SOCIAL STUDIES FAIR

INTRODUCTION

GUIDE TO TOPIC, RESEARCH QUESTION

AND PURPOSE STATEMENT
Tamara S. Creech
Media and Educational Technology Instructor

Each project is designed to show

research and conclusions about the
study of people and their
relationships to their physical and
social environment.

PURPOSE AND GOALS

(WHY AM I PARTICIPATING?)

You will develop a visual and verbal

presentation on a selected topic by:

Selecting a significant topic of study

Gathering and analyzing data
Interpreting findings
Reporting conclusions.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME?

HOW MOST FAIRS ARE SET UP

AWESOME PAST PROJECT

AND ANOTHER ONE

 ANTHROPOLOGY People are survivors.

I am a survivor.

ECONOMICS People are consumers and producers.

I am a consumer and producer.

GEOGRAPHY People are earth dwellers.

I am an earth dweller.

HISTORY People are descendants.

I am a descendant.

POLITICAL SCIENCE People are citizens.

I am a citizen.

SOCIOLOGY/SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY People are members of groups.

I am a member of many groups.

People are individuals.

I am an individual.

Ann Angell, Emory University

SOCIAL STUDIES DISCIPLINES

KNOWING THEM CAN HELP NARROW DOWN YOUR INTERESTS

 CHOOSE A TOPIC
FORMULATE AN APPROPRIATE RESEARCH
QUESTION
DETERMINE THE PURPOSE FOR CHOOSING THE TOPIC
AND QUESTION
CHOOSE METHODS OF RESEARCH
CONDUCT THE RESEARCH
SUMMARIZE THE DATA
DRAW A CONCLUSTION
DETERMINE A PRESENTATION FORMAT

METHOD TO THE MADNESS

IN 8 SIMPLE STEPS

Avoid topics that are limited

A student cannot write a report on a topic that can be explained in a few words or a sentence.
Avoid topics that are too broad
Topics which are too big make it impossible to find all the information that is needed to cover the
topic adequately.
Avoid topics that have no available information
Avoid topics that are confusing because it cannot be determined what specific information is
being explored
Avoid topics on which people throughout the world cannot agree
The topic should be supported with facts. The facts are used to arrive at a conclusion.
Do research the topic from a social studies viewpoint rather than investigating it as a natural
science topic
Do choose a topic that is CURRENT, RELEVANT and OF INTEREST TO YOU

BEST PRACTICES
WHEN CHOOSING A TOPIC

 Think of a current topic about which you like to read and study;
think of problems you would like to see solved.
Look through newspapers, a variety of magazines (Time,
Newsweek, National Geographic, etc.) and other current
publications. Read current editorials, listen to radio and
television news broadcasts.
Brainstorm possible topics. Talk to parents, teachers, and other
students about topics that may interest you.
Identify any bias you may have concerning a possible topic.
Determine if you can sort through the data and not be
prejudiced.

TIPS TO PICK A TOPIC

WHEN ALL ELSE HAS FAILED

 List ten questions that deal with your topic.

Ask each of these questions about your possible research questions:
1. Can you do original research on the topic? (preferable)
2. Is the topic relevant? Will the answer be of any benefit to you or your
community?
3. Does the question use words that need to be defined?
4. Did you avoid questions with yes or no answers?
5. Do you already know the answer to the question? (avoid)
6. Are you biased or prejudiced about the topic?
7. Will you be able to draw some kind of conclusion to the question?
8. Can you find information in your community on the topic?

Narrow your list of questions to three.

1. Discuss the questions with parents, teachers and friends.
2. Choose the best research question.

FORMULATE AN APPROPRIATE
RESEARCH QUESTION

 Why have you chosen this topic?

Write a paragraph explaining
why.

DETERMINE THE PURPOSE FOR

CHOOSING THE TOPIC AND
QUESTION

I Am Homeless: Where Can I Get Help?

How Did Voting Units Affect the 2004 Presidential
Elections?
Citizenship Can You Pass the Test?
Should Auto Insurance for Teen Boys Be More
Pricing Trends in the Retail Market
What is Ramadan? What Happens in Ramadan and Expensive Than for Teen Girls?
Can Public Schools Offer Fast Food as a Healthy
Why?
What is Coca-Colas History and Economic Impact on Alternative Lunch?
What Are the Origins of Currency?
Georgia?
How Do Storm Chasers Help Save Lives?
The Soul of the Samurai
The Pledge of Allegiance How Do You Feel?
Teenage Spending
Why Are There So Many Chinese Girls Who Need to The Retail Industry: Friend or Foe During the Time
of Economic Slowing?
Be Adopted?
Mardi Gras
Upgrading Our Future: Are We Technology
Dependent?
How Successful Have the Land Reform Programs
How Did Eleanor Roosevelt Become Known as First Been in Zimbabwe?
Lady of the World?
Magic, Religion and Science
Was the South Justified in Seceding from the Union? The Plight of Sudanese Refugees in Atlanta

A FEW TOPICS FROM PREVIOUS

STATE FAIR WINNERS

Works Cited
"GCSS Web Site." GCSS Web Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2013.
"May/03: Students Display Talent and Interest at State Social
Studies Fair." May/03: Students Display Talent and Interest at
State Social Studies Fair. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2013.

REFERENCES IN MLA FORMAT

SNEAK PEAK OF CITATION

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS???