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I-Search Assignment Biography

This document provides instructions for students to complete an I-Search paper on a biography topic of their choosing. The paper requires students to research their topic in-depth and include five sections: 1) My Questions, 2) My Search Process, 3) What I Have Learned, 4) What This Means to Me, and 5) References. Students are guided through selecting a topic, brainstorming initial questions, taking notes from multiple sources, writing paragraphs addressing their questions, and reflecting on what they learned and how it affects them. The goal is for students to gain research skills and knowledge on a topic that interests them personally.

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202 views

I-Search Assignment Biography

This document provides instructions for students to complete an I-Search paper on a biography topic of their choosing. The paper requires students to research their topic in-depth and include five sections: 1) My Questions, 2) My Search Process, 3) What I Have Learned, 4) What This Means to Me, and 5) References. Students are guided through selecting a topic, brainstorming initial questions, taking notes from multiple sources, writing paragraphs addressing their questions, and reflecting on what they learned and how it affects them. The goal is for students to gain research skills and knowledge on a topic that interests them personally.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:

Date:

Homeroom:
I-Search

Grade 6 I-SEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT

Biography
EXPLANATION: Over the past few weeks, we have read multiple biographies and
autobiographies. We have explored text features, text structures, and pulled themes
from each. Now we will put all of those skills to good use while creating an I-Search
Paper.

Review: WHAT IS AN I-SEARCH PAPER?: An I-Search Paper is when a student selects


a topic that is important to him/her and conducts thorough research on that topic by
evaluating several sources of informational text. There are five components of an ISearch Paper:
o
o
o
o
o

My Questions
My Search Process (3 or more sources used)
What I Have Learned
What This Means to Me
References

GUIDELINES FOR AN I-SEARCH PAPER:


Your report is made up of five sections, each with a special purpose (see above). The
ideas listed in these guidelines are suggestions that you as the author should consider as
you write your report for your audience (teachers, students, friends, and parents).
1. MY QUESTIONS (written in first person): Refer to Type 1 Writing in packet
In this section I should:
Draw the reader into my topic with a good lead/hook (for example, a story, quote,
question).
Describe what I knew about the topic when I started the search and what I wanted
to learn more about (why I chose this person).
Clearly state my search questions
2. MY SEARCH PROCESS (written in first person): Refer to T-chart (How I found
this info in packet)
In this section I should:
Basic information this time- let me know about your good sources and why they
were used
NO FACTS FROM RESEARCH JUST YET!
3. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED (written in first person): Refer to T-charts specific
notes in packet and paragraph written
In this Section I should:
Include the FACTS that you learned!

THIS SHOULD BE AT LEAST 3 PARAGRAPHS IN LENGTH, AND SHOULD INCLUDE


QUOTES FROM YOUR SOURCES. Your paragraphs should be in your own words with
ONE brief quote.
Focus on three or four major findings or conclusions. These ideas should be the
answers to your questions. Support my conclusions with examples, details, stories,
and arguments that would help my reader understand how I arrived at my
conclusions.
Compared these findings with my original questions.
Suggest further questions or areas to explore at another time.

4. WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME (written in first person): Refer to reflection


section in packet
In this section I should:
What did you find surprising? Did you think you knew something that was
incorrect?
This is YOUR OPINION
Explain how this work will affect the way I act toward or think about people in the
future.
Appreciate myself as a researcher and a writer (for example, persisting, making
some independent decisions about my writing, helping another student, taking
risks).

5. REFERENCES
In this section I should:
Have all of my references in alphabetical order.
Use the correct format for each reference

You will be guided through the entire process of I-Search step-by-step. Your starting point
is on the next page.

GETTING STARTED: You must first identify several questions or topics that are related
to a specific person that you are interested in learning about . Think
about the people who you admire, the people that we discuss in class, the people that
you learn about in Social Studies.

Brainstorm four people that interest you on a personal level:


1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Now, circle the topic from your list above that most interests you. Show your teacher the
topic you have chosen to make sure it is appropriate. This will be your research topic!

MY QUESTIONS: (This will be a portion of part 1 of your paper!)


Write a paragraph of at least five lines detailing what you know about your person and
why you picked it.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Share with your partner when you have completed your writing. Your partners job is to
ask questions to help better understand the topic completely. Your partner should feel
free to offer information and give advice.
Notes:

Working with your partner, brainstorm a minimum of 3 questions important to your


topic-What do you need to know about your topic?
1. Sample Question Why did this person want to be president?
2. Sample Question How was their campaign? Was it challenging? What were the
challenges?

3. Sample Question Who did this person admire and look up to? How did that push this
person to do what they did?
List your questions here: (This will be the other portion of part 1 of your paper!)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: These questions need approved by teacher! Questions may need to be adapted /
refined once the research begins.
Brainstorm key-words to search on the internet below.

To begin researching, we will use guided note taking. Please DO NOT MOVE AHEAD
without direction from your teacher.
Question 1: ____________________________________________________________________________
Sources / Notes

How I found this info (My Search Process)

List the good sites here as a biography.

Write a paragraph with a strong topic sentence (Your question) and include your findings
for supporting details(Research /what you learned). Do not write about the search
process here.

Question 2: ____________________________________________________________________________
Sources / Notes

How I found this info (My Search Process)

Write a paragraph with a strong topic sentence (Your question) and include your findings
for supporting details(Research /what you learned). Do not write about the search
process here.

Question 3: ____________________________________________________________________________
Sources / Notes

How I found this info (My Search Process)

Write a paragraph with a strong topic sentence (Your question) and include your findings
for supporting details(Research /what you learned). Do not write about the search
process here.

Reflection on Research: (Section 4 of your paper)

Focus on research conducted. Explain what surprised me or really stood out for me?
What does all this information mean to me?

SAMPLE Paragraph (Focus on any/all


Research):
After researching this person, the one thing that really stood to me was
All in all, (What does all this research mean to you?) I would still like to
learn more about it, but I may also now be interested in learning more
about OR after researching this person, I found that this is definitely what
I thought I knew because
Write your reflection here:

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