Feel the History - Research Process
Think of it this way –
You are working a puzzle without the picture. Find all available puzzle pieces and then try to piece together the picture or story.
Follow these steps:
- Pick a topic
o Find a topic that interests you. It must be approved by me, but I will be flexible
o Keep in mind that you are not simply writing a research paper. You have to be able to find, or create enough B roll to fill out the segment.
- What do you know?
o In outline form or with bullet points, make a list of everything you know or think you know about the topic. There may be historical inaccuracies in your background knowledge or in the commonly told stories. Be ready to change, correct, or rewrite the story to educate the public. (Ex. Why the school colors are Blue and Gray)
- What don’t you know?
o In the same form, create a list of all the things that you would like to find out. This can be done with a list of questions. Write down all the questions that you have regarding the topic. Make it big – there should be lots of questions. You won’t find all the answers but it is a good place to start.
o Create a list of places, people, and sources where you think that you make to able to find the answers. Then, loosely group the questions based on where you think the answers might be found. This list should include libraries, archives, organizations, and people.
§ DO NOT RELY ON THE INTERNET FOR ALL YOUR ANSWERS. The internet is only a place to start. The sites that you do use must be credible.
- Start picking up the pieces.
o Head out to the library and start making phone calls. Collect everything that might be able to help you work the puzzle. Be sure to make copies and put all bibliographical info on the copies. This will allow you to site your sources and go back to them when needed.
o As you research, make a list of people that are important to your story. Some of them may still be alive or we can find their families for additional info.
- Lay all the pieces out, face up.
o Compile a master list of all information that you have gathered. It should probably be in chronological form. This should be a big list and there will be info on it that you don’t use in your script.
- Write it up.
o Now, you can start writing you script. Tell a good story that will stand alone. The script needs to be good enough that it could be read on the radio and people would be interested. Always think about what kind of B-roll is available.
You are working a puzzle without the picture. Find all available puzzle pieces and then try to piece together the picture or story.
Follow these steps:
- Pick a topic
o Find a topic that interests you. It must be approved by me, but I will be flexible
o Keep in mind that you are not simply writing a research paper. You have to be able to find, or create enough B roll to fill out the segment.
- What do you know?
o In outline form or with bullet points, make a list of everything you know or think you know about the topic. There may be historical inaccuracies in your background knowledge or in the commonly told stories. Be ready to change, correct, or rewrite the story to educate the public. (Ex. Why the school colors are Blue and Gray)
- What don’t you know?
o In the same form, create a list of all the things that you would like to find out. This can be done with a list of questions. Write down all the questions that you have regarding the topic. Make it big – there should be lots of questions. You won’t find all the answers but it is a good place to start.
o Create a list of places, people, and sources where you think that you make to able to find the answers. Then, loosely group the questions based on where you think the answers might be found. This list should include libraries, archives, organizations, and people.
§ DO NOT RELY ON THE INTERNET FOR ALL YOUR ANSWERS. The internet is only a place to start. The sites that you do use must be credible.
- Start picking up the pieces.
o Head out to the library and start making phone calls. Collect everything that might be able to help you work the puzzle. Be sure to make copies and put all bibliographical info on the copies. This will allow you to site your sources and go back to them when needed.
o As you research, make a list of people that are important to your story. Some of them may still be alive or we can find their families for additional info.
- Lay all the pieces out, face up.
o Compile a master list of all information that you have gathered. It should probably be in chronological form. This should be a big list and there will be info on it that you don’t use in your script.
- Write it up.
o Now, you can start writing you script. Tell a good story that will stand alone. The script needs to be good enough that it could be read on the radio and people would be interested. Always think about what kind of B-roll is available.