Research Skills Lesson Plan
Guide students through the complete research process from developing questions to evaluating sources and organizing findings.
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Lesson Overview
Duration
65-80 minutes
Grade Level
9-12 / College
Focus
Academic Research
This lesson builds essential research skills that students will use throughout their academic careers. From formulating strong research questions to evaluating sources critically, students learn a systematic approach to gathering credible evidence for their academic writing.
Before Class: Preparation Checklist
Materials to Prepare
- Print CRAAP Test Evaluation Worksheet - 1 per student
- Print Research Question Refinement Flowchart - 1 per student
- Print Database Comparison Matrix - 1 per pair
- Print Source Tracking Spreadsheet - 1 per student
- Prepare mixed-quality source samples (3 strong, 3 weak)
Technology Setup
- Ensure database access (JSTOR, Google Scholar, library portal)
- Bookmark Deep Research Tool for demo
- Prepare sample Boolean searches to demonstrate
- Test projector/screen for database navigation demo
Learning Objectives
Activity 1: Research Question Workshop
Opening Hook
5 min"Imagine you're a detective. You wouldn't start an investigation by saying 'I want to know about crime.' That's way too broad! You'd need a specific case, specific suspects, specific evidence to examine. Research works the same way—today we're going to learn how to turn vague curiosity into laser-focused research questions."
Ask students: "What topic are you curious about right now?" Write responses on the board. These real interests become practice material for the narrowing exercise.
Narrowing Process Demo
15 minDistribute the Research Question Flowchart
Model the Narrowing Process
Use a student's broad topic from the board and think aloud:
"Let's say someone is interested in 'social media.' That's way too broad—you'd need to write a whole book! So let's narrow it. WHAT about social media? Mental health effects? WHO specifically? Teenagers? WHEN? In the last five years? Now we have: 'How has social media use affected teenage mental health outcomes since 2020?' That's researchable!"
Partner Practice
Gallery Walk Check
Students often write topics instead of questions: "The effects of climate change" isn't a research question—it's a topic. Push for actual questions: "How has sea level rise affected coastal housing prices in Florida since 2010?"
Activity 2: Database Scavenger Hunt
Database Navigation Demo
8 min"Google is great for finding pizza places, but academic research requires specialized search engines called databases. Think of them as the VIP section of the internet—only high-quality, peer-reviewed sources allowed. Let's explore the differences."
Compare Google vs. Google Scholar vs. Database
Teach Boolean Operators
Show how AND, OR, and quotation marks transform search results:
- •
climate change→ millions of results - •
"climate change" AND "sea level"→ more focused - •
"sea level rise" AND Florida AND "property values"→ highly targeted
Distribute Database Comparison Matrix
Create friendly competition: First pair to find a peer-reviewed article on a specific topic wins. This gamifies database navigation practice.
Scavenger Hunt Challenge
17 min"Time for a research race! Your team will use different databases to find specific types of sources. Track what you find in your Database Comparison Matrix. Ready?"
Scavenger Hunt Challenges:
- • Find a peer-reviewed journal article published in 2024
- • Find a government report with statistics (.gov source)
- • Find a book chapter from an academic press
- • Find an article citing at least 20 other sources
- • Find opposing viewpoints on the same topic
Students may argue "Wikipedia says..." Clarify: Wikipedia is a starting point, not a source to cite. Use it to understand a topic and find actual sources in its references section.
Activity 3: CRAAP Test Deep Dive
CRAAP Framework Introduction
10 min"Not all sources are created equal. That random blog post and that peer-reviewed study from Harvard carry very different weight. The CRAAP test gives us five lenses to evaluate any source: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Yes, it's called CRAAP—and that's intentional!"
Distribute CRAAP Evaluation Worksheet
Model a Full Evaluation
Project a source and evaluate it together, scoring each criterion 1-5:
"Let's evaluate this source together. Currency: It's from 2022—for a technology topic, that's borderline. I'd give it a 3. Relevance: It directly addresses our research question. That's a 5. Authority: The author has a PhD from MIT and has published 30 papers on this topic. Definitely a 5..."
Compare Strong vs. Weak Source
Use sources students actually encounter: a viral TikTok claim vs. a CDC report, or a random blog vs. a university research center. Real examples stick better.
Independent Evaluation Practice
15 min"Now you'll evaluate sources on your own. I'm giving each of you two sources—one will be strong, one will have issues. Your job is to figure out which is which and explain WHY using your CRAAP worksheet."
Circulating Questions to Ask:
- • "What made you score Authority that way?"
- • "Could you defend this source to a professor?"
