Step 3: Research

Choose a Topic

Website topics must fit into one of the twelve top-level categories in the ThinkQuest Library (Arts & Entertainment, Books & Literature, and so on.) Choosing a topic for your website will probably be one of the first big decisions you make as a team. Here are some tips:
  • Visit the ThinkQuest Library for ideas.
  • Review our examples of topics that fit into each category. Please note that entries are limited to the category only, not to the specific topic examples.
  • Consider these questions:
    • Is the topic interesting to your team? The more captivating to each of you, the more fun it will be for your team and for your audience.
    • What are you learning at school? Pick a topic you are already studying and explore it in greater depth or breadth.
    • Can your topic be explored from multiple perspectives? Think globally and select an issue that can be investigated from numerous viewpoints.
    • Is it multi-disciplinary? Create interest by covering multiple academic subject areas.

Create a Site Map

Once the topic is chosen, students can create an initial site map, which is a hierarchical overview of all the pages on a website (similar to the Table of Contents that you would see in a book). Preparing a site map in advance of starting research has several advantages:
  • Student can discuss and agree upon the goals of the website and decide what is a realistic "scope" to cover. For example, a team could start out with the topic of "Ancient Civilizations," but as they prepare the site map, they might decide it is more realistic to limit their topic to Incan culture.
  • Students can divide their ideas into logical "chunks" or subtopics and organize them in a way that makes sense. (Of course, the site map can be continuously updated as students discover new subtopics while they are researching.)
  • Students can use the site map to make team assignments. For example, for a website about Incan culture, one student might be assigned to research festivals, while another student is assigned to research jewelry.

To create a site map, some students might prefer to make a traditional outline. For example, an outline for a simple website on Incan culture might look like this:

Home page
  • Sacrifices
    • Recent Discoveries
  • Festivals
    • Calendar
  • Jewelry
    • Chancas
  • Gods and Goddesses
    • Creation Story
      • Manco Capac
    • Mama Cocha
    • Mama Quilla
    • Inti
    • Viraconcha
    • Illapa
    • Pachacamac
    • Urcaguaray

Other students might prefer to draw a visual representation, such as a diagram, storyboard, or flow chart. A diagram for the same website on Incan culture might look like this:


diagram.gif


Here are some links to good examples of site maps:

Identify Resources

Create a rich learning experience by directing students to use a broad range of resources:
  • Library: Visit the library and ask reference staff to help students find materials such as books, newspaper or magazine articles, encyclopedias, and videos.
  • Field trips: Plan outings that allow your students to do hands-on research. For example, you could visit a museum, nature preserve, local business, or local historical monument or attraction.
  • Local experts: Invite people in your community for interviews, lectures, or demonstrations.
  • Internet: You can use a search engine, such as Google (http://www.google.com) or Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com), to locate websites on your topic. However, if your students have limited experience with internet research, first make sure that they understand information literacy concepts and online safety rules.

Because citations must be provided for all information and material used in an entry, it is very important for students to keep track of their sources while they are conducting research. Give your students a worksheet or log so that they remember to record all of the vital information about a source, such as:
  • Name of author/creator
  • Title (if the source is an article or story that is part of a book or magazine, both the title of the article and the title of the book should be included)
  • Publication information, such as publisher and publication date
  • Web address or URL (for web resources)
  • Access date (for web resources)

See the Citations section for details on how to create proper citations from this collected information.

Special note on search engines: Search engines (such as Google and Yahoo) offer a quick way to conduct online research. However, make sure that students understand that Google and Yahoo are merely tools that help them find material on the internet. They are generally not the original sources or owners of the material. Students must go to the website that is actually hosting the material in order to find the correct source to credit.

Additional resources:
Disclaimer: It is the team's responsibility to ensure that a) information on third-party sites aligns with ThinkQuest standards and Rules and b) technology created using third-party tools can be hosted on the ThinkQuest servers and does not otherwise breach the Rules. All links to third-party sites are provided only as a courtesy to make teams aware of additional resources that may be helpful; ThinkQuest does not manage, endorse, or take responsibility for the content on third-party sites.

Information Literacy

There is an incredible amount of information on the internet. Determining the accuracy of a website is not an exact science, but before beginning online research, students should be able to critically evaluate a website for important factors such as credibility, bias, and timeliness.

