Iowa Investigative Report

Strategy

Review each of the topics and find one that seems to raise your interest.

• Maybe you will want to check out some of the links -or-
• Go to the print materials and look at them.
• You might find a subject not suggested in the above list - then check with your instructor about that topic. Maybe you would like to investigate famous Iowans. Possibly Iowa inventions are of interest to you. Check with your instructor.
• When you have a topic to investigate move on to the research stage

Getting started

Ask Questions about the topic -

• What do you know or think you know about the topic
• What interests you about the topic that you want to learn

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Checking  Resources

Check for available resources -

• What sources might you find at school, at the public library
• How about at the U of I library or Historical societies
• Who might be a resource
• What internet resources would be helpful
• Pull together a list

  Investigate

Research all the sites you've found -

• Create a thesis statement for your project, as you do in English.
• Begin taking the notes and assembling your data
• Do a who, what, when, where, why & how analysis of your topic
• Remember you need to find a way to present this
• Keep the idea of a presentation format in the back of your mind as you research top  

Presentation

There are a number of means of presenting your findings,

• illustrated timeline
• illustrated map
• slideshow of some variety - Claris, PowerPoint, HyperCard, etc.
• video: in documentary style ala TV's "Dateline" or "60 Minutes"
• written research paper
• oral history report
• diorama
• your choice to be agreed upon by your instructor
• see the appropriate rubric for evaluation guidelines

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  Questions about the assignments can be addressed to:, May 21, 2002