Exploring+your+Topic

As you begin to research your topic, you will quickly realize that the VAST amount of information that we talked about in class needs to be filtered and managed. But how do you do this?


 * Start with a clear goal in mind:**
 * Generate the question that you want to answer.
 * Pull out key search terms from your question
 * Use thesaurus.com to generate synonyms for these terms
 * Consider the general category that your topic falls under
 * Now you have some search terms to start your search, and you can move to the next step.


 * Start Searching:**

Instead of a general Google search, try an **advanced search** to further limit your search parameters: @http://www.google.com/advanced_search

Do you want to see who is **blogging** about your topic? Use a Google blog search. @http://www.google.com/blogsearch

Do you want to see what information **"the invisible web"** has on your topic? Search infomine. This will show you databases and other unindexed pages. Some are fee based, but many are free. @http://infomine.ucr.edu/


 * Capture your Research in Evernote:**

Using the webclipper or by creating a note, gather your research in your research notebook. Four entries due in class on Monday.

In a paragraph of at least 5 thoughtful sentences, discuss the questions that are most pertinent to you:
 * Process Journal # 5: Due by the end of class on Monday:**

What, specifically, are you learning about your topic so far? What concerns, if any, do you have about your topic at this point? What is the most valuable source you have found so far? What makes it the best? How did you find it? What search strategies and tools have you used so far? Have you had success?


 * Process Journal #7: Due by end of class on Friday, March 21 **

You have now been working with your focus question for several days, and you should have started to accumulate some knowledge about your topic--this will serve as the "meat" of your script and your TED talk. In the space below, write your question, and indicate three to five insights, ideas, or subquestions that have emerged from your research. Be as specific as possible about what you have learned. Notice the underlined words below that show that I am becoming knowledgeable about my topic.

Example: // Question: How can we increase the amount of self-control and will power we exercise on a daily basis? // // 1. I've learned that __increasing exercise__ contributes greatly to increased self control by increasing __heart-rate variability__. // // 2. __Meditation and conscious breathing__ also help to increase heart rate variability. // // 3. They key to exercising self control is listening to your wiser self--the part of your brain that is focused on __long-term goals (pre-frontal cortex)__ // // 4. Much of our impulsiveness is due to our brain's anatomy and the power of the __amygdala__, the __fight or flight center of our brains.__ // // 5. __Anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation__ lead to lower levels of heart-rate variability and lower levels of self control. //

Your homework for the weekend is to start (if you haven't already) on the rough draft of your script. Take the statements that you made above,and paste them into your script document. Then take some time to write about each of them--support the statements with further clarification, examples, elaboration, and statistics or facts to help your audience better understand your ideas. This should give you some direction for your script as you work on it over the weekend.