What you will be able to do
break an inquiry into tasks; match questions to suitable sources; record where information came from
Making a Research Plan
How does a research plan turn a question into manageable steps?
Activate what you know
Imagine planning a class display. Name one task that must happen before the display is finished
- research planan organized set of steps for investigating a question
- taskone piece of work in a larger plan
- keywordan important search word connected to a question
- sourcea person, object, document, image, or record that provides information
- citationa note identifying where information came from
- deadlinethe time by which work should be completed
1
Plan Before You Collect
A research plan prevents random searching. Begin with the compelling and supporting questions. For each supporting question, decide what evidence would help and which source might provide it. A map answers location questions better than a dictionary; a dated photograph may show change over time. List tasks in a sensible order. Some steps depend on earlier work: you need interview permission before recording, and you should learn basic background before writing interview questions. A realistic plan includes time to check evidence and revise the conclusion
2
Record Sources While You Work
Researchers record a source when they first use it, not days later. At Grade 3, a citation can list the title, creator or organization, date when available, and where the source was found. These details let another person locate and check the evidence. Plans can change. A source may be unavailable, too difficult, or unable to answer the question. Good researchers replace it, narrow the question, or ask for help. Revising a plan is evidence of thinking, not failure. A quick progress check can prevent wasted work: mark which supporting questions have evidence, which repeat information, and which still need a suitable source before drafting the final product
Question to Evidence
Every planned task should serve a question, and every proposed source should have a reason for being included
One Question per Row
Use a four-column organizer: supporting question, needed evidence, possible source, and completed. This makes missing steps visible
More Sources Are Not Automatically Better
Five repeated or weak sources may add less than two relevant, credible sources that answer different parts of the inquiry
Plan a Mini-Inquiry
Plan how to answer: ‘How does our public library help the community?’ Include two supporting questions, three source types, task order, and a simple source-log entry
A research plan links questions, evidence, sources, tasks, and time. A source log preserves where information came from, and plans should be revised when evidence requires it
Practice and answer guide
Work through all 10 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
- 1. What should guide every task in a research plan? A. the inquiry questions B. the brightest website C. the longest book
Check answer
The inquiry questions
- 2. Name a source suited to finding the date a public building opened
Check answer
Accept an official record, dated newspaper, building plaque checked against records, archive page, or agency history
- 3. Put in order: draft interview questions; receive informed permission to record; conduct and record the interview
Check answer
First draft the questions, next receive informed permission, then conduct and record the interview
- 4. Give two keywords for researching local bus routes
Check answer
Accept relevant terms such as the town name, bus, transit, route, schedule, or history
- 5. Which information belongs in a source log? A. title, creator, date, and location B. only your favorite color C. an unrelated guess
Check answer
Title, creator, date, and location
- 6. Why should a researcher record a source immediately?
Check answer
Immediate recording prevents lost details and keeps evidence connected to its origin
- 7. A planned source does not answer the question. Name one responsible revision
Check answer
Replace the source, narrow the question, seek help, or identify a better source
- 8. Write one task for the question: How has the town square changed?
Check answer
Accept a relevant task, such as compare dated photographs or locate two maps from different years
- 9. Explain why a deadline or task order helps a group
Check answer
It helps divide work, reveal dependencies, and finish needed steps on time
- 10. Which source set is stronger? A. a dated map and a city planning record B. three copies of the same unsourced post C. ten unrelated pictures
Check answer
A dated map and a city planning record