Saskatoon Public Schools

Navigating the Research Highway:
Everything You Need to Know About Doing Research
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Final Product
Thesis  Statement
Essay Planning
Note Taking/
 Recording  Information
Referencing  Sources
Criteria for  Evaluating  Sources
Assignments
Credits
   

Let's Brainstorm Some Possibilities!

Here are two ways:

Do A Concept Map

A Concept Map is a graphic diagram that shows the relationship among ideas by specifically linking the ideas with words that describe their relationship.

How To Create A Concept Map

  1. Identify a concept.
  2. Jot down all the major ideas you can think of that relate to that topic. Use only one word to symbolize each idea. Concepts will become increasingly more specific as you identify ideas that link to them.
  3. Link the ideas/words you identified in step #2 with a phrase that connects them and gives them meaning.
  4. Rearrange the ideas/words if necessary to ensure that the relationships are clear.

Concept Map Example

Create A Web of Ideas

An Idea Web is very similar to a concept map. Like a concept map, a web map is a way of organizing your information visually or graphically. Webbing allows you to show how different groups of information relate to one another. Unlike in concept maps, however, the links used in webbing are not very specific. When you want to generate your ideas quickly and show the connections among a large number of words or ideas, a web is a good thing to use, for example when you're brainstorming.

How to Create A Web Map

  1. Write your main idea word in the centre of your paper and circle it.
  2. Brainstorm a word that relates to it, circle it, and connect it to your first word with a line. Continue generating words and connecting them in this fashion so that each new word radiates out from the word to which it relates.
  3. Repeat this process with some or all of the words you generated in step #2 creating further patterns of relationships.

Web Map Example

Either of these can be created using paper and pencil or the "rapid fire" feature in the Inspiration software program on your school's computer network.

 
 
 
 
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