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STEP 2: Research Skills & StrategiesWriting a historical research paper is a process. Successful papers are not completed in a single moment of inspiration but are developed over a series of steps. When you first hear the theme you might feel overwhelmed. If you think of writing as a process and break it down into smaller steps, you will find that paper-writing is manageable, less daunting, and even enjoyable. Writing a history paper is your opportunity to do the real work of historians, to roll up your sleeves and dig deep into the past.
History papers are driven by arguments. It is key to support your argument with evidence. This module focuses on identifying reliable sources, recording discovered evidence, and documenting sources. After you select a topic based on the theme which caused a significant change in history, you start researching. Let's dive in. |
What Are Sources?Determine the different between primary and secondary sources. Also take inventory of the variety of resources available in your school, community, state, and online.
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Research StrategiesUse the 'Research Strategies' worksheet to develop ideas on the types and locations of sources relative to your research. These ideas will be helpful when you begin accessing materials and meet with librarian and others.
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'SPICE' Characteristics for CategorizingThe use of different Social Studies lenses known as SPICE(E) is key for analyzing historical events and drawing conclusions. Use the 'SPICE(E) Characteristics' handout terms and words when searching for evidence. Also use the them to categorize the evidence while note taking.
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Establish A Note Taking SystemYour teacher will determine the preferred system such as online systems NoodleTools or Google Docs or an index card system. NoodleTools is free for NHD projects. The school has to establish an account and provide registration information.
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Source CardsCreate a source card for all of the resources used to gather evidence. Select the type of source and complete the form. Also identify if it is a primary or secondary source. In addition, complete the annotation after completing notes from the source. IMPORTANT to complete sources and annotations while researching. A phone APP for NoodleTools is available for documenting some sources.
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Note Cards
Using the 'Questions to Explore' and 'SPICE(E) Characteristics for guidance, create individual notecards with evidence answering the questions. Each card should be tied to a source cards. Only put one idea per card. You can copy a direct quote or paraphrase the information. You do need to complete the 'Original Thinking' portion to explain how evidence answers question. Also include tags such as paragraph number (P#), SPICE(E) characteristic, and terms words. Make sure to answer a variety of questions from different sections and consider both sides of the story.
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