Let questions guide you!

Guiding Question

For Builders:
HOW can I, as a critical scholar,
RESEARCH and find supporting evidence
SO THAT I can start a campaign to build a new monument in my community?

 For Removers:
HOW can I, as a critical scholar,
RESEARCH and find supporting evidence
​SO THAT I can start a campaign to remove an existing monument in my community?

1. What do I KNOW in order to answer the guiding question?
2. What do I NEED TO KNOW in order to answer the guiding question?
3. What are my NEXT STEPS in order to answer the guiding question?

EXAMPLE

KNOWS ​

1. I live in Franklin, Kentucky
2. Franklin is in Simpson County
3. Franklin, Simpson County, and Kentucky have complicated relationships with slavery, the Civil War, and race relations.

NEED-TO-KNOWS

1. How many monuments are in Franklin?​
2. How many monuments are supported financially by the town/county/state or others?
3. Who created those monuments?
4. Who originally funded those monuments?
5. Who owns those monuments?
6. What is the purpose of those monuments?
7. Is there a local archive in Franklin?
8. Who can I talk to?
9. Who might be worthy of a NEW monument in Franklin?
10. And many, many more questions!!!!

NEXT STEPS

1. Organize my Knows, Need To Knows, and Next Steps.​
2. Answer my Need-To-Knows and turn them into Knows.
3. Organize my Research.
4. Start with a list of research tools.

Go to Project Briefcase

Create a list of Need-to-Knows and Next Steps (in the Project Briefcase) by making a copy of the GoogleDoc.

EXAMPLE

• I looked through the Project Briefcase and used some of the tools to answer some of my need-to-knows.
• I used Waymarking.com to find 183 posts about possible historical sites near Franklin, Kentucky!
• I searched and found that Simpson County has a historical society in Franklin, KY and is home to the Simpson County Archives and Museum!
• It turns out that TripAdvisor gives a great review to the Simpson County Archives and Museum!
• The Simpson County Kentucky Historical Society has some great links to do original research!
• The SCKY Historical Society even lists their books for research AND will look up stuff for you!
• I can even order an official sign to designate a cemetery within the county!
• ​I sure found a lot of information that answered questions I had.
• Now I need to organize my information...

When you answer your questions, keep track of all your research using the Organizing Research Spreadsheet.

Organizing Research Spreadsheet

Use the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) (in the Project Briefcase​) to refine your questions about your topic.

Use the KEYWORDS from your QFT to help your search for primary and secondary documents using the research tools in the project briefcase.

Try creating a StoryMap using digital mapping, images, and information you've gathered.

Get others involved! Share your progress with friends, with your community, and beyond! #monumentalhistory