Library Services

8th Grade History/Language Arts: Human Rights

Introduction

 

Task Definition

STEP 1 in the research process is to define the problem to be solved, and determine the need for specific information in order to solve the problem. Therefore, before you begin your research, you will need to do the following:

1. Confirm with your History Teacher that you understand that this is an interdisciplinary research unit focusing on the concept of the sanctity of life and the dignity of individuals and groups.
2. Connect this concept to prior knowledge gained through lessons in your history class.
3. Determine that by the end of this research project, you will be able to answer the following Essential Questions: (why, what if, how). Link to Essential Question Research Pathfinder to identify your topic and generate your essential question. Link to the research topic list for possible ideas.

What would have been needed for the _______ to have successfully resisted the ________?

• What were the causes and consequences of the _______?
• What were the human costs the________?
• How can one successfully combat injustice, bigotry, and racism in one's community?

 

Access Information

 

Task Definition

STEP 2 in the research process is to recognize the kind of information you need based on the research question you are trying to answer. Therefore, before you begin your research, you will need to do the following:

1. Confirm your research topic choice with your Language Arts Teacher. You can narrow or broaden your topic through pre-research using World Book Online. If you are having trouble selecting a topic you can use the online tutor, i-Tutor: Picking a Topic or by reading Selecting a Research Topic.
2. Confirm the number of subtopics you will need for this project with your Language Arts teacher. A subtopic is also your "focus point" used in note-taking. You will take several notes per subtopic so make sure the subtopic is broad enough.
3. Confirm your thesis statement with your Language Arts Teacher. If you are having trouble developing a thesis statement, you can consult a Thesis Statement Generator.
4. Confirm with your Language Arts Teacher the the project/product you will be creating. Projects could be created using the following:
   1. Powtoons for Education. To find out how to use Powtoons, watch Powtoons Tutorial
   2. Easel.ly. To find how to use Easel.ly, watch How to Make an Infographic with Easel.ly.
   3. Prezi for Education. To find out how to use Prezi, watch Prezi Tutorial
   4. PowerPoint or "Presentation" through Google Docs.
   5. Voki: Watch the Official Voki Tutorial to learn how to create a Voki.
5. Review with your Language Arts teacher, all the components you will need to complete the project:
   1. Checklist for Research
   2. Google Slides Note-taking System or Note Sheets for Handwritten Notes or Note Sheets for Digital Note-taking. Note sheet digital website. Please note that the Google Slides Note-taking system is identified as the method for taking notes in the remainder of this assignment, but you and your Language Arts teacher may choose these other methods of note-taking.
   3. Project Outline
   4. Works Cited Document
   5. Final Project, or link to Final Project
   6. Project Self Evaluation (Word) or Project Self Evaluation (PDF)
6. Make sure you can log in to your G-drive so you can save these components of your project.
7. Confirm with your teacher due dates for the various components of your project. Record this information on your Checklist for Research

Information Seeking Strategies and Location and Access STEP 3 is to identify the resources you need to answer the question. You will need to gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources. Then you must and take effective notes, and cite your resources (let your teacher know where you got your information, making sure you avoid plagiarism [Copyright and Fair Use Animation from Common Sense Media] while using a standard format for citation). Sometimes knowing how to cite a resource can be difficult. Easybib provides some suggestions on the Frequent Citation Questions page.

• You will need to take notes using the Google Slides Note-taking System. Your teacher will review this system with you and tell you the minimum number of notes to take using the following print and digital resources.

Encyclopedia

1. Locate at least one encyclopedia article in electronic format using World Book Online.
2. See World Book Student Online Video Tutorial, for assistance in using this resource.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the article and copy the MLA citation. Paste it in the appropriate section of the Google Slides Note-taking slide for online encyclopedia. Highlight the citation and create a hyperlink to the article for further research.
4. You will either print your article or you will have to toggle back and forth between your Google Slides Note-taking System and the online encyclopedia in order to take notes. Your Language Arts Teacher will guide you in taking notes using your source.

Journal or Newspaper Article

1. Locate at leastone journal/magazine/newspaper source that provides information about your topic using SIRS Discoverer.
2. See SIRS Discoverer 2 Minute Video for a quick overview of this resource.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the article and copy the MLA citation. Paste it in the appropriate section of the Google Slides Note-taking slide for Journal or Newspaper Article. If your SIRS resource is something other than a Journal or Newspaper Article, please see SIRS Citation Guidelines.
4. You will either print the article or toggle back and forth between your Google Slides Note-taking System and the SIRS article in order to take notes. Your Language Arts teacher will guide you in taking notes using your source.

