but you'll want to include books and databases too. Universities and museums are also great resources for this type of research.

3. Take notes: As you read, write down important information. Make sure to focus on information related to your research question!

4. Keep track: Make sure you know where each piece of information came from so you can properly cite it.

5. Create citations: inside the text (in parentheses) and also on the Works Cited page.

6. Write your paper! This is when you have to synthesize all the information in an organized way that answers your question.