Teaching Resources

7 Keys to Research for Writing Success: A Conversation with Mary Jo Fresch and David L. Harrison (and a giveaway!)

 //  Jan 25, 2018

7 Keys to Research for Writing Success: A Conversation with Mary Jo Fresch and David L. Harrison (and a giveaway!)

Mary Jo Fresch and David L. Harrison are co-authors of 7 Keys to Research for Writing Success. They join edu@scholastic to share a conversation about their process for conceiving of and writing the book, as well as why it's so important for educators to understand how to talk about research.

GIVEAWAY!

We are giving five readers the chance to win a copy of 7 Keys to Research for Writing Success. To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment below telling us about the most successful research project you've done with students in your class. One entry per person. All entries must be submitted by 5:59 p.m. ET on February 9, 2018. U.S. residents, 18 and over, please. See the complete legal rules here.

We would like to share our writing journey with you for our latest Scholastic book, 7 Keys to Research for Writing Success. As a literacy expert and educator (Mary Jo) and children’s book author (David), we have collaborated for several years, and knew that we could grow this work into a resource that will help educators teach students how to get ready to write. And as writers, both of us know from lots of trial and error that in order to craft something powerful, you have to be prepared. It was in this idea of preparation that we saw an important opportunity. 

We had conversations about writing (and teaching writing) with many writers, editors and teachers, and decided that our book didn’t need to be about the writing process. There are excellent titles about the process but there is not much information about what writers need to do before they are ready to write. Preparing to write—doing the presearch and research about a subject—shapes what we say and how we say it when the time comes to do the writing. Presearch is what writers do to prepare for the real digging for information (research). It’s the time when we think about the task ahead, decide what we’ll need to know, and map out how we’ll go about the process. In other words, presearch is planning for research. When young writers learn to organize their thoughts and questions, as well as the knowledge they bring to a subject, they have a solid foundation on which to tell a compelling story or craft an iron-clad argument. 

We also knew that “doing research” is a skill that needs to be taught in a practical way. It’s not enough to say, “look at books,” or “enlist the librarian.” Students need guidance on how to do these things with purpose: to select a topic, ask the right questions, consult reliable resources (as author Dan Brown says, “Google is not a synonym for research”), take good notes, and prepare to write. When students have these skills, they become independent researchers, which is an important part of the writing process. 

We wrote 7 Keys to Research for Writing Success with help from experienced teachers who provided samples of their students’ work, and David dug into his own research notes for examples to share with students. He shared stories (all in the book!) about how important good research is to his writing. 

David offered this example in particular:

“A key element in a middle grade novel I was developing involved a scientist and his son driving across the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to spend a summer researching. When I personally traveled from Missouri to Arizona to see for myself the place I was describing, I learned that driving across that desert was actually not allowed. With this knowledge, I had to adjust: my adventurers had to settle for staying at a campsite! (And I had to make sure that any further plot points reflected the change.)”

Sharing stories like this with students drives home the point that unless we prepare before we start, our writing may have holes or inconsistencies that we don’t even know about! Our writing won’t be true and our readers will be cheated.

The teachers we worked with appreciated the step-by-step, efficient way they could teach good research skills to their students. By presearching a proposed topic, students discover if their idea is too big or too narrow. This saves time later on and helps keep students from being overwhelmed (by too much information) or disappointed (by too little). By putting a laser focus on their topics, students could choose more specific key words, saving time in the search and yielding better results. From there students can get really engaged in their topic. Suddenly, they will realize that research is the same for them as it is for published authors. We believe that if you do the (pre)work, you will wow your reader with a piece full of interesting and relevant facts and details. 

We open the book with an anonymous quote that we will use to close this blog post: “The future belongs to the curious. The ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke it, question it and turn it inside out.”

We wish happy research adventures to you and your students!

