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Innovation in History Research Project Mrs. Bray - Language Arts |
| Topic and Questioning | Information Searching | Organizing Information | Creating | Evaluating |
| Topic and Questioning |
Topic: Innovation in History: Impact and Change
Our research project is based on National History Day's 2010 topic: "Innovation in History: Impact and Change." Although you are not required to complete an entry for National History Day, you may find historical research exciting enough to continue after our project!
"The study of history is the art of asking questions." (National History Day, 2010 packet)
National History Day Provided Questions:
Build a historical understanding how an innovation can cause impact and change in history. See Mrs. Bray's list of sample topics. Please test your topic with these questions - what fits the theme, and what does not? What topics make you WANT to know the answers to the questions? (Remember - if your topic is boring to you, it will be boring to your audience later!)
What is innovation?
What is "in history"?
Why did this innovation happen at this particular time and in this particular place?
In what ways was the innovation new?
What need in society did the innovation fill and what changes occurred to society because of the innovation?
What benefits did the innovation provide, and to whom?
How did people react initially, in the short term (within a few years), and over the longer term (in later years), to the new idea, arrangement, organization, or technology?
How did it change people's ides, scientific knowledge, everyday behavior, political processes, etc.?
Class Activity: Scavenger Hunt
| Information Searching |
What sources will help you find the answers to your questions and provide
background reading? Remember to seek out primary sources!
GALILEO databases will need a password for home use!
National History Day Research Central
Secondary Sources (second-hand, interpreting the original source)
Encyclopedia Britannica Online (GALILEO) - excellent for basic information on wars, civil rights, women's rights, etc.
History Reference Center (GALILEO) - historical magazine articles - use the Lexile Reading Level to choose Middle School only articles!
Middle Search Plus (GALILEO) - magazine articles
World History Collection (GALILEO) - articles, encyclopedia, etc.
SIRS Discoverer (GALILEO) - magazine articles
New Georgia Encyclopedia - encyclopedia information all about Georgia
Google Books - find full-text and limited preview books (see "advanced search" to search by year)
Use books, newspapers, and magazines available in the school or public library
Primary Sources (first-hand, direct from the source)
Annals of American History (GALILEO) - primary documents from American History (speeches, letters, articles, etc.)
Digital Library of Georgia - primary sources on Georgia History
Google Books - find full-text and limited preview books (see "advanced search" to search by year)
Library of Congress - primary source topic search
If using web sites from a search engine like Google, please evaluate for quality using RADCAB: http://www.radcab.com
| Organizing and Evaluating Information |
How will I record and organize the information?
Historical Context Graphic Organizer (in class)
Remember to "interrogate" your sources:
How will I give credit to my sources?
I will turn in a bibliography page of all the resources I used to answer the
research questions. Easybib.com.
Remember: Keep up with your sources as you go - it's hard to go back!
| Creating |
Collect information from a variety of sources and CREATE!
| Evaluating |
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Timeline for assignment: |
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| Monday, Nov. 2 | NHD Video, theme, and discussion |
| Friday, Nov. 6 | Bring 2 topics and 1 non-topic |
| Mon-Tues, Nov 9-10 | Scavenger Hunt |
| Wed-Thurs, Nov 11-12 |
Share/evaluate scavenger hunt, select topic, and begin historical context graphic organizer |
| Fri, Nov 13; Monday, Nov. 16 | Thesis statement and Research Questions |
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Week 2 |
Independent research, drafting, revising, etc. |
SELF-CHECK! See National History Day Rubrics.