Persuasive Essay Search Plan

If you right-click on the links on this page and click on Open in New Window, you can refer back to this page for directions.
 

I. Question

    A. Topic  : State your topic as a phrase, then think of subtopics to support your topic. Make your topic as narrow as you can while still being able to find plenty of resources. The following sources are excellent places to look for topics.

            SIRS Knowledge Source ® http://sks.sirs.com/ See the OPHS library  for username and password. Click on the tab that says Database Features. In the left column, click on either Spotlight On... or Suggested Research Topics. Click on any topic you're interested in to see links for subject headings, keywords, and topic browse paths. Clicking on one of those will give you a list of relevant articles with summaries.

            Opposing Viewpoints Reference Center: Use the PWC Public Library Databases at http://www.pwcgov.org/library/ Click on Electronic Resources in the left column. Click on Opposing Viewpoints in the right column. Type your public library card number to access the databases. Click on Opposing Viewpoints again. If  you click on a link from this list of topics, articles on various viewpoints will be listed. Each one is an excellent essay that explains a particular viewpoint.

    B. Thesis Statement : Turn your topic into a question beginning with "should", then turn it into your thesis statement. Then turn your subtopics into subsidiary questions.
What are you looking for? The answers to your questions.

    C. Assignment : Use the Information Management Process to find information to answer your questions. Use the Eleventh Grade Research Writing Student Handbook http://www.pwcs.edu/curriculum/la/la.htm#research as your guide (see the section near the top of the page).
 

II. Locate Resources

    A. Keywords  : List important words to use to look up your topic in an index or electronic resource.

    B. Resources :Using these types of resources in this order will  help you use your time wisely.

       1. Encyclopedias (print and online) Use encyclopedias only as a beginning point, for background information on your topic.

            Grolier Online Use the PWC Public Library Databases http://www.pwcgov.org/library/ When the PWPLS page opens, click on Electronic Resources on the right. Click on one of the encyclopedias (Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, New Book of Knowledge, or New Book of Popular Science). Enter your PWPLS library card number. Once you're logged in, use the search box at the lower right-hand corner of the page to do a full-text search on your keywords. Evaluate the list of results to find articles that help answer your questions. Remember to write the bibliography citation as an online database article! (See the colored links below.)

        2. Online Subscription Databases These are collections of magazine, newspaper, and encyclopedia articles, as well as many other excellent resources. They are worth the money that they cost because they are professionally selected from reliable sources.

            SIRS Knowledge Source ® http://sks.sirs.com/ See the OPHS library  for username and password. SIRS Discoverer ® http://discoverer.sirs.com/ has articles that are easier to read and can be sorted by reading level. These are provided by the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

            PWC Public Library Databases http://www.pwcgov.org/library/ Click on Electronic Resources in the left column. Click on a database in the right column. Type your public library card number to access the databases. You might need to choose the database again from a list.

            FindItVA http://www.finditva.com/ Use your public library card number to access these databases.

        3. Books

          OPHS Library Catalog Use the library catalog at school (in the Novell-delivered Applications window). Searching by Subject works best for this.

            PW Public Library System Catalog  http://www.pwcgov.org/library/ Click Library Catalog (on left), then click OPAC, to search for books.

        4. World Wide Web Sites These can be trash or treasure; evaluate very carefully.

            Google http://www.google.com This is a good search engine to use; it's easy to tell the results apart from the ads.

        5. Periodicals (print magazines and newspapers)

Online Periodical Sites http://booklady9.home.comcast.net/perioweb.htm (Coming soon!) Many of the magazines and newspapers that we subscribe to are also available online.

      6. Interviews

             If you know someone who is an expert on your topic, you can get research information from interviewing him or her.
 

III. Evaluate Resources

    A. Relevant (does it have the information I need?)
    B. Readable (remember the 5-finger rule)
    C. Accurate
    D. Current (varies according to topic)
    E. Unbiased

After you evaluate your resource, before you start taking notes,

WRITE YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY CITATION.

    A. Skim for relevant information
    B. Read for answers to questions
    C. Write notes about answers to your questions
    D. Organize information
 

V. Synthesize

    A. Combine information from different sources
    B. Combine with prior knowledge
    C. Come to conclusion based on information found
    D. Decide how to share what was learned