Comments

stn play online casino <a

stn play online casino <a href="https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/">hollywood casino online slots</a> slots for real money <a href="https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/">gun lake casino</a> | https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/ - morongo casino https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/ - sugarhouse casino online

free online slots <a href=

free online slots <a href="https://onlinecasinoslots.icu/">quick hits free slots</a> jackpot magic slots <a href="https://onlinecasinoslots.icu/">free slots slotomania</a> | https://onlinecasinoslots.icu/ - las vegas free slots https://onlinecasinoslots.icu/ - slots lounge

slots for free <a href="https

slots for free <a href="https://casinoslotsplay.icu/">goldfish slots</a> pompeii slots <a href="https://casinoslotsplay.icu/">quick hit slots</a> | https://casinoslotsplay.icu/ - pch slots tournament https://casinoslotsplay.icu/ - free penny slots no download

free slots games online <a

free slots games online <a href="https://vegascasinoslots.icu/">slots online</a> heart of vegas slots <a href="https://vegascasinoslots.icu/">caesars free slots</a> | https://vegascasinoslots.icu/ - freeslots.com slots https://vegascasinoslots.icu/ - pop slots

hollywood casino play4fun <a

hollywood casino play4fun <a href="https://usacasino.ooo/">slotomania slot machines</a> codeshareonline doubledown casino <a href="https://usacasino.ooo/">casino games</a> | https://usacasino.ooo/ - casino play https://usacasino.ooo/ - casinos in iowa

island view casino <a href=

island view casino <a href="https://onlinecasinoo.icu/">virgin casino online nj</a> four winds casino <a href="https://onlinecasinoo.icu/">doubledown casino facebook</a> | https://onlinecasinoo.icu/ - treasure island casino minnesota https://onlinecasinoo.icu/ - betfair casino online nj

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec without prescription</a> - cytotec for miscarriage where can i buy cytotec - <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">where to buy cytotec online</a> https://cytotec.icu/

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cheap misoprostol cytotec</a> - cytotec without a doctors prescription cytotec induction of labor protocol - <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec for miscarriage</a> https://cytotec.icu/

free slots casino games <a

free slots casino games <a href="https://playslots.ooo/">tropicana online casino</a> las vegas casinos <a href="https://playslots.ooo/">posh casino online</a> | https://playslots.ooo/ - online casino bonus https://playslots.ooo/ - high five casino slots

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec for miscarriage</a>, buy cytotec buy cheap cytotec, <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cytotec</a> https://cytotec.icu/

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec pills online</a>, where can i buy cytotec cytotec without prescription, <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cytotec online fast delivery</a> https://cytotec.icu/

zone online casino games <a

zone online casino games <a href="https://onlinecasinoplay24.us.org/">chumba casino</a> free casino games online <a href="https://onlinecasinoplay24.us.org/">online casinos for us players</a> | https://onlinecasinoplay24.us.org/ - free online casino https://onlinecasinoplay24.us.org/ - online casinos

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cytotec amazon</a>, cytotec pills buy online online cytotec, <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cheap misoprostol cytotec</a> https://cytotec.icu/

mobile spy <a href="https:/

mobile spy <a href="https://phonespy.us.com/">cell phone spy</a> locate a cell phone position free <a href=" https://phonespy.us.com/">free phone tracker exact location</a> | https://phonespy.us.com/ - mobile phone tracking free download https://phonespy.us.com/ - spy software

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">where can i buy cytotec</a>, cytotec for abortion online cytotec, <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec for miscarriage</a> https://cytotec.icu/

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">where can i buy cytotec</a>, cytotec pills online cytotec online mail order pharmacies, <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec pills buy online</a> https://cytotec.icu/

heart of vegas free slots <a

heart of vegas free slots <a href="https://vegasslotsonline.icu/">vegas world free slots</a> vegas casino slots <a href="https://vegasslotsonline.icu/">konami free slots</a> | https://vegasslotsonline.icu/ - free slot games with no download https://vegasslotsonline.icu/ - penny slots free

hyper casinos <a href="https:

hyper casinos <a href="https://trstonlinecasino.com/">free casino games vegas world</a> free online casino games <a href="https://trstonlinecasino.com/">tropicana online casino</a> | https://trstonlinecasino.com/ - free casino games slots https://trstonlinecasino.com/ - best online casinos

cashman casino <a href="https

cashman casino <a href="https://playcasinoslots.ooo/">online casino gambling</a> online gambling <a href="https://playcasinoslots.ooo/">harrah online casino</a> | https://playcasinoslots.ooo/ - zone online casino games https://playcasinoslots.ooo/ - doubledown casino promo codes

