What is a P.R.O.B.E. Book?

     The P.R.O.B.E. Book is a student-made book of individually chosen mini-research topics on just about anything - thus, the acronym Personal Research On Basically Everything. Use this writing tool as way to introduce basic research skills, practice using the writing process with expository writing, and to encourage students to learn more about what interests them.

Can I use the P.R.O.B.E. Book  in my classroom?

     Absolutely! ITC encourages teachers to implement this tool as a part of their writing program. In the Engle's writing program, P.R.O.B.E.s have proven to be one of the most popular components with students. They love it when it is their time for P.R.O.B.E. writing. 

How do I get started using the P.R.O.B.E. Book?

     ITC does suggest that each student have a "black & white marbled" wide-ruled composition book. This will become their P.R.O.B.E. Book. You might also consider having a P.R.O.B.E. or Writer's Workshop wide-rule spiral notebook for research notes and rough drafts.

What do my students do first?

     The first thing is to have your students discuss their P.R.O.B.E. Book and brainstorm a topic list with their family. It is important that the kids know the P.R.O.B.E. Book is theirs, and the topics should be their choice.
      However, we do suggest certain guidelines for choosing topics, such as no trendy pop stars or current fads, i.e. Britney Spears and Pokémon. This, of course, can be left to your own choosing, although keep in mind that one aspect of the P.R.O.B.E. Book is to encourage your kids to explore new interests.

Okay, so now they have their lists. What's next?

     Have the kids write their topic list in the last page of their spiral notebook or P.R.O.B.E. Book. Remind then that they can add to this list throughout the year, and they may choose their topics to research in any order. We suggest you print off a copy of the P.R.O.B.E. Book Flowchart or create your own outline for your students to use.

How do I set up the P.R.O.B.E. Book?

    Have the kids personalize their books by writing the P.R.O.B.E. acronym vertically on the first page and decorating it colorfully to their own liking. Again, another way for them to take ownership of their work.
     The second page (not the back of the first page) will be the Table of Contents. Have them set this up at this time by simply writing Table of Contents at the top of the page.
     Now begin stapling every other page together - the third page gets stapled to the Table of Contents page, the fifth page gets staple to the fourth page, the seventh page gets stapled to the sixth page, the ninth page gets stapled to the eighth page, and so on. You can do several now, or only a few, then have the kids do more as they complete more pages in their P.R.O.B.E.s.

Why the stapling?

    Another important component of the P.R.O.B.E. Book is the student drawing. By stapling the pages together, it help lessens the chance of pencil bleed-through when the kids are drawing the P.R.O.B.E. illustration, which accompanies each topic, but more on that later.

Can the kids start writing yet?

     You bet, now the fun begins! The process for writing a P.R.O.B.E. is the same for all writing -- 

Prewriting: This first step of a P.R.O.B.E. involves the research and note-taking. Depending on the grade level and ability of your kids, you may or may not have to teach note-taking. Use what ever resource  material you have at your disposal - books, magazines, the Internet, encyclopedias - text and electronic. Let the students look and explore various types of resource materials, taking notes from any or all of them. That spiral we mentioned earlier is a great place to keep notes - tough to lose an entire spiral notebook.

Writing (Rough Draft): Using the copious notes they have taken, the kids begin putting pencil to paper and develop a two-page (skipping every other line for revising), five paragraph rough draft expository paper on their chosen topic.

Responding (Sharing): Have the students share their writing with a classmate for constructive input and ideas on content and form. This is not the time for editing - that will come later. Let them share and exchange ideas with a friend.

Revising (Rewriting): After sharing their P.R.O.B.E. with a classmate, now is when they can take new ideas and thoughts and revise their paper. Encourage them to Respond and Revise as often as they wish. Once they have it just the way they want, it is time for editing.

Editing: Editing can be done by either yourself, parent volunteers, or Peer Editors in the class. Class P.E.T.s do much of the editing in the Engle's classroom.  To be a Class P.E.T. (Peer Editing Team) a student must prove mastery of the basic conventions of writing, and be willing to help guide a classmate through the editing phase of the process.

Closure (Final Draft): This is where the P.R.O.B.E. Book comes to life. After editing, the student prepares the final draft on the right hand side of the P.R.O.B.E. Book. Remind them not to skip lines on the final draft - it has to fit on the one page!

Two-page layout of the inside of a P.R.O.B.E. Book

                                             Illustration          

        Final Draft Text

Illustration: This is the last, and for many students, the most fun part of writing a P.R.O.B.E. - drawing the artwork. P.R.O.B.E. Book, it takes that knowledge learned and carries it to the next level.

Is that it?

     Yep, that's all there is to it. Not too complicated and a very effective tool. Now the kids are ready to move on to their next P.R.O.B.E. topic -- YOU! Didn't we mention that at least one student is going to want to do a P.R.O.B.E. on you? Go ahead and let them, after they've completed a few "real" P.R.O.B.E.s. It'll be good interview skill practice for them. In fact, many will want to do family and friends. That's okay after a bit, but no pets - they're too tough to interview.

Do you have any parting words of wisdom?

     No, not really. Have fun with this wonderful tool -- your students will love it. Please feel free to modify this to meet your student's needs, and as with all things, contact us if you have questions. 

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