  1. Credibility: Explain to students that anyone can put a website on the internet and that information on websites is not necessarily validated. For example, there is nothing that prevents someone from posting a website that says the earth is flat or that pigs can fly. Furthermore, just because a website looks good or contains lots of content does not mean the information is accurate. Students should ask themselves the following questions:
    • Who is the author of the website? What are his/her credentials? Can I contact him/her with questions?
    • Is the site a personal homepage or an official source of information? Is the site affiliated with a well-known or respected organization?
    • Does the author provide a list of sources that back up the information on the website? Are those sources credible?
    • Is the writing of good quality or does it seem sloppy? Lots of grammar and spelling mistakes can indicate that the author is not well-educated or that s/he didn't put a lot of time and effort into creating the website. Either way, it's not a good sign.
    • Does anything on the website contradict something you already know?

  2. Bias: Explain to students that there can be many different ways of looking at a particular topic. An unbiased website will try to represent a balanced view by giving you lots of information so that you can make up your own mind. On the other hand, a biased website will say that their way of looking at the topic is the only right way, even though there might be many others that are equally valid. Students should ask themselves the following questions:
    • Does the author benefit if I believe what they are telling me? For example, is the website trying to sell me something?
    • If the website is about a controversial issue, does it tell me that there is only one way of thinking or does it present multiple sides of the argument so that I can make up my own mind?

  3. Timeliness: To determine whether the information provided is current, students should check to see how recently the website was updated.

Additional resources:
Disclaimer: It is the team's responsibility to ensure that a) information on third-party sites aligns with ThinkQuest standards and Rules and b) technology created using third-party tools can be hosted on the ThinkQuest servers and does not otherwise breach the Rules. All links to third-party sites are provided only as a courtesy to make teams aware of additional resources that may be helpful; ThinkQuest does not manage, endorse, or take responsibility for the content on third-party sites.

Online Safety & Etiquette

While working on their entry, it is likely that students will conduct research and collaborate with others via the internet. Before students begin any work online, teach them to be aware of the dangers of the internet and how to use common sense in their interactions. It is also important for students to understand when it is acceptable to download such materials as images, mp3 audio files, or video files.

In general, students should abide by the following rules:
  1. Tell a parent or teacher before you get on the internet (recommended for younger students).
  2. Guard your privacy: Never share your password, full name, home address, phone number, or any information that someone could use to find you in the real world. Note also that ThinkQuest Rules prohibit teams from including student last names or contact information in entries.
  3. Don't respond to inappropriate messages: If you receive an email that makes you feel uncomfortable or is hurtful, do not respond and tell a parent or teacher right away.
    • It is not appropriate for a stranger to ask you private questions.
    • It is not appropriate for a stranger to ask to meet you in person.
    • It is not appropriate for anyone to harass you.
  4. Be kind to others: When you collaborate with others over email or the internet, treat them with the same kindness and respect that you would use in face-to-face interactions.
  5. Ask permission before you use others' work and cite your source: You may need permission to use pictures, music, words or artwork that you find in books, magazines, or on the internet. Ask a teacher before you borrow anyone's work for your website, and remember to always give credit to the original author. See the Avoid Plagiarism section for more details.
  6. Use common sense and trust your instincts. Additional resources:
    Disclaimer: It is the team's responsibility to ensure that a) information on third-party sites aligns with ThinkQuest standards and Rules and b) technology created using third-party tools can be hosted on the ThinkQuest servers and does not otherwise breach the Rules. All links to third-party sites are provided only as a courtesy to make teams aware of additional resources that may be helpful; ThinkQuest does not manage, endorse, or take responsibility for the content on third-party sites.

    Avoid Plagiarism

    ThinkQuest expects all teams to produce websites that meet the highest standards of intellectual honesty. Plagiarism is not only dishonest, it is a violation of copyright law, and entries that contain plagiarized content will be disqualified. In past competitions, hundreds of websites have been disqualified because teams failed to give credit to the original author by citing the source, used another's words without quotations, or included images without citation or permission. In some instances, only one student plagiarized and the entire team was disqualified.

    Please make sure the entire team understand ThinkQuest's definition of plagiarism, which includes, but may not be limited to, the following:
    • Any copying of another person's work that results in the entry not being substantially the original work of the team, regardless of whether the copied work is cited
    • Copying a significant amount (as determined by the Oracle Education Foundation) of words or ideas from someone else without giving credit, or attributing those words or ideas as one's own
    • Failing to put a quote within quotation marks
    • Use of templates without giving credit to the original owner/creator

    Please refer to the Rules for a full definition.

