OWL: Research & The Internet
This PowerPoint from Purdue University offers an easy-to-understand introduction to online research. Also suggests criteria students should use for evaluating Web sites.

U.S. Literary Map Project
Students research local/regional writers, present research findings, compile a bibliography, and post results to the NCTE literary map website.

Biography Maker
Students choose a topic, research the answers to probing questions, pull together resources, and create a biography . A template is included to help turn the biographies into Web pages that can be published on a classroom Web site.

A Biography Study: Using Role-Play to Explore Author's Lives
Develop research and inquiry skills by researching an author's life, examining the impact of culture on the author's life, and evaluating biographical material for bias, embellishments, or deletions.

Communicating on Local Issues: Exploring Audience in Persuasive Letter Writing
This unit will ask students to identify and then research a local issue that concerns them, using Internet and print sources. They will then argue a position on this issue in letters to two different audiences, addressing their own purpose and considering the needs of the audience in each letter.

Formal Outlining
Uses the direct instruction model to teach or review the rules for creating an effective topic outline - useful before beginning a research paper or analytical essay 

Get to Know Your Favorite Author
Students will learn to use the internet to research. Students will gather information about an author they like. Students will learn how to put researched material into a well organized, detailed essay. Students will learn how to use Powerpoint and other technology to assemble and present a multimedia presentation of an author and his/her work. 

The Year I Was Born: An Autobiographical Research Project
In this autobiography with a twist, students conduct interviews and research online and at the library to find details on what was going on internationally, nationally, locally, in sports, music, arts, commercial, TV, and publishing during the year that they were born. After they've gathered their research, students weave the detail into a paper that they publish as a newspaper or booklet. 

Norton Web Source to American Literature  Designed as a springboard to help students extend their exploration of American literature and identify and frame topics for writing, discussion, and research

Voice of the Shuttle  Select American Literature

Internet Public Library  Literary Criticism

NoodleQuest Students can use this online form to help them find useful search engines.

Filling The Toolbox This site offers many strategies for enhancing students' critical thinking, problem solving, and questioning skills. The tips are for teachers.

Teen Space: The Internet Public Library  This site for older students explains the six steps involved in writing a research paper. The site offers good advice to help students succeed.

Internet Reference Sites This site has a directory for online dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, telephone directories, and Internet searches to locate information. Also learn about primary sources and where to find them.

Step by Step  Procedures for Writing Research Papers

Search Strategies: Search with Peripheral Vision This site is for older students and offers tips about searching the visible and invisible Web. Learn about the five-step search strategy recommended by UC Berkeley library. There are also tips on using Boolean language.

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