AGENDA: “Making It Work” February 24, 2004
A Seminar on Student Research for History and Social Science Teachers,
Sweetwater Union High School District
Ann M. Johns, SDSU and Sharon Leslie, SUHSD, Facilitators
[Contact information: ajohns@cox.net; http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~annjohns/
sharon.leslie@suhsd.k12.ca.us]
Goals for participants:
• To explore the purposes for research and identify barriers to
student research
• To become more familiar with the district research sequence and
the standards for students at different academic levels.
• To share research successes and activities with colleagues.
• To analyze sample papers exemplifying the research projects at
each academic level.
• To make a research plan for one of your classes, with particular
emphasis upon one or two research skills.
• To work with selected Tailored Research Activities (TRAs) from
the Manual for Student Research.
• To discuss possibilities for action research and publication.
1. Opening:
Sharon Leslie, History/Social Science Curriculum Specialist, SUHSD
2. Introductions:
Participants and facilitators (Sharon)
3. Think,
Ink, Pair, Share: What is research? (Ann/pairs)
4. Why
do students have difficulty conducting research? (Groups/Ann)
Handout A: Why do students have difficulty…
5. The
SUHSD Research Sequence: (Sharon, information posted in seminar room)
6. Examining
Sample Papers for Historical and Social Science Analysis Skills and
Other Elements(See Supplement with Sample Papers) (groups/Ann)
Handout B: What do the papers indicate about how an assignment should
be scaffolded and which analytical
skills should be emphasized?
Lunch
7. An overview
of the full seminar (Today, April 20 & June 1)
Handout C: Planning for April 20, June 1 and beyond.
8. Making
a Research Plan (groups/Sharon & Ann)
Handout D: Making a classroom research plan
9. Structuring
researchable questions: (groups/Ann & Sharon)
Handout E: Structuring researchable questions
From The American Journey: Building a Nation (8th grade)
pp. 32, 33, 34 & 41
10. Assisting
students in organizing their reading and research: (Ann)
(Supplement: Headed Papers: Manual for Student
Research, TRA 16)
11. Selecting
TRAs from the Manual for Student Research appropriate to research.Look
especially at the following: (groups)
TRA 4: Analyzing primary sources
TRA 8: Identifying, defining, and selecting words to
introduce citations
TRA 12: Recognizing the author’s perspectives or biasesTRA 17:
Avoiding plagiarism
12. Wrap-up:
Planning for future meetings; keeping in touch (Ann/Sharon)