al-mofhariz

We're a long way from the index card. Or are we?
It used to start here (or so I'm told..) Historians work a lot of different ways, and probably always have. Right at the beginning of my dissertation, I had a series of how-to conversations with other grad students: how to take notes in the archives, how to organize research material and your own thoughts, how to start (and finish) the writing process. That kind of thing.
I got a diverse set of responses; big surprise, right? Methods reflect the people who use them. Of course it matters what kind of project and sources you've got, but even more important is how you think – how patient and organized and efficient you are (or would like to be). I learned more about my friends than about their tools.
Still, some common themes did emerge, pertaining to every stage of the process. From what to do in the beginning to how to wrap it all up at the end, there seemed to be enough overlap to justify pursuing the question further. So, in th…

So what makes a good focus question for your science notebook?  Does it always have to be an investigable question?  My answer is ... not always..

     Most of the time my questions are investigable - "What conditions cause water to evaporate fastest?"  As explained in the FOSS science notebook folio (available to download on www.fossweb.com ) "focus questions determine the kinds of data to be collected and the procedures that will yield those data."  The FOSS program sets up all their investigations with a testable question that can be explored in a hands-on investigation.  However, when I have to veer from the program (yikes!) I always try to plan with my team mate a solid question to work off of...such as "What do you think will happen when the roller coaster tube changes direction?" or "How much water will the sponge soak up after three trials?"

     But sometimes, I do use a researchable question that may go with a nonfiction reading selectio…