Objective A: Investigating Objective C: Taking action
Students should: i. define a clear goal and context for the project, based on personal interests ii. identify prior learning and subject-specific knowledge relevant to the project iii. demonstrate research skills.
Students should: i. create a product/outcome in response to the goal, context and criteria ii. demonstrate thinking skills iii. demonstrate communication and social skills.
Objective B: Planning
Students should: i. develop criteria for the product/outcome ii. plan and record the development process of the project iii. demonstrate self-management skills.
Objective D: Reflecting
Students should: i. evaluate the quality of the product/outcome against their criteria ii. reflect on how completing the project has extended their knowledge and understanding of the topic and the global context iii. reflect on their development as an
IB learner through the project.

Follow the
Personal Project
“Project Guide”
Follow the rubric
– you are assessed by the rubric, everything you do should be based on fulfilling the rubric

OPVL

Research Question: Facilitates your investigation
Every aspect of your investigation should work to answer the research question. Answering the research question guides you as you work to achieve your goal.
“A research question guides and centers your research. It should be clear and focused, as well as synthesize multiple sources to present your unique argument...Be careful to avoid the “all-about” paper and questions that can be answered in a few factual statements.” –Thompson Writing
Program, Duke University
Ex: Possible research question – “Are females smarter than males?”
Revised question – “Do females age 18-35 score higher than adult males age 18-35 on the Wonderlic test?
”

Many ways to research primary (first-hand account) and secondary(interprets primary source) sources diversify – different types of sources books, letters, news articles, maps, images, media, social media, diaries, laws, research, textbooks, etc.
Senn Library & Research Databases
GoogleBooks – provides digital copies of many texts
Reverse Engineer Wikipedia – “Reference” section

Wikipedia can be edited by the public so its reliability is in question
Use the “References” to find the source of the information and use that for your investigation

OPVL is a way to evaluate sources
This is not an application to find if a source is reliable.
It directs your research/investigation.
As you find sources you use OPVL to see what
“value” it provides your investigation and what
“limitations” it has. The “limitations” illustrate what other sources you need to improve your investigation.

What is the origin of the source?
Author
Date of original publication
Date of any additional additions
Location of publication
How might the time, place, and author of this work affect the work produced?
For example: George Washington writing about Valley
Forge will have a different interpretation than General
Cornwallis.
Citation

POV of the author/creator
Why did the author create the document?
Why did the author write/draw/compose this work?
Consider the audience
Does this author have something to hide?
Is he/she trying to convince anyone of something?
For example: Is this a textbook that is written to inform a high school student or a press conference given to reassure the American public?

POV of historian
What value does this source bring to your investigation?
What is the author ’ s purpose and how can that perception aid your investigation?
Has this work been particularly well researched?
Is this a secondary source? If so, does that allow the author distance to create a subjective argument?
Is this a primary source? If so, does that allow the author to provide a viewpoint that no one else can (since they experienced it for themselves?)

Where does this source cease to be valuable?
This does not invalidate the source, it simple directs your investigation to its next source
Ex. – WWI soldier account of trenches may be too narrow (great POV, but missing perspective & hindsight). Require opposing perspective or broader view of event/time period Does this author only present part of the story?
Is this a secondary source? If so, does the author deliver only part of the story?
Is this a primary source? If so, what viewpoint does the author present? What is missing from his/her side of the story?

What are you doing?
Defining your goal
Constructing/refining a research question to achieve said goal
Researching relevant & reliable sources toward your goal
Evaluating sources using
OPVL
Keep your eye on the objectives and rubric
Criterion A: Investigating
The student is able to: i. define a clear and highly challenging goal and context for the project, based on personal interests ii. identify prior learning and subject-specific knowledge that is consistently highly relevant to the project iii. demonstrate excellent research skills.
Criterion B: Planning
The student is able to: i. develop rigorous criteria for the product/outcome ii. present a detailed and accurate plan and record of the development process of the project iii. demonstrate excellent selfmanagement skills.