Page 77 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Writing Workshop 6 (continued)
4. Using the practice and modeling from the previous activities, work with your small group to find authoritative and reliable primary and secondary sources for the topic your group has chosen to research. Use the materials from the previous activity to help you judge the value of the sources that you find.
5. Once you have found, examined, and judged these sources, take notes on cards and record the bibliographic information for each source from which you have taken information. Be sure to paraphrase and use direct quotes to avoid plagiarism.
6. After finishing the first round of research on your class topic, examine and discuss the research you have done. Create additional questions that will help broaden or narrow your original topic so you can refine the topic and collect more focused information, if necessary.
7. After completing your additional research, assemble the information into a report and prepare to present it orally. Use the following process to build your report:
• Write a thesis that answers your research question.
• Compose paragraphs that support the thesis with the most useful and authoritative information you have gathered on the research topic.
• Write a conclusion to your report that follows from and supports the research information presented.
• Read and revise your paragraphs for effective topic sentences and to improve the organization of the information.
• Use both paraphrasing and direct quotation. Cite your sources so that a reader can easily understand where the information came from by using your Works Cited page.
• Review your writing to make sure that you do not include any misplaced or dangling modifiers.
• Present your research findings, including a Works Cited page.
Refer to the Scoring Guide for this writing task—it will help you understand where to focus your attention and efforts.
8. In groups, be ready to present your findings to the class.
ACTIVITY 4
Independent Research
1. For this task, follow the same process to research a topic and present it to your peers. Remember to:
• Choose a topic that can be researched.
• Create a major research question that limits and focuses your research topic. • Use the Research Plan graphic organizer from previous activities to create a
research plan, identifying valid sources.
• Conduct the research and take notes.
• Examine your findings and determine additional questions for research. • Assemble your findings into a report for presentation to your peers.
• Write a thesis statement and paragraph, supporting paragraphs, and a
conclusion.
10 SpringBoard® Writing Workshop with Grammar Activities Grade 8
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