Procedure Guide: I-SEARCH

Purpose To provide a student-centered research paper that allows student to select a topic of interest.

Preparation

• Design a graphic handout and transparency that gives explicit directions for students.

Before

• Explain the purpose of the activity to the students.
• Use the directions graphic organizer to provide the students with thoughts you might have as you worked through the steps of the I-Search.
• Have students choose a topic that they will remain interested over the entire activity.
• Explain that both primary and secondary sources must be used.

During

Student instructions for research:

• Share topics in class to get possible referrals to experts to interview.
• Consult experts or authorities about location of pertinent information; for example, books, magazines, newspapers, reliable Internet sites.
• Plan how best to approach your expert for an interview.
• Become familiar with the topic before interviewing the expert(s).
• Interview the expert(s).
• Find out how an expert's peers rate the expert you interviewed and how they rate the information your expert gave you.

After

• Student directions for writing the paper
• Use narrative format to write the account of the search. Include important or interesting information in the order that the events occurred.
• In the paper, discuss:

What you knew-or didn't know when the topic was selected.

Why you are writing the paper.

Why this topic will have an influence on your life.

Tell about the search.

What you learned-or didn't learn, and what was gained from the experience.

Include a list of sources and experts for documentation.

Using self-editing and peer-editing procedures revise the I-Search.

Assessment

Accuracy I-Search content

Choice of appropriate expert

Completeness and structure of I-Search

I mprovement of revision over draft.