ICT Research Topics

Research Skills – Thinking Required

  1. Questioning: See assignments below.
    1. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) topics below may be too broad to research for a 3 paragraph essay. Brainstorm 2 or 3 more specific questions.
    2. Review the Web Search In Plain English video. Create a list of words or phrases to begin an Internet search. Keep track of the words and phrases you use.
    3. Find the definitions of words you don’t know. Locate 1 or 2 possible sources of information.
    4. Narrow the topic to a more specific question. Your final question may not include what or how many. It should allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the topic.  Submit a question by the end of the class 1.
  2. Planning:
    1. Refine your list of keywords and phrases to use in a search. Keep track of this list in the word-processing document. document.
    2. Decide where to search. Remember the Deep Web.
  3. Gathering:
    1. Collect and record information from at least 2 reliable and valid sources of information. Use the 5 W’s to evaluate information sources.
    2. Create a bibliography entry for the resources you find. Use EasyBib to create a citation for each with an annotation. Placee these in the word-processing document. You will print and hand in the research question, list of keywords and phrases, plus a description of what search engine used, plus the bibliography with annotations by the end of class 2. The bibliography entry must be in hanging indent format. The annotation must be a bullet point under the bibliography entry.
  4. Sifting & Sorting & Analyzing:
    1. Take notes to support your topic. Organize the notes by information sources so you can correctly provide in-text citations later.
  5. Synthesizing & Evaluating:
    1. Develop an outline of the topic (see report below) The notes and outline will be printed and handed in at the end of class 3.
  6. Reporting: Communicate findings in written report. (3 paragraph minimum) Printed and handed in on class 4.

    1. Paragraph 1: Introduce the topic with a supported thesis statement.State the problem and your question. Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste.
    2. Paragraph 2: Provide specific examples to support your thesis statement. The examples to solve the problem. It must be supported by your research and from valid, reliable, appropriate information sources. Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste. One sentence may be a direct copy, but must be included within quotation marks.
    3. Paragraph 3: Your personal reflection as a Catholic student at ICS: How does this topic personally impact you? Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste.
    4. Intext citations for all information used are required.
    5. Formatting
      1. Your name, the Class Name and the date at the top left of the paper.
      2. Research question in bold, centered. Times New Roman size 18
      3. Paragraphs and bibliography in Times new Roman size 12, left justified. Do not indecnt paragraphs.
      4. Place one space after periods, commas, and questions.
      5. Spell check, Grammar check.
  7. Bibliography: Place the bibliography directly below the essay. Each bibliography entry must has a bullet point annotation explaining the validity of the information source. The bibliography entries must be in alphabetical order.
    1. Use EasyBib website to create the bibliography entries in MLA style.

Assessment will be based on the 6-Traits Writing Rubric and the Research Rubric located in the Documents tab on Sycamore. On the 6-traits rubric, you will assessed on Ideas, Organization, Voice and Conventions.

 

Topic Questions: Each students is assigned a topic to begin work but will narrow the topic to a more specific question. Students may share resources found but each student will research a different question.
  1. ‘Telecommuting’ refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting? 
  2. Technology is making communication easier in today’s world, but at the expense of personal contact as many students choose to study at home in front of a computer screen. 
  3. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication? 
  4. Internet: Could you be without it? Discuss.
  5. Telephone: Coud you be without it? discuss..
  6. The internet has great influence in shaping people’s ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.
  7. Does the Internet bring people of the world closer together? 
  8. Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future? 
  9. Smart phones are the solution to the digital divide (digital inequality). Discuss. 
  10. Not all countries allow or value freedom of the press. How does technology change a country’s ability to monitor information?
  11. You walk past a coffee shop and get an offer of a 10% discount on your smartphone. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of location tracking (or data mining or geotracking) ,
  12. Discuss the difficulties in censoring the flow of information in a society.
  13. Tweets, 140 characters at a time, can change the way society reacts. Discuss.
  14. All lectures in schools should be distributed as podcasts. Discuss pros and cons.
  15. Webapps enable students to collaborate and communicate which could reduce the amount of time needed in class. Discuss. 

