Common Core Writing Standard 7

This is one of my favorite standards! College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard for Writing 7 (CCRA.W.7) tasks students with conducting "short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation."

Applications for this standard cross subject areas. I already talked about a disease research project and an animal research project. One short and one long. In my opinion, students should conduct at least two longer and no fewer than six shorter research projects in one year. How is this accomplished?

Let's take a look at a guided research project on bird adaptations. I created a website to guide students through an investigation. Instead of writing a research paper, students simply had to answer questions. Everything is contained on this site.

This is just one example of a shorter research project "based on focused questions." This type of learning should be integrated into students' applied studies (e.g., science, health, social studies) as often as possible!

What types of research projects, short or long, have you used with your students?