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec online</a>, how to take cytotec cytotec online - <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec for miscarriage</a> https://cytotec.icu/

hollywood casino <a href=

hollywood casino <a href="https://freeonlineslots.ooo/">potawatomi casino</a> no deposit casino <a href="https://freeonlineslots.ooo/">island view casino</a> | https://freeonlineslots.ooo/ - free online casino https://freeonlineslots.ooo/ - golden nugget online casino

doubledown casino <a href=

doubledown casino <a href="https://onlinecasino2018.us.org/">online casino real money</a> free casino games online <a href="https://onlinecasino2018.us.org/">hollywood casino</a> | https://onlinecasino2018.us.org/ - casino games free https://onlinecasino2018.us.org/ - gsn casino

soaring eagle casino <a href=

soaring eagle casino <a href="https://playonlinecasino.icu/">double down casino</a> turning stone casino <a href="https://playonlinecasino.icu/">seneca allegany casino</a> | https://playonlinecasino.icu/ - three rivers casino https://playonlinecasino.icu/ - paradise casino

slots for free <a href="https

slots for free <a href="https://slotsrealmoney.icu/">slots online free</a> free penny slots no download <a href="https://slotsrealmoney.icu/">hollywood casino free slots online</a> | https://slotsrealmoney.icu/ - celebrity slots https://slotsrealmoney.icu/ - slotomania on facebook

slots free games <a href=

slots free games <a href="https://freeslots24.icu/">free penny slots no download</a> free slots hollywood <a href="https://freeslots24.icu/">liberty slots casino</a> | https://freeslots24.icu/ - free penny slots https://freeslots24.icu/ - infinity slots

parx casino <a href="https:/

parx casino <a href="https://casino-bonus.icu/">vegas casino games</a> casino online <a href="https://casino-bonus.icu/">casinos near me</a> | https://casino-bonus.icu/ - cherokee casino https://casino-bonus.icu/ - free casino

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cheap cytotec</a> - cytotec online mail order pharmacies cytotec - <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec for abortion</a> https://cytotec.icu/

hollywood casino online slots

hollywood casino online slots <a href="https://casinorealmoney.icu/">888 casino</a> empire city casino <a href="https://casinorealmoney.icu/">hollywood casino online</a> | https://casinorealmoney.icu/ - sandia casino https://casinorealmoney.icu/ - bovada blackjack

heart of vegas free slots <a

heart of vegas free slots <a href="https://slotgames.icu/">free slots casino games</a> vegas casino slots <a href="https://slotgames.icu/">simslots free slots</a> | https://slotgames.icu/ - world class casino slots https://slotgames.icu/ - pch slots

da vinci diamonds free online

da vinci diamonds free online slots <a href="https://realmoneyslots.icu/">hollywood slots</a> free buffalo slots <a href="https://realmoneyslots.icu/">hollywood casino online slots</a> | https://realmoneyslots.icu/ - da vinci diamonds free online slots https://realmoneyslots.icu/ - free vegas slots online casino

caesars casino <a href="https

caesars casino <a href="https://slotsonline.ooo/">high 5 casino</a> free online casino slots <a href="https://slotsonline.ooo/">rivers casino pittsburgh</a> | https://slotsonline.ooo/ - play online casino https://slotsonline.ooo/ - empire casino online

vegas world casino games <a

vegas world casino games <a href="https://onlinecasinoplay.us.org/">casino play</a> casino games slots free <a href="https://onlinecasinoplay.us.org/">online casino games</a> | https://onlinecasinoplay.us.org/ - casino games free https://onlinecasinoplay.us.org/ - casino game

borgata hotel casino <a href=

borgata hotel casino <a href="https://realmoneycasino.icu/">no deposit casino</a> pala casino online <a href="https://realmoneycasino.icu/">dakota sioux casino</a> | https://realmoneycasino.icu/ - clearwater casino https://realmoneycasino.icu/ - virgin online casino