- • "What's the author's purpose in writing this?"
- • "How would you verify this claim?"
Students often check boxes without real analysis. Push deeper: "You gave Authority a 4, but you haven't told me who the author is. What are their credentials? Have they published other work on this topic?"
Activity 4: Source Organization Lab
Source Tracking Introduction
5 min"Picture this: It's the night before your paper is due. You have an amazing quote but you can't remember which of your 15 sources it came from. Now you're frantically searching for hours. This doesn't have to happen! Let's set up a system that keeps you organized from day one."
Distribute Source Tracking Spreadsheet
Demo the 30-Second Rule
"Before you read a word of any source, take 30 seconds to record the citation information. Title, author, publication date, URL or DOI. This one habit will save you hours of frustration. Trust me."
Have students immediately practice by recording one source they found during the Database Scavenger Hunt. Make it muscle memory.
Organization Practice
10 minRecord Found Sources
Add Annotations
Partner Check
Student Handouts
CRAAP Test Evaluation Worksheet
Use this detailed worksheet to evaluate the credibility and usefulness of any source. Score each criterion from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).
Source Information
C — Currency
When was this information published or last updated?
R — Relevance
Does this source relate to your research question?
A — Authority
Who created this source and what are their qualifications?
A — Accuracy
Is this information reliable, truthful, and verifiable?
P — Purpose
Why does this source exist? What is the author's intent?
The purpose of this source is to:
Final Evaluation
Decision:
Research Question Refinement Flowchart
Follow this decision tree to transform a broad topic into a focused, researchable question.
START: What broad topic interests you?
Step 1: Is your topic TOO BROAD?
Test: Could you cover this completely in your word count? If you'd need a whole book, it's too broad.
YES, too broad → Narrow it!
Pick ONE aspect using these questions:
- • WHO specifically? (age group, population, location)
- • WHAT aspect? (cause, effect, solution, comparison)
- • WHEN? (time period, recent vs. historical)
- • WHERE? (geographic focus)
NO, scope is manageable
→ Proceed to Step 2
Step 2: Is your topic TOO NARROW?
Test: Can you find at least 5 credible sources? If sources are scarce, broaden slightly.
YES, too narrow → Broaden it!
Remove one limiting factor or expand scope:
NO, plenty of sources exist
→ Proceed to Step 3
Step 3: Is your topic ARGUABLE?
Test: Can reasonable people disagree about the answer? If it's just a fact, it's not a research question.
NO, it's just a fact → Add analysis!
Turn it into an analytical question:
- • Add "how" or "why" or "to what extent"
- • Add "should" for policy questions
- • Compare two things or time periods
YES, it invites analysis!
→ Proceed to Step 4
Step 4: Form Your Research Question
Use one of these templates:
- • How does [X] affect [Y]?
- • What is the relationship between [X] and [Y]?
- • To what extent does [X] influence [Y]?
- • What are the effects of [X] on [Y]?
- • Should [action] be taken to address [issue]?
My Research Question:
Self-Check: Is My Question Ready?
Database Comparison Matrix
Use this matrix to compare different research databases and develop your search strategy.
| Criteria | Google Scholar | JSTOR | Library Database | Other: ____ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for which subjects? | ||||
| Source types available | ||||
| Peer-reviewed filter? | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| Full-text access? | ||||
| Date range filter? | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| Boolean operators? | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| Citation export? | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| Ease of use (1-5) |
My Database Strategy
Search Strategy Notes
Example: "climate change" AND "sea level" AND Florida
Source Tracking Spreadsheet Template
Record every source IMMEDIATELY when you find it. Don't read until you've captured this info!
My Research Question:
Source #1
Source Type:
Source #2
Source Type:
Source #3
Source Type:
Source #4
Source Type:
Source Summary
Real Examples: Strong vs. Weak
Research Questions
"What is climate change?"
Problem: This is a topic, not a question. You'd need an entire textbook to answer it.
"What was the temperature in Miami on July 4, 2023?"
Problem: This is a fact you can look up, not a research question. No analysis required.
"How has sea level rise affected coastal property values in Florida over the past decade?"
Why it works: Specific scope (Florida, 10 years), measurable outcomes (property values), requires research to answer, invites analysis and argument.
Source Evaluation
"This source seems good. It's a .edu website."
Problem: Surface-level analysis. A .edu domain doesn't guarantee quality—student blogs are often hosted on .edu sites.
"This 2023 peer-reviewed article from the Journal of Climate Studies is highly relevant because it specifically addresses coastal economic impacts. The authors are professors at MIT with 15+ publications on this topic. The data is verified by NOAA. CRAAP Score: 23/25."
