A little analogy for folks to understand that the research process used with research papers is not as foreign as it seems. Music: http://ccmixter.org/media/files/ditto/8900

1. Road Trip Mr. Sheehy’s analogy to the research paper

2. How can a road trip be like a research paper ?

3. Isn’t that an insult to the coolest American experience, the road trip ?

4. Listen, it makes sense.

5. Both involve a process . Both involve sharing your discoveries.

6. Need more?

7. Okay, let’s take a look.

8. Step One

9. Decision time.

10. Where are you going?

11. It’s like choosing a topic ,

12. Or creating a thesis .

13. Step Two

14. Prepare.

15. Plan.

16. Collect info on what you want to see.

17. Sound like research ? It should.

18. Step Three

19. Start packing.

20. You’re doing more than packing, though.

21. You’re organizing,

22. Making sure nothing ends up in the wrong place.

23. So when it’s time to go, you’re ready.

24. For this, teachers use words like

25. categorize ,

26. and organize ,

27. and tools like

28. note cards

29. and outlines .

30. Step Four

31. Hit the road,

32. See everything,

33. send a postcard,

34. & take pictures.

35. It’s like a report .

36. But if anyone is to follow you

37. It has to make sense.

38. That’s why there is

39. Step Five

40. Leave a trail

41. that can be followed.

42. So if your friends want,

43. They can eat where you ate,

44. or not,

45. and do what you did,

46. or not.

47. Teachers call this

48. Writing citations

49. And making a works cited .

50. So let’s be honest , then.

51. It’s hard work.

52. It would be easier to hand your friends a pile of brochures and a map,

53. Or to hand in to your teachers a list of url’s. www.flickr.com/photos/33264067@N00/243089839 www.flickr.com/photos/64264362@N00/13227861 http://find.galegroup.com/menu/commonmenu.do?userGroupName=sdln_sds&action=updateCspList&searchTerm=maple&DB=GVRL-0_SPJ.SP00_JRC_DC_GVRL.sdbc_GVRL.sdec_GVRL.sdlnhtc_GVRL.sdlnlgc_GVRL.sdlnmc_GVRL.sdlnsc_STOJ_STOM_ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple www.flickr.com/photos/62528187@N00/302328043 www.flickr.com/photos/46555636@N00/455282196 www.flickr.com/photos/12754005@N00/399020839 www.flickr.com/photos/82777265@N00/113488168 www.flickr.com/photos/68799045@N00/57290754 www.flickr.com/photos/15261067@N00/208322666

54. But your friends want to hear what YOU thought about your trip,

55. And your readers want to hear what you think about your topic.

56. And in the end,

57. it’s worth it.

58. Just think of it

59. as a road trip.