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">cytotec online mail order pharmacies</a>, acog guidelines for cytotec induction cytotec - <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">buy cheap misoprostol cytotec</a> https://cytotec.icu/

pop slots <a href="https:/

pop slots <a href="https://casinoslotsonline.icu/">free slots online no download</a> free online slots <a href="https://casinoslotsonline.icu/">real casino slots</a> | https://casinoslotsonline.icu/ - casino slots https://casinoslotsonline.icu/ - free slots 777

dakota sioux casino <a href=

dakota sioux casino <a href="https://vegascasino.icu/">online gambling casino</a> mgm online casino nj <a href="https://vegascasino.icu/">empire city online casino</a> | https://vegascasino.icu/ - fortune bay casino https://vegascasino.icu/ - huuuge casino

mohegan sun online casino <a

mohegan sun online casino <a href="https://slotsgames.ooo/">high 5 casino</a> casinos online <a href="https://slotsgames.ooo/">gun lake casino</a> | https://slotsgames.ooo/ - empire city online casino https://slotsgames.ooo/ - greektown casino

virgin online casino <a href=

virgin online casino <a href="https://casinoo.ooo/">oxford casino</a> mgm online casino <a href="https://casinoo.ooo/">mountaineer casino</a> | https://casinoo.ooo/ - cashman casino https://casinoo.ooo/ - empire city casino online

casino online <a href="https:

casino online <a href="https://onlinecasinoslotsmaxx.com/">gsn casino slots</a> real money casino <a href="https://onlinecasinoslotsmaxx.com/">free casino games no download</a> | https://onlinecasinoslotsmaxx.com/ - mgm online casino https://onlinecasinoslotsmaxx.com/ - lady luck online casino

vegas free slots online <a

vegas free slots online <a href="https://playslotsonline.icu/">online slot games</a> free slots with no download or registration <a href="https://playslotsonline.icu/">free vegas world slots</a> | https://playslotsonline.icu/ - free games online slots https://playslotsonline.icu/ - cleopatra slots

free slots machines <a href=

free slots machines <a href="https://freecasinoslots.icu/">world class casino slots</a> caesars slots free casino <a href="https://freecasinoslots.icu/">play free slots for fun</a> | https://freecasinoslots.icu/ - slot machine games free https://freecasinoslots.icu/ - cashman casino slots free

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu

<a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">payday loans direct lender</a>, same day loans loans bad credit, <a href=" https://cytotec.icu/ ">loans direct</a> https://cytotec.icu/

muckleshoot casino <a href=

muckleshoot casino <a href="https://onlinecasinox.icu/">dakota sioux casino</a> online casino real money <a href="https://onlinecasinox.icu/">ilani casino</a> | https://onlinecasinox.icu/ - slots casino games https://onlinecasinox.icu/ - doubledown casino

online slot games <a href=

online slot games <a href="https://slotonline.icu/">slots farm</a> pch slots tournament <a href="https://slotonline.icu/">best online slots</a> | https://slotonline.icu/ - house of fun slots https://slotonline.icu/ - las vegas free slots

sugarhouse online casino <a

sugarhouse online casino <a href="https://casinovegas.ooo/">empire city online casino</a> real casino <a href="https://casinovegas.ooo/">mgm online casino</a> | https://casinovegas.ooo/ - free casino games sun moon https://casinovegas.ooo/ - free online casino

hard rock casino tampa <a

hard rock casino tampa <a href="https://casinorealmoney.ooo/">gun lake casino</a> snoqualmie casino <a href="https://casinorealmoney.ooo/">cafe casino online</a> | https://casinorealmoney.ooo/ - casino online https://casinorealmoney.ooo/ - betfair casino online nj

seneca allegany casino <a

seneca allegany casino <a href="https://onlinecasinorealmoney.ooo/">caesars online casino</a> free casino <a href="https://onlinecasinorealmoney.ooo/">888 casino</a> | https://onlinecasinorealmoney.ooo/ - hollywood online casino https://onlinecasinorealmoney.ooo/ - online casino reviews

free slots games <a href=

free slots games <a href="https://onlinecasino888.us.org/">firekeepers casino</a> free casino games vegas world <a href="https://onlinecasino888.us.org/">casino bonus codes</a> | https://onlinecasino888.us.org/ - free casino slot games https://onlinecasino888.us.org/ - doubledown casino

real casino <a href="https:/

real casino <a href="https://realmoneycasino.ooo/">free online slots</a> usa online casino <a href="https://realmoneycasino.ooo/">sandia casino</a> | https://realmoneycasino.ooo/ - san manuel casino https://realmoneycasino.ooo/ - golden nugget online casino

mohegan sun online casino <a

mohegan sun online casino <a href="https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/">playmgm nj casino online</a> vegas casino online <a href="https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/">rivers casino</a> | https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/ - empire casino online https://onlinecasinoslots.ooo/ - greektown casino

Pages