Step+1

== =**1) I- Brainstorm:**= It is fundamental that you choose a topic that you truly want to investigate. Think in your head, "I always wanted to know how to..." I need help with..." Prioritize your thinking: What is most important to me? What factors have the greatest impact my life...family, health, education, economy, friends... Remember that your goal is to find a topic that drives you, motivates you, or intrigues you.

Keep in mind that you should not be able to answer your research question with a single word. Ideally, it should be a question that gives rise to several more detailed questions. To get started, ask yourself the following questions. One writer’s responses are shown as an example.

When you select a topic, be sure that it is a suitable one. It should be not only interesting and informative, but also lend itself to research. In other words, you should be able to locate adequate information on your topic from a variety of outside sources. If the information on your topic comes only from your knowledge and experience, there is no need for a search.

=**2) I-Narrow my research focus:**= =**3) I- Narrow my focus and "drill down" even further:**=
 * In your research journal:
 * Make a list of things, concepts, places, people, ideas that you would like to know more about...
 * Choose your top three and explain the reasons you feel that it would be important to delve more deeply into these topics.
 * Select your top choice and write about the following in your **I-Journal**:
 * My TOPIC is ___.__
 * __I hope to learn__ ___from my research. (This is key to helping you NARROW your research topic down to something manageable and important.)__
 * __My RESEARCH QUESTION is__.
 * This is how I feel about my journey thus far.




 * Now you have your personal RESEARCH GOAL or in other words, a Statement of Purpose . This is basically, "setting a purpose" for reading. You can then better differentiate what information is important and useful, and what is not pertinent.

=**3) I-Share:** Two heads are better than one!=
 * To get your search off to a good start, spend some time in your small group discussing each others research questions.
 * Your group can discuss ways to improve your research questions and to find information.
 * One of your group members might know an expert in the very topic you have decided to research.
 * Another might suggest a better way to focus your research question.

=4) I-Journal:= So far you have the following in your I-Journal:
 * **My TOPIC is ___.__**
 * **I hope to learn _from my research.** (This is key to helping you NARROW your research topic down to something manageable and important.)
 * **My RESEARCH QUESTION is__.**
 * **This is how I feel about my journey thus far.**
 * Be sure to track your daily research adventure (successes and failures) that you will use as the basis for the first chapter of your I-Search.

= I-Search Step 2 =