Choosing a Topic

You get to choose your topic of research this week. Yay! 

Here are some guidelines for you to consider.

1.       It needs to be big.
Big enough to have books written about it, websites with information on it, and maybe even an entry in your science or history book. Current events like coronavirus might be tempting, but make sure you can get your hands on a book before you start delving in. 
Please Note: You must have a book and a website listed in your sources.

2.       It needs to be small.
Small enough that you can narrow it down to a 4-6 page report. Writing about “Diseases” is too broad to cover in 3-5 pages. “Diabetes” is better. But “Juvenile Diabetes” is best because it zeroes in on a research-able topic big enough for a 5-page report.

3.       It needs to be something you enjoy.
Pythons would be a terrible topic for me to research considering how much I hate reptiles. And the only reason I would choose to write about gardening is if I sense the need for more punitive measures in my life. If you are going to spend the next month and a half working with your topic, you might as well enjoy the information you'll absorb.

4.       It needs to be Parent Approved.

"But I can’t think of a topic!" 

Here are some ideas. And, yes. You are welcome. While you are at it, send your thanks to Deanna Swanson of The Plain Professors, which is where I garnered most of these ideas.

·       Salt 
(Seriously. Do you know how Himalayan salt is mined? Do you know what fleur de sel is? And what about the world's largest salt mine that lies beneath Lake Huron? What percentage of salt mined annually is edible?)

·       Conscientious Objectors of WWII

·       The Anasazi

·       Titanic

·       Apollo 13

·       Jamestown Colony and the Starving Time

·       1889 Johnstown Flood

·       WWII Navajo Code Talkers

·       Underground Railroad

·       Child Labor in the Industrial Revolution

·       Salem Witch Trials

·       Fu-go, Japanese Balloon Bombs

·       The Silk Road and Silk Caravans

·       Bubonic Plague, or Black Death

·       Jewish Feasts

      The Taj Mahal

·       Man-eating lions of Tsavo

·       Seven Wonders of the World

·       Auschwitz

      Edible Bugs

Research Report Requirements:

          Grade 8-9: 3-4 pages
Grade 10-11: 4-5 pages
Grade 12: 5-47 pages (Be aware that my grading services stop on page 17, but you can send the full report anyway, if you like.)

  The number of pages required does not include the title page, table of contents, outline, or bibliography.

   Please Note: You need to average one source per page. If you have 4 pages (does not include title page, outline, or bibliography), you need to cite at least 4 sources. If you have 26 pages, list 26 sources. You can use more, but not less. More about great sources in a later post, but make sure you pick a topic that can be supported by more than one source. 

Your Assignment & its Deadline! 

In a comment below, tell me which topic you will be writing about. Sign your name to your comment if it doesn't show up otherwise. 

Post your comment on the blog on or before Monday, October 5, and get added to a drawing for the Ink Slingers first PRIZE.* 

*The ONLY people eligible for prizes on this blog are the students who signed up for this class through SHARE Homeschool Co-op. No other entries will be considered. 

Welcome, Ink Slingers!

 

I never expected to live on a curling country road in PA. Pennsylvania is the state I always said I wasn't going to live in. Too crowded, you know, with a confusing road system to go with it. But here I am, half a mile from the corner where squirrels go to die. (Seriously. There always seems to be dead squirrels on that corner.) And here you are, joining me. I suppose you’ll say you never imagined yourself to be with me like this.

That’s fine. You don’t have to like me.

But you need to join me for a few months until you rock that research paper and deliver a show-stopping speech.

My goal in this class is be your guide and motivator. I am your support team and cheerleader. I am also your dictator, judge, and entire jury. You want me on your team, I promise.

Class Info and Instructions:

  How it works.

I will post lessons, assignments, and fun (hopefully) extras on this blog. Each time I do, you should receive an email alerting you to any new posts. Always read to the end of the post which is where your assignments will be listed.  It is important for you to know your assignments and deadlines. 

1.       Your part.
Not easy on a blog like this, but it is imperative that you participate. Sometimes you will only need to leave a comment on the blog. If you read these posts in your email, you will need to move to the blog before you can leave a comment. By participating, not only will you feel more connected to this class and your project, you will let me know I am working with Real Live Humans and not a Scurry of Dead Squirrels. (Yes, a group of squirrels is called a scurry. I looked it up.)

2.       Meet deadlines.
You will receive deadlines for parts of your research report. Turn them in on time. You know the drill, right? Punishments include things like caramel lattes and chocolate deliveries. 

3.       Ask questions.
Any questions you might have can either be asked privately on my email (johnandsaranolt@gmail.com), on my phone by text or WhatsApp (ask me in an email for my number if you don't have it already), or on the blog in a comment. Chances are that if you have a question on something, more people will have the same question and you will become a hero for asking The Question Everyone Had in His Heart.

4.      Prizes.

To encourage participation and enjoyment, I’m offering prizes. I will share more details as we go along, but if an assignment or optional activity mentions a prize, all participants will be added to a drawing. Prizes are things like gift cards. 

Ready? Get Set. Go!

FIRST ASSIGNMENT-- I need to know if you can figure out how to leave comments on the blog, so every student is required to answer these questions in a comment: 

What is your name?
What are two of your hobbies?

Sample comment: "My name is Jared and I like to sing and knit." 

That's it, folks! See you in the comments.