The I-Search Paper:The I-Search Paper:I-Search, You-Search, I-Search, You-Search,

We-All-SearchWe-All-Search(from Ken Macrorie’s (from Ken Macrorie’s The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper, 1988), 1988)

Information taken from South Coast Writing Project and Lee’s Summit High Information taken from South Coast Writing Project and Lee’s Summit High School.School.

In In WaldenWalden, Henry David , Henry David Thoreau wrote, “In most Thoreau wrote, “In most books, the books, the II, or first person, , or first person, is omitted; in this it will be is omitted; in this it will be retained…I should not talk retained…I should not talk so much about myself if so much about myself if there were anybody else there were anybody else whom I knew as well” (8).whom I knew as well” (8).

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

Typical Research Paper:Typical Research Paper:The Loop: Knowledge and experience of the The Loop: Knowledge and experience of the

experts on one side; you on the other; no experts on one side; you on the other; no connection between the two.connection between the two.

The I-Search Paper:The I-Search Paper:The Moebius Strip: You and the experts The Moebius Strip: You and the experts

connecting; subjectivity and objectivity; connecting; subjectivity and objectivity; includes context and humanity of the writer.includes context and humanity of the writer.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

This paper is designed to teach both This paper is designed to teach both the writer and the reader something the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic (the valuable about a chosen topic (the research question) and about the research question) and about the nature of searching and discovery. It nature of searching and discovery. It allows the writer (yes, that’s allows the writer (yes, that’s youyou!) to !) to take an active role in your search, to take an active role in your search, to experience some of the hunt for facts experience some of the hunt for facts and truths firsthand, and to provide a and truths firsthand, and to provide a step-by-step record of the discovery step-by-step record of the discovery process.process.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

First, begin with an itch. Allow First, begin with an itch. Allow something to choose something to choose youyou that you that you want intensely to know or want intensely to know or possess. Your product/paper will possess. Your product/paper will be the story of your adventure as be the story of your adventure as you scratch that you scratch that itch.itch.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper Am I a republican or democrat?Am I a republican or democrat? I’m interested in becoming an I’m interested in becoming an

architect but don’t know a lot about it. architect but don’t know a lot about it. How does one become an architect? How does one become an architect? What different types of architects are What different types of architects are there?there?

What are the effects of being a middle What are the effects of being a middle child? The oldest? The youngest?child? The oldest? The youngest?

Why is getting a tattoo so popular Why is getting a tattoo so popular today?today?

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search PaperThen:Then:

Take your topic to class and ask your classmates, Take your topic to class and ask your classmates, Ms. Mietelski, or Mrs. Fehrman for tips/advice.Ms. Mietelski, or Mrs. Fehrman for tips/advice.

Locate useful information in books, magazines, Locate useful information in books, magazines, newspapers, electronic databases, etc.newspapers, electronic databases, etc.

Look at or listen to this information and these Look at or listen to this information and these ideas. Note down what may be most useful to ideas. Note down what may be most useful to you.you.

Interview people who know a lot about your Interview people who know a lot about your topic.topic.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

FormatFormat:: There are five (5) parts of the I-Search There are five (5) parts of the I-Search

paper. We will be writing each part at paper. We will be writing each part at separate times but you will have ample separate times but you will have ample time and opportunities to revise previous time and opportunities to revise previous parts.parts.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

FormatFormat:: Part 1: My Questions (What I Know and Part 1: My Questions (What I Know and

What I Want to Know):What I Want to Know): In this part, you will In this part, you will describe what you knew about the topic describe what you knew about the topic before the search began, and what interested before the search began, and what interested you about it. Your research question(s) you about it. Your research question(s) should be clearly stated in this part.should be clearly stated in this part.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search PaperFormatFormat::

Part 2: My Search Process:Part 2: My Search Process: In this part, you In this part, you will describe the sequence of steps in the will describe the sequence of steps in the search. For example, what sources you began search. For example, what sources you began with and how these led you to further sources. with and how these led you to further sources. You will describe problems or breakthroughs You will describe problems or breakthroughs in your search. You can also discuss how in your search. You can also discuss how your question(s) changed or expanded as a your question(s) changed or expanded as a result of your search process, and result of your search process, and acknowledge the help you received from acknowledge the help you received from others. others.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search PaperFormatFormat::

Part 3: What I Have Learned:Part 3: What I Have Learned: In this part, In this part, you will focus on three or four major findings you will focus on three or four major findings or conclusions to your question(s) and support or conclusions to your question(s) and support them with examples and arguments that will them with examples and arguments that will help the reader understand how you arrived at help the reader understand how you arrived at those conclusions. You will try to connect those conclusions. You will try to connect your findings with your original question(s). your findings with your original question(s). You will also try to suggest further questions You will also try to suggest further questions to explore in the future.to explore in the future.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search PaperFormatFormat::

Part 4: What This Means to Me: Part 4: What This Means to Me: This part will This part will give you the chance to describe how you have give you the chance to describe how you have developed as a researcher. You will answer the developed as a researcher. You will answer the question, “What do you know about searching question, “What do you know about searching for information that you didn’t know before?” for information that you didn’t know before?” To answer this question, you will describe those To answer this question, you will describe those findings that meant the most to you. You might findings that meant the most to you. You might also discuss how your newfound knowledge will also discuss how your newfound knowledge will affect you in the future. Finally, you may want affect you in the future. Finally, you may want to discuss the skills you have developed as a to discuss the skills you have developed as a researcher and writer.researcher and writer.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

FormatFormat:: Part 5: References:Part 5: References: In this part, you will In this part, you will

complete a Works Cited page listing all of the complete a Works Cited page listing all of the sources you included in your paper.sources you included in your paper.

The I-Search PaperThe I-Search Paper

Any questions?Any questions?