    To avoid plagiarism, students should use the following guidelines when working on their entry:

    1. Create original material whenever possible. Conduct original research (via interviews, field trips, surveys, etc.), and write about your own experiences, observations, and opinions. In addition, you can create original graphics by taking photographs or drawing your own artwork. Even when you create original content, don't forget to ask for permission if your content features the names or likenesses of other people. For example, if you interview an expert from a museum, ask permission to use that expert's name, quotes, picture, or voice on your website.
    2. Put it in your own words. Just as in a traditional report or paper that you might turn in at school, it is not appropriate to directly copy the words of others. Instead, you should paraphrase or summarize in your own words; it is not appropriate to just replace a word here and there or to simply change the order of sentences. To minimize the chances of plagiarism, read the material, absorb the information, and then put the material away before you begin writing. This method encourages independent thinking and creation of original writing. See the paraphrasing example below.

    3. Cite your source. All sources used to research and create the website must be clearly identified and credited. See the Citations section for information on how to cite sources properly.
      • There is one exception: You do not have to cite a source if the information is considered "common knowledge" (generally accepted facts that are so widely known that it is reasonable to expect that the reader will already be aware of them). If you are unsure whether something is "common knowledge," cite the source to be on the safe side.
      • It is a good idea to provide citations for original materials created by team members (such as images and videos), so that it's clear no copyrights have been violated.

    4. Obtain permission when necessary. If you want to re-use someone else's material "as is", or with only minor modifications, you may need to obtain their permission. See the Permissions section for more information.
      • Generally, creative works (such as photographs, illustrations, and original music) do not fall under the Fair Use doctrine, and you must obtain permission for re-use. Once permission is obtained, you must clearly identify the material on your site and provide a citation that states that permission was obtained.
      • In cases where permission is not required, your citation should include a short explanation of why permission was not obtained, so that it's clear you are not violating any copyrights. For example, the original creator may clearly state that permission is not required if the material is used for nonprofit or educational purposes. Or, the work may fall under the public domain or the Fair Use doctrine.

    Paraphrasing Example

    Here is some original text from http://www.harrypotterorderofthephoenix.com:
    • "In 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,' Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts only to discover that much of the wizarding community has been led to believe that the story of the teenager's recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort is a lie, putting Harry's integrity in question. Worse, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has appointed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, the duplicitous Professor Dolores Umbridge."

    Here is an unacceptable paraphrase that would be considered plagiarism according to ThinkQuest Rules:
    • "In the movie 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Harry returns to Hogwarts for his fifth year discovering that much of the wizarding community has been led to believe that Harry's recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort is a lie, putting Harry's integrity in question. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, has also appointed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge."

    The writer above is guilty of plagiarism because he did not create his own summary, but rather changed a few words and phrases. Additionally, he did not cite the source.

    Here is an acceptable paraphrase that would not be considered plagiarism according to ThinkQuest Rules:
    • "In the fifth Harry Potter movie, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', Harry begins a challenging new school year at Hogwarts. Many wizards do not believe his story that Lord Voldemort has returned, including the Minister of Magic and his newly appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge. They believe that Harry is lying and thus fail to prepare for combat. So now Harry must defend his reputation while preparing himself and his friends for the dark lord's next move. (Source: http://www.harrypotterorderofthephoenix.com)"

    This passage is acceptable because the writer relays the facts in her own words and cites the source of the information. Further, if the intent of using the information is to relay the facts of the plot within a greater context of analyzing the entire series and its popularity, its use would also fall under the Fair Use doctrine.

    Additional resources:

    Important: Some of these resources may provide slightly different guidelines on plagiarism than ThinkQuest's. However, all ThinkQuest teams are required to abide by ThinkQuest standards and Rules. When in doubt, contact us for assistance.


    Disclaimer: It is the team's responsibility to ensure that a) information on third-party sites aligns with ThinkQuest standards and Rules and b) technology created using third-party tools can be hosted on the ThinkQuest servers and does not otherwise breach the Rules. All links to third-party sites are provided only as a courtesy to make teams aware of additional resources that may be helpful; ThinkQuest does not manage, endorse, or take responsibility for the content on third-party sites.

    Citations

    You must include a citation whenever you use information or materials that come from another source. A citation contains the information that a visitor to your website would need in order to identify the original source, such as the author or creator's name, title, publication information, URL, date of access, and so on. There are many proper ways to format a citation -- some of the most common styles are Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago, and Turabian.

