+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Evaluating Information Sources Worksheet

For Students 9th - 10th
Your class is getting ready for its first big research project. While they know how to use the Internet, do they know how to find academic information? Do they know how to find credible sources? Give them this packet and bring them to...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

How to Refine, Narrow, or Broaden a Topic Worksheet

For Students 8th - 10th
Guide your writers in the pre-writing stage of a research project. Print this sheet to help each writer select an appropriate research topic. They practice narrowing and broadening two different options provided. A natural follow-up...
+
PPT
Curated OER

Narrowing a Topic & The Importance of Audience

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Help your young writers through the sometimes difficult process of beginning to write. Direct them through how to choose a topic and write to a specific audience. Great refining statements guide them to writing focused, clear essays. 
+
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: I've Been Assigned a Paper, Now What?

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial focuses on selecting and narrowing a topic for a literary paper. It offers a flow chart of the writing process and two videos brainstorming topics using a web-style graphic organizer for each of two novels: "To Kill a...
+
Website
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Paper Writing: Research Paper: Topic Choice

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial focuses on choosing a topic and narrowing or expanding the focus to fit the requirements for a research paper. It provides tips like clustering, using a Venn Diagram, Google Scholar, etc. to find and narrow the topic. It...
+
Activity
Other

University of Washington Libraries: Starting Research

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
If you need help knowing where to start your research, or if you're a teacher looking for a way to help students understand the research process, this resource is terrific. Interactive tutorials on a number of topics offer review quizzes...
+
Website
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Choosing and Narrowing a Topic to Write About (For Research Papers)

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial focuses on choosing a topic for research and then narrowing it down to a workable thesis statement. It starts with information about choosing a topic and the 3 steps involved and then provides 3 steps to narrowing the...
+
Website
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Developing Research Questions: Focus Your Research

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial focuses on why it is important to have a question in mind before beginning research; how to pick a research question based on personal interests or finding gaps; and choosing a topic that is interesting, researchable,...
+
Handout
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University

Purdue University Owl: Choosing a Topic

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab) provides information related to writing a research paper. This guide explains to choose an appropriate research paper topic.
+
Activity
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School

Cambridge Rindge & Latin School: Research Topic Ideas

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A comprehensive and in-depth list of possible topics and ideas for research papers from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
+
Handout
Grammarly

Grammarly Handbook: Think About Writing Ideas

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This Grammarly Handbook resource provides strategies for selecting a writing topic.
+
Handout
Grammarly

Grammarly Handbook: Topic

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Tips for choosing a research topic.
+
Activity
Education Place

Houghton Mifflin: Eduplace: Bright Ideas for Writing

For Students 1st - 5th Standards
Looking for writing ideas? Here are two groups of writing prompts: one for grades 1-2 and one for 3-5. They are even organized by type of prompt as well. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.10
+
Handout
Other

Livingston: Basic Guide to Essay Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial lists and discusses the steps to writing a good essay and provides a downloadable guide. It also allows you to view a sample essay. W.11-12.2a Intro/Format
+
Activity
Other

Kim's Korner: Six Trait Analytic Writing Model

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
Check out this comprehensive website featuring ideas for teaching writing based on the six trait analytic writing model.
+
Activity
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School

Selecting a Research Topic

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A good resource which explains and outlines a student's choices when confronted with choosing a research topic. Includes links to an overview, focusing your topic, and more.
+
Lesson Plan
Lumen Learning

Lumen: Boundless Communications: Establishing a Purpose and a Thesis

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson focuses on establishing the purpose and thesis of your speech. It includes information about both a general and specific purpose of the speech and developing a thesis statement that clearly articulates the purpose and main...
+
Lesson Plan
Lumen Learning

Lumen: Boundless Communications: Steps of Preparing a Speech

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson plan focuses on the steps for preparing a speech including choose a topic, analyze the audience, gather materials and evidence, develop a thesis, support ideas, organize and outline the speech, draft the speech, prepare to...
+
Lesson Plan
Lumen Learning

Lumen: Boundless Communications: Finding and Selecting a Topic

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This instructional activity focuses on selecting a speech topic including the importance of choosing a good topic by considering your areas of expertise and areas of interest, brainstorming, tips for choosing a topic, and narrowing the...