Book--Print Resource

1. Access the online library catalog from the Richland Junior High/Redwood Library and use it to search for an informational book on your topic. Please write down the call number and bring it with you to check out the book.The due date on this book will be one week instead of two so please bring it back as soon as possible for use by another student. If you need a review on how to search for a book in the library, please watch the screencast Basic Search in the Library. If you are trouble finding a book using this simple search method, please watch the screen cast Call Number Limiter in Destiny.
2. Once you have your book you will have to create a citation. Please refer to the title page of your book in order to complete the necessary information on Easybib or World Book Citation Builder. Please link to World Book Citation Builder Tutorial for instructions on how to use this resource.
3. Generate the citation and then copy and paste it to the Book Citation note slides on your Google Slides Note-taking System
4. Your Language Arts teacher will guide you in taking notes using this print resource.

Primary Source

1. Please refer to What is a Primary Source or watch the video Primary vs. Secondary Sources if you are unsure about what you will need to fulfill this requirement. Please confirm with your Language Arts Teacher, the number and type of primary sources that would be appropriate for your topic. Start by looking on SIRS Discoverer, World Book Online, or preselected websites. You can also locate print resources for primary sources, including autobiographies, memoirs, journals, diaries and photographs. If you find a print resource, and are not taking notes from the resource, but would rather use an image, you will have to scan it into a digital format to use in your project. You can find print resources by searching Richland Junior High/Redwood Library. If you decide to search the internet for primary sources, images or recordings you can narrow your search focus by using Boolean Operators. Link to the video, Boolean Operators for an explanation of this method.You can also read about it under the heading Search Syntax of Search Tips for SIRS Discoverer.
2. Please refer to Citing Primary Sources: MLA from the Library of Congress for assistance in determining how to cite these works. You may also refer to Easybib's "All 59 Options" and use this citation builder to create your citation.
3. Save both the image or notation and citation information onto the Google Slides Note-taking System Primary Source Slide.

Images

1. Please confirm with your Language Arts Teacher how many images you will need to complete your project. You may copy and paste any image found on World Book Online into your Google Slides Note-taking System to access when you are creating your project. Please view Advanced Search for Specific Resources on World Book Online, for help in searching this resource for images, videos, and recordings.
2. Create a citation for this image. Citing Online Images is a good resource to consult on how to give credit for images found online and then copy and paste it on your Google Slides Note-taking System with the corresponding image. You can also use Easybib to create this citation. Look under "All 59 Options".
3. Save both the image and citation information onto the Google Slides Note-taking System Image Slide.

Recordings

1. Please confirm with your Language Arts Teacher if recording will be appropriate for your project. You will likely need to search for this recording. Please start with preselected websites, before conducting an online search on your own.
2. Create a citation for this recording. You can use Easybib to create this citation. Look under "All 59 Options."
3. Save both the recording link and citation information onto the Google Slides Note-taking System recording Slide.

 

Use Information

 

Synthesis

STEP 4 is to use your subtopics and notes to create an outline. Using your Google Slides Note-taking System that you have saved into your G-Drive, sort the "notecards" by Subtopics and then further sort these Subtopics into Supporting Idea(s). Review your sequence with your Language Arts Teacher before creating your Project Outline based on this sequence. View How to Use Your Notes to Prepare to Create an Outline, if you need help with this process. Save the Google Slides Note-taking System into your G-drive.

STEP 5 View the screencast, Creating a Project Outline using Google Docs, for instructions on how to create an outline based on your notes. Save this document to your G-drive.

STEP 6 Create a Works Cited page. You may view the screencast, How to Create a Work Cited Page for more information on how to do this.

STEP 7 Put all the information you have gathered together through the creation of the digital product you identified in Step 1, part 4. Save your project into your G-Drive.

 

Evaluate

 

STEP 8 is to evaluate your process and product to determine if you solved the problem, proved your thesis, and created a product that met the standards set out in the Project Self Evaluation (Word) or Project Self Evaluation (PDF) You will need to do this before you turn in your assignment.

STEP 9 Make sure that you have completed the Checklist for Research, and then inform your teacher(s) that you have completed the project and you are ready for it to be evaluated. Your History Teacher will grading for content. Your Language Arts Teacher will be grading all other components.

STEP 10 Make a plan with your History Teacher for sharing your project with other students.

 

Credits

 

This project was developed by Richland School District teachers Angelica Martinez and Connie Koop from an adapted webquest collaboratively planned, taught, and assessed by the following teachers at Liberty High School, Mac Blate, World Historty, Denice Lane, English 10, Melanie Lewis, Teacher Librarian, Rebecca Harp-Sligh, English 10H and Trent Wilson, AP European History. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial• Share-Alike license for details.