I-Search Papers

The Story of Your Search

The Paper

Three Sections

1. Story of the Search

2. What you learned

3. Your reflections on the search

I-Search Paper

1. Story of Search 2. What You Learned

3. Your Reflections on the Search

•What you knew

•What you wanted to know

•Research steps

•Good & Bad

Results of Search

•Answers you found

•Answers you didn’t find

What you learned from…

•Conducting searches

•Documenting a search

Selecting a Topic

• Use trigger phrases– I always wanted to know how to __________.– I need help with ______________________.

• Think of places you would like to go– Travel, colleges, careers, etc.

• What impacts your life?– Health, Money, Law, Education, Religion,

Entertainment, etc.

Starting a Search Journal

Date Research Results and Progress Thoughts on ProgressApril 11th I checked out a book from the library about

gangs, and I found an FBI website with anti-gang initiatives and partnerships.

Once Mr. Osborn helped me with some keywords, finding information became much easier.

April 13th I wanted to interview the mayor about gang violence in my city, but he was constantly busy or in meetings.

I should have tried to interview a police officer instead. I may have waited too long though.

April 14th I managed to ask a police officer at the grocery store a few questions about gangs in the area.

That quick interview was very helpful. The police officer told me about a recent arrest in the area.

Topic: Gang Violence

Evaluating Sources

Ask these questions to help you evaluate:

• When was the information published?– Would information about gangs from the 1980’s still be relevant?

• Does the information appear to be accurate?– Does the information match other information you found?– If not, check another source.

• Is the author giving a viewpoint?– Be on the lookout for bias or slanted information– Does the author have a motive?

Source Cards

1

Raptopoulos, Kilby. "Gangs." The Eighties in America. Ed. Milton Berman and Tracy Irons-Georges. Vol. 1. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 2008. 399-400. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.

Source number

Note Cards

• Direct Quotation– A memorable quote or passage from a source– Use quotation marks and copy the exact

words

• Summary– Main idea of a passage in your own words

• Paraphrase– Puts the author’s thoughts or ideas in your

own words

Note Cards – Direct Quotation

1

“Historically, gangs in the United States have been confined to urban areas, especially New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago. However, throughout the 1970's and 1980's, gangs spread to other urban areas and even to smaller cities in nearly all fifty states” (Raptopoulos 399)

Note Cards – Summary

1

Gangs are generally groups of young people from large cities who participate in crime and claim stake in a specific area.

(Page 399)

Note Cards - Paraphrase

1

The Crips, a gang originating from Los Angeles, began to spread across the continental United States as sales from crack cocaine flourished in the 1980’s.

(Raptopoulos 399)

Works Cited

• A list of sources in MLA format

• Put the sources in alphabetical order

• Only list the sources that you “cite” in your paper

• Format the works cited page according to MLA Style

Works Cited

Barbour, Scott, ed. Gangs. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Print.

“Gangs” FBI.gov. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2011

Raptopoulos, Kilby. "Gangs." The Eighties in America. Ed. Milton Berman and Tracy Irons-Georges. Vol. 1. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 2008. 399-400. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.

Works Cited - Sample

I-Search Paper Checklist

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