The Research Cycle:
Step 1 - Developing Questions
Research questions will focus your work. As you read about your famous or not so famous woman, you will take notes ONLY on the facts that help you answer your questions. You are conducting research to find the answers to key questions about your woman's life. You will need to write one or more well-developed paragraphs in response to each question.
All students will answer the following questions:

1. What are the key facts about your woman?
(i.e. birth, family, hometown, college attended, death, etc.)
2. What social problems / intellectual problems etc. did your woman encounter?
(i.e. grew up in a poor family, had few friends, failed math in school, never graduated from high school)
3. What obstacles did your woman overcome?  What risks did she take?
(i.e. not allowed to enter college, broke the law, jailed for her beliefs)
4. What impact did she have on .....?  How did her efforts change things?
(i.e. helped get women the right to vote, changed the views of women athletes)
5. Which personal qualities best characterize your woman?
(i.e. shy, strong-willed, a natural leader, smart)

Now apply your new knowledge by answering one of the following questions:

6. How did your woman's background contribute to her achievements?
7. To who would you compare her to today and why?
Before going on, set up your notecards like these sample notecards.
Back On to Step 2: Plan

Last updated on Mon, Mar 1, 2004.