The BIG Six

Are you ready for some research?

Excerpts from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin Research Guide. Copyright 2004 Holly Samuels All Rights Reserved

1. TASK DEFINITION

What do I have to do or find out?

• What final product are you expected to present?

• Does it have to be a certain length?

• What is the topic?

• What is the due date?

What information do I need to get started?What are the key words or phrases I can use?

What questions do I want to answer?

What kinds of information will I be searching for?

How am I required to cite the resources I will use?

Asking Good Questions

• Ask Factual QuestionsAssume your reader knows nothing about your subject.

• Ask Interpretive Questions: Hypothetical: How would things be different today…?Prediction: What will happen if…?Solution: What can be done to…?Comparison: What is the difference between…?Judgment: What are the major causes of…?

2. Information Seeking Strategies

• What sources can I use?• Which sources are the best for me to use?

books magazine articles Newspaper articlesmaps or atlases Expert people site visitsTV shows radio shows sound recordingsvideo recordings electronic databases websites

3. Location and Access

• Where do I go to find these sources?• How can I find what I need in these places?• Who can help me?• How do I find the information I need within

the sources? Table of contents, index, etc.

4. Use of Information

• What information does the source give me?• Can I understand the information?• What information can I use?• How will I get the information out of the source?

(notetaking, photcopying, printing, vidoetaping, tape recording, interviewing, photographing, scanning, drawing)

• Does the information give me any other key words that I can use to lead me to other information?

• Am I ready to start putting a draft of my project together?

Using index cards

• Put all of the information you will need about each of the sources you use. One index card for each. They will help you:1. Identify the sources of quotations and ideas you used.2. Find the sources again if needed.3. Make sure you cite your work.

Record #______

Author(s)

____________________________________________________________

Title of book, encyclopedia, magazine or newspaper___________________

____________________________________________________________

Title of article within encyclopedia, magazine or newspaper_____________

____________________________________________________________

Volume #_______ Page #s____________ Copyright Date______________

Publishing Company ___________________________________________

Publication___________________________

5. Putting it All Together

• How can I put all of the information together to present what I have learned?

Paper? Poster? Oral presentation? DVD?What materials do I need?Allow plenty of time to make a rough draft, edits and a final copy.

Now What?

• Write your thesis statement: look at the information you’ve collected and decide what kind of statement you have enough evidence to support.

• Make an outline: it will help you stay on track, see if you have enough material and figure out the order of your subtopics.

• Write the body: look at your outline and your notecards

• Cite your sources: direct quotations, paraphrased quotations, statistical data, images, song lyrics, original ideas attributed to someone else.

• Write your introduction and conclusion: they should be similar.

6. Evaluation

• Is this paper any good?• Is my task finished? Review your assignment sheet

• How did I do?• Correct spelling• Neatness• Logical order, nothing missing• Borrowed material properly cited• Your thesis statement has been supported• You have a title page (title, your name, class, date, teacher’s name)

• Are you turning it on time?

You’re Done!

You can applaud now…..