Students new to the research process often have difficulty knowing where to begin. Using the assignment worksheet, they'll learn to begin at the beginning: with a research topic! This two-part assignment first asks a series of questions to help the student define and focus a research topic of their choice; then, the student walks through the process of creating a research strategy for their topic by completing tasks, from selecting important keywords for the search, to choosing appropriate databases to conduct searches.

OBJECTIVES

Students will:

• Define and focus a research topic
• Develop a research strategy for a research topic

INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION

1. Adapt or copy the accompanying worksheet, Explore your Topic and distribute to students.

ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS

1. Students first complete QuickStudy Module 2: Designing a Research Strategy in order to understand the process of designing an effective research strategy.

2. Students then complete the worksheet, Explore Your Topic.

3. Instructor discusses with the class the process of choosing a researchable research topic, choosing one of the student's topics for demonstration.

4. Students are given an opportunity to revise their worksheets and then turn them in for instructor's review.

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