Paraphrase Practice – Health Topics

Grades 6 and 7

  1. When “an idea is expressed in a complicated way, it can help to think about how you would explain it to somebody else. Retelling something in your own words, or paraphrasing, also helps you to remember what you read.”  Paraphrasing (Time for Kids)
  2. Select one of the articles on Staying Healthy to read or listen to.
  3. Open a new OpenOffice text document. Enter your name and the name of the article you read.
  4. Write a paragraph summary of the information, paraphrasing the information in your own words.
  5. Write in complete sentences using correct punctuation and grammar. Spell all words correctly.
  6. Select and Copy the URL of your source information website. Go to EasyBib. Paste the URL of the information source website into EasyBib to create a bibliography entry. Add an annotation. Select and copy the bibliography entry and the annotation.
  7. Paste the bibliography entry with annotation into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  8. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  9. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  10. Save the document in My Documents. Name the document with your last name and Health (for example, Smith Health)
  11. Place the document in the Paraphrase Health assignment in the class dropbox on Sycamore.

*** View ICS Digital Help Web Search Strategies ***

Citation Practice: War in Libya

  1. Read this article on War in Libya
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Place this in the War in Libya dropbox assignment on Sycamore.

Sample Student Work (Grade 7)

War in Libya
by Hailey A.

The war in Libya is growing. It started as an uprising in February, and now the U.S., Britain, and France are involved. On March 17, the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya (An). The United States is going to turn over major responsibility soon to another county.

Bibliography:

An, Vickie. “Time for Kids | News | War in Libya.” Time For Kids | Classroom. 21 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. <http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2060681,00.html>.

  • This website is a valid source because it is from Time magazine, a major news source.

*** View ICS Digital Help Web Search Strategies ***

Citation Practice: Goodbye, Space

  1. Read this article on Goodbye, Space!.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Place this in the Goodbye Space dropbox assignment.

Sample Student Work (Grade 7)

Discovery
by Dylan S.

 

The space shuttle Discovery has just gone on its last trip into space. It went to the International Space Station to add new storage space. Now that Discovery has been retired it will be added to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. (Zimbler)

Bibliography

Zimbler, Suzanne. “Time for Kids | News | Goodbye, Space!” Time For Kids | Classroom. 09 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2058053,00.html>.

  • I know it is a valid website because it is on Time magazine’s website, Time magazine is a well known magazine

 

Space
by Tyler S.

The space shuttle Discovery was working in space for 27 years carrying astronauts. The space shuttle was been on 39 missions going to space and back. Discovery’s final trip was to the International Space Station. Since 1998, 16 nations have been working together to build the space base 220 miles above Earth.365 days in space and has traveled a whopping 148 million miles since 1984.After 30 years NASA, plan is to begin work on new spaceships that can travel longer distances. Endeavor, another shuttle, is scheduled to make its final voyage next month. Museums across the country have requested the retired shuttles. (Zimbler)

Bibliography

 

Zimbler, Suzanne. “Time for Kids | News | Goodbye, Space!” Time For Kids | Classroom. 09 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2058053,00.html>.

  • This is a good website because it is a news company

Citation Practice: Nuclear Safety

  1. Read this article on U.S. nuclear safety in focus after Japan quake.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Save the article and place in the class dropbox.

Sample Student Work (8th Grade)

Nuclear
by Ariel M.

Japan’s earthquake and catastrophic events have nuclear plants worried in the United States about their readiness for disaster. Many people in the United States felt that Japan was more prepared for this then they appeared to be. However, while the general public may be concerned about the safety of the United States power plants, owners and engineering excepts are certain the the U.S. is well drilled and well prepared (U.S. Nuclear Safety).

Bibliography

“U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News.” Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc., 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/earlyshow/main20042815.shtml>.

  • This is valid because it is an article from an official news website.

 

Nuclear Power Plants in Japan
by Michele P.

The earthquake in Japan is a wake up call for our nuclear power plants here in the US. Many plants are located on fault lines, that may be hazardous if affected by an earthquake. Officials say that the nuclear power plants in California are well prepared for a disaster. The officials believe that we are more prepared then the Japanese were, and that the age of the power plants may be a contributer to the fall of the nuclear power plants in Japan ( U.S. Nuclear Saftey in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News).

Bibliography

“U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News.” Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. CBS, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/earlyshow/main20042815.shtml>.

  • This is a verifiable site because it was made by a news station and has an official publishing sponsor.