Each Flipped Learning Module (FLM) is a set of short videos and online activities that can be used (in whole or in part) to free up class time from content delivery for greater student interaction. At the end of the module, students are asked to fill out a brief survey, in which we adopt the minute paper strategy. In this approach, students are asked to submit their response to two brief questions regarding their knowledge of the module.
In this FLM, students are asked to complete a fill-in-the-blank outline which accompanies all three videos, covering the topics of understanding research, formulating a topic, and developing questions from topics. The completed outline will enhance the students’ note-taking skills and will serve as a summary of the FLM that they may refer to in the future.
Key Terms
research topic, claim, reasons, evidence, assignment sheet, practical question, conceptual question, exhibit source, argument source, theory source, transfer of strategies
Module Overview
- Introduction: Understanding research and your assignment
- Introduction to Research and this Module
- The Range of Research
- Understanding your assignment
- Finding and Formulating a Topic
- Finding a Topic
- Using the Internet for Inspiration
- Narrowing your Topic
- Developing Questions from Topics and Sources
- Questions from topics
- Different source types
- Questions from exhibits
- Questions from argument and theory sources
Download Video Transcripts
Worksheet: The Early Stages of Research Module Outline
Please fill out the following outline while you are watching the videos, and bring a copy to class.
- Research is about:__________________________________________________
- For most research assignments, you will be required to develop an argument that incorporates four points:
- (Point 1):__________________________________________________
- (Point 2):__________________________________________________
- (Point 3):__________________________________________________
- (Point 4):__________________________________________________
- Nine potential questions that can help you gather important initial information about a research project with the help of an assignment sheet and your professor are:
- (Question 1):__________________________________________________
- (Question 2):__________________________________________________
- (Question 3):__________________________________________________
- (Question 4):__________________________________________________
- (Question 5):__________________________________________________
- (Question 6):__________________________________________________
- (Question 7):__________________________________________________
- (Question 8):__________________________________________________
- (Question 9):__________________________________________________
- Three questions that can help you find a topic for your research assignment are:
- (Question 1):__________________________________________________
- (Question 2):__________________________________________________
- (Question 3):__________________________________________________
- During the research process, if using the Internet, focus on websites that:
- (Point 1):__________________________________________________
- (Point 2):__________________________________________________
- (Point 3):__________________________________________________
- (Point 4):__________________________________________________
- The two types of research questions that lead to claims are:
- (Type 1):__________________________________________________
- (Type 2):__________________________________________________
- An exhibit is:___________________________________________________
- An argument source is a text that:__________________________________________________
Download Outline
Video 1: Introduction: Understanding Research and your Assignment
The Early Stages of Research Online Activity 1
Look at the assignment sheet you received for your current research assignment. Answer the nine questions that were covered in the first video, and submit the responses to your instructor. If there are any questions that you cannot answer using the assignment sheet and other resources your professor has given you, be prepared to ask those questions in class.
Video 2: Finding and Formulating a Topic
The Early Stages of Research Online Activity 2
Choose two topics from the list below. Write a couple of sentences to explain how you could:
- narrow its scope
- relate it to your interests
Submit your response to your instructor.
- Representations of race in fiction
- Public health and personal privacy
- Gender and rebellion in film
- Fairy tales in the 21st century
- Multicultural friendships between students
- Corporations and ethical obligations
- Tourism, poaching, and wildlife
- Climate change and poverty
- Video games and justice
- Freedom and disability
- Scientific advancements and sports
- Bilingualism and family
Video 3: Developing Questions from Topics and Sources
The Early Stages of Research Online Activity 3
Choose two topics from the list below. Develop two possible working research questions based on each topic you choose, and submit your response to your instructor.
- Media representations of refugees
- Education in the U.S. and China
- Social media and stress
- Food and cultural memory
- The opioid crisis and economics
- Music and globalization
- Mass shootings and politics
- Differences between urban and rural animals
The Early Stages of Research Survey
Please answer the following two questions, and submit the responses to your instructor.
- What was the one most important thing you learned from this module?
- Do you have any unanswered questions for me?
The Early Stages of Research In-Class Activity
In pairs, briefly discuss your work on these two topics and also talk about what you might want to write about for your assignment. Take notes and comment on your partner’s work on the online exercises. As a team, then work with the assignment sheet to brainstorm strategies for narrowing topics, pursuing your interests, and developing initial research questions for your current assignment.
Transforming Topics
Video 2 Online Activity Follow-up: Take turns sharing your strategies for narrowing your chosen topic’s scope and relating it to your interests. Take notes as your partner describes his or her strategies.
Video 3 Online Activity Follow-up: Take turns sharing the two research questions you developed and the strategies you used to draft them. Take notes as your partner discusses his or her research questions.
After each of you describes your work with both topics, discuss together the strategies for narrowing topics, linking topics to your interests, and developing initial research questions. Take brief notes on patterns and contrasts you notice in the processes you experienced and the work you drafted.
Looking at the assignment sheet, take turns discussing your ideas for your own research. Work together to consider how each of you can narrow a potential topic, make it meaningful, and brainstorm potential research questions. Discuss what strategies you can apply from the online activities and whether there are unique features of the assignment and the topic you actually want to pursue that mean you will need to use different strategies from the online activities. Take notes from your discussion of your ideas as well as any other notes about the assignment that seem useful. Be prepared to share with the class which strategies you found most effective and least effective.
Use the strategies and ideas from this module and the in-class pair work to do some further reflection and brainstorming for the assignment.
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Download Digital Implementation of the Activity