    Regardless of which style you use, the best and most honest strategy is to cite your sources in a way that makes clear to the reader exactly which information has come from another source and where the original source can be found. You can accomplish this by using in-text references, supported by a detailed Bibliography:

    1. In-text reference: Anytime you use information or materials that come from another source, include an abbreviated citation directly in the body of your website. For text, you can include a short parenthetical citation right in the sentence or paragraph where the information appears. For images, you can include a short citation right next to the image or at the bottom of the page where it appears. The abbreviated citation needs only to contain enough information to point the reader to the corresponding entry in the Bibliography.
    2. Bibliography: Include a list of citations that contains the full publication information for each source that is referenced in the body of your website. The Bibliography should ideally appear as footnotes on the relevant page as well as on a summary citations page.

    Citation Example

    Here is a statement followed by an in-text reference (short citation in parentheses), as it would appear in the body of the website:

    • Current research suggests that children's eating habits are less healthy during summer holidays (Parker-Pope).

    Alternatively, here is a direct quote, as it would appear in the body of the website:

    • According to Tara Parker-Pope, "while childhood health advocates often blame schools for poor nutrition and a lack of physical activity, the problem often gets worse in the summer."

    In either case, the corresponding full citation in the Bibliography might look like this:

    • Parker-Pope, Tara. "School is Out, and Nutrition Takes a Hike." New York Times. 28 Jun 2008. Accessed 10 Jul 2008. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/health/nutrition/24well.html>

    The combination of in-text reference plus the full citation in the Bibliography allows the reader to clearly identify that the source for this information is Tara Parker-Pope and that the full, original source material can be found on the New York Times website.

    Additional resources:
    Disclaimer: It is the team's responsibility to ensure that a) information on third-party sites aligns with ThinkQuest standards and Rules and b) technology created using third-party tools can be hosted on the ThinkQuest servers and does not otherwise breach the Rules. All links to third-party sites are provided only as a courtesy to make teams aware of additional resources that may be helpful; ThinkQuest does not manage, endorse, or take responsibility for the content on third-party sites.

    Permissions

    When requesting permission to re-use materials on your website, please keep in mind the following:
    • It can take weeks or months to receive permission, so be sure to submit your requests well in advance of the Entry Submission Deadline.
    • It may take some "detective work" to figure out whom to ask for permission. If the material is copyrighted, you should contact the owner of the copyright, which could be a person, organization (such as a university), or company (such as a book publisher, record company, or movie production company). If the material is not copyrighted, you should contact the original author or creator. You might have to write several emails or make multiple phone calls before you find the right person.
    • Students under the age of 18 should never contact strangers by themselves, even if the strangers are well-known experts or employees of big companies. A coach or an adult student should always be the main point of contact. For example, emails should be sent from a coach or generic team email address, letters should have a return address for a coach or school, and a coach should be on the line for any phone calls.

    Here is a sample letter requesting permission:

    Dear [insert name of copyright owner],

    We are students from [insert school name] in [insert city, state/province, country]. We are creating a nonprofit, educational website for the ThinkQuest Website Competition. We would like to include the following images(s) from [your website; CD-ROM; publication, etc.]:

    The file name(s) of the image(s) we wish to use is: [insert file name]. It is located at [insert URL] in [Name of publication or resource, etc.].

    Our final website will be published in the ThinkQuest Library, a free educational resource located at http://www.thinkquest.org. We will honor your copyright by giving your organization full credit and citing you as one of our sources.

    Please respond to this message and let us know if we may use this image in our project. Our deadline for publication is [insert date], and we would appreciate your quick response. Thank you for your time and consideration.

    Sincerely,
    [insert coach full name and student first name(s)]
    [insert team or coach email address]
    [insert school mailing address]
    [insert coach or school phone number]

    If you do receive permission, be sure to keep a copy for your records. Also, be sure to credit the original source in the body of your website and update the citation in your Bibliography to clearly state that permission was obtained. Example:

    • Picture of car engine. [original source information]. Used with permission from John Doe, Webmaster. Email dated 8 Jul 2008.

    If you do not receive permission by the Entry Submission Deadline or the copyright owner declines your request, you must remove the material from your website in order to avoid violating copyright law.

    Additional resources:
    Disclaimer: It is the team's responsibility to ensure that a) information on third-party sites aligns with ThinkQuest standards and Rules and b) technology created using third-party tools can be hosted on the ThinkQuest servers and does not otherwise breach the Rules. All links to third-party sites are provided only as a courtesy to make teams aware of additional resources that may be helpful; ThinkQuest does not manage, endorse, or take responsibility for the content on third-party sites.