Why it works: Addresses all CRAAP criteria with specific evidence. Could defend this source to a skeptical professor.
Database Searching
climate changeResult: 5+ million results. Too broad to be useful.
("sea level rise" OR "coastal flooding") AND ("property values" OR "real estate") AND FloridaFilters applied: 2018-2024, Peer-reviewed, Full text
Result: 47 highly relevant results.
Common Student Mistakes & Interventions
Students try to answer questions like "What is social media?"Intervention: "If Wikipedia can answer it in the first paragraph, it's not a research question. You need to analyze, not just describe."
Students skip academic databases entirely, relying only on Google.Intervention: Show side-by-side comparison of Google results vs. JSTOR results for the same topic. The quality difference is immediately visible.
Students check boxes on the worksheet without really analyzing the source.Intervention: "Could you defend this source to a skeptical professor? What would they ask you? What's your answer?"
Students use outdated sources for topics requiring current information.Intervention: Define currency by topic—5 years for science/technology, but 20+ years may be fine for historical or literary analysis.
Students find great sources but don't save citation information.Intervention: "Fill out your Source Tracker BEFORE reading the full article. It takes 30 seconds now vs. 30 minutes later trying to find it again."
Differentiation Strategies
Emerging Researchers
For students new to academic research skills.
- •Provide pre-selected database list (3 options maximum)
- •Use simplified CRAAP worksheet with yes/no questions
- •Pair with peer research partner throughout activities
- •Focus on 2-3 sources instead of 5+
- •Allow extra time for database navigation
Developing Researchers
Core lesson as designed for typical learners.
- •Follow lesson sequence as written
- •Complete all four main activities
- •Work in mixed-ability groups during collaborative time
- •Use full CRAAP worksheet with scoring
- •Track sources independently using template
Proficient Researchers
For students ready for independent research work.
- •Create search strategies for peers to test
- •Evaluate complex sources with competing biases
- •Lead small group database demonstrations
- •Analyze why specific databases suit different disciplines
- •Begin annotated bibliography with detailed annotations
English Language Learners
Accommodations for multilingual students.
- •Pre-teach research vocabulary (database, periodical, peer-reviewed)
- •Use visual flowcharts with minimal text
- •Allow bilingual search terms where applicable
- •Provide sentence frames for source summaries
- •Allow verbal explanations of CRAAP evaluations
Time Adaptations
Quick Version
- • Focus on source evaluation only (CRAAP deep dive)
- • Demo database searching as class instead of hands-on
- • Assign source tracking template as homework
Standard
- • Complete all activities as written
- • Full class discussions between activities
- • In-class completion of all four handouts
Extended
- • Day 1: Research questions + database exploration
- • Day 2: CRAAP evaluation + source organization
- • Add peer review of research questions
- • Include annotated bibliography project
Materials & Tools
Digital Tools
Printable Handouts
• CRAAP Test Evaluation Worksheet (detailed scoring)
• Research Question Refinement Flowchart
• Database Comparison Matrix
• Source Tracking Spreadsheet Template
• Mixed-quality source samples for practice
Assessment Rubric
| Criteria | Developing (1) | Proficient (2) | Mastery (3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Question | Too broad or too narrow; not arguable | Focused and researchable with clear scope | Sophisticated, arguable, and precisely scoped |
| Database Use | Google only; no academic databases | Uses 1-2 academic databases with basic filters | Strategically selects databases by source need |
| Source Evaluation | Surface-level CRAAP; checks boxes without analysis | Applies all criteria accurately with evidence | Nuanced analysis with justified decisions |
| Source Variety | All same type (e.g., only websites) | Mix of 2-3 source types | Strategic mix including peer-reviewed articles |
| Organization | Sources not tracked; missing information | Basic tracking info recorded for all sources | Complete annotation with usage notes |
Extension Activities
Annotated Bibliography Project
Students find and annotate 5 sources on their research topic, including CRAAP scores and planned usage for each. Annotations should include a summary of the source, evaluation of credibility, and explanation of how it will be used in their paper.
Database Expert Presentation
Small groups become "experts" on one database and teach the class its unique features, best use cases, and search tips. Groups create a one-page reference guide for classmates.
Related Resources
Research Guide Hub →
Complete student research resources
Evaluating Sources →
In-depth source credibility guide
Finding Sources →
Database search strategies for students
Citation Skills Lesson →
Teaching proper attribution and formatting
Source Integration Lesson →
Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing
Deep Research Tool →
AI-powered research assistant