Career I-Search An I-Search report is designed to teach the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic and about the nature of searching and discovery. It values not only the information you acquire, but the process you undertake to discover it. All freshmen at Vanden are required to complete a career I-Search. The career you explore may or may not be the career you will have one day. The information you present to the class will be valuable either way. The process of finding the information and presenting it in a standardized way will be helpful to you any time in the future when you have to find out important information. Chapter 1: Introduction (2 pages) What I already know (about yourself and about your career) What I hope to find out Predictions In this chapter write everything you know about the career you are researching. Include information you believe to be true. Tell what you want to learn; predict what you will find. Ask questions. Start by discussing yourself. Explain who you are, what you want, and why you are researching this particular career. Sources – personality test results, MIT results, Work Wishes, COIN results Chapter 2: The Search (1-2 pages) In the library Using technology Setting up the interview Conducting the interview In this chapter tell the story of how you went about looking for information about your chosen career. Where did you go? Who did you talk to? What problems did you encounter? Describe the interview setting. Was your career too obscure? How did you adjust your search? Sources – Notes during library research, interview notes Chapter 3: Results (2-4 pages) In this chapter you will document the information you have discovered. You will organize this information, following an outline, so that all aspects of the career are discussed. You must include the following information: * Job requirements * Outlook for this career * Benefits * Physical demands * Potential advancement * Education/Training required * Technology necessary * Potential income * Special skills * Related fields
Sources – Three written sources (including one electronic source), formal interview information
Chapter 4: Reflection (1-2 pages) Now that you are finished researching and have found answers to your questions, what do you think? Were you surprised by things you found out about your career or yourself? How did you like the interview? Is this a career you will still strive toward? How does this knowledge affect the rest of your high school years? Requirements Interview – You must interview a person currently or recently working in your field of interest. If you are unable to contact someone in your career (movie star, NBA player) contact someone in a related field (local actor, Solano college player) Use a family member ONLY as a last resort – part of the learning is in talking to people you do not already know. Use a phone or online interview ONLY as a last resort. Being “in the reality” of a face to face interview is far more valuable. Be sure to write down the person’s name, telephone number, and date of interview. The interview will be Chapter 3 as a separate section or incorporated into the writing. Written Sources At least three (3) written sources must be used. We will go to Vanden’s library for books and internet access. You can also do tons of research on your own on the internet. One (1) source must be electronic. Be sure to write down page numbers, titles, authors, publishing dates and places as you gather information from sources. Us quotation marks when you write down direct quotes. MLA Citation Method – We will have several handouts and exercises out of books to learn how to correctly cite sources following the MLA format. Do not plagiarize. More Details – As we progress through this paper writing process, you will receive handouts which describe each part of the paper in more detail. All handouts should be read, kept in your notebook and followed carefully.