What I Know, Assume, or Imagine:
Before conducting any formal research, write a section in which you
explain to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what
you imagine about your topic. For example, you are in the process of
developing this section on what you already know, assume or imagine about
your topic. Your in-class timed writing can serve as a beginning of the
I-Search process.
The Search
Test Your knowledge, assumptions, or conjectures by researching your topic
thoroughly. For a traditional I-Search paper, you would be asked to
consult books, articles magazines, newspapers, films, tapes, and other
sources of information...and when possible, interview people familiar with
your topic.
As you uncover new information, take notes and be sure to write up your experience while it is still fresh. These notes will be vital for writing this section of your paper.
Write this section of your paper in narrative form, recording the steps of the discovery process. Do not feel obligated to tell everything, but highlight the happenings and facts you uncover that were crucial to your hunt and contributed to your understanding of the topic. Document all your sources, using Works Cited format and an annotated bibliography of online resources.
What I Discovered
After conducting your search, compare what you thought you knew, assumed,
or imagined with what you actually discovered; offer some personal
commentary and draw some conclusions. For instance, your initial
understanding of your topic may have been rather hazy when you first chose
your topic. Pay careful attention to how your understanding of your topic
changes as you go. Keep lists of points you will want to focus on. Use the
articles / texts you have read to focus on an issue of importance to you.
Works Cited
At the close of this paper, you will provide a Works Cited page,
documenting the sources you used in your paper. Since you have been asked
to compile an annotated bibliography of online resources for your topic,
you will want to use Janice Walker's MLA style sheet for citing those
online sources, both for the web and for your papers.