Designing Better Research Assignments

Help your students discover a research topic while they are doing research. This activity guides students through the process of picking a topic while using a library database (this example uses Points of View Reference Center). Have students copy and complete this worksheet during the planning stages of research. When complete, students will have:

• thought about the assignment requirements (the research budget)
• considered their interests (the wishlist)
• browsed possible topic areas for inspiration (browsed aisles and sections)
• and begin to gather some potential sources (filled their shopping cart).

Read the Complete Exercise and Copy the Worksheet

(Activity designed by Drew Wallace)