Welcome 5 th grade! Research Skills

OVERVIEW  What is Research?  Big 6 Research Guide © Task Definition Task Definition Information-seeking Strategies Information-seeking Strategies Location and Access Location and Access Use of Information Use of Information Synthesis Synthesis Evaluation Evaluation

What is Research?  Research is the act of collecting information about a particular subject or topic.  We will follow the steps as identified in the Big 6 Research Guide ©.

Big 6 Research Guide Big 6 Research Guide  Step 1. Task Definition What is your topic? What is your topic? What do you want to know? What types of information do you need?

What Is Your Topic? What Do you Want to Know? What Is Your Topic? What Do you Want to Know?  If your topic is too broad, you will have too much information to read! Example: Animals Example: Animals  If you topic is too broad, you will have to narrow it down. Narrow your topic down. Example: Desert Animals Narrow your topic down. Example: Desert Animals Be more specific. Example: Camels Be more specific. Example: Camels Make a list of information you want to know or teacher requirements.  What kinds of information do you need? Brainstorm your topic to determine the best sources of information. Brainstorm your topic to determine the best sources of information.

Big 6 Research Guide  Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies What are some possible sources to check? What are some possible sources to check? newspapers thesaurus dictionary newspapers thesaurus dictionary Encyclopedia; on-line database (Athena) (Galileo) (Culturegrams) (Thinkfinity) atlas nonfiction almanac Which ones will you check first? Why? Which ones will you check first? Why? You will need a variety of useful resources. You will need a variety of useful resources.

Select the Best Sources  Encyclopedia – provides general information and overview of your topic. A good place to start.  On-line databases – electronic sources (Athena, Galileo, Thinkfinity, Culturegrams web sites)  Thesaurus – provides synonyms/antonyms for overused words  Dictionary – provides information about words  Almanac – provides recent facts and is published yearly (statistics, charts, graphs, tables, weather  Atlas – a collection of maps and gives lots of info about places)  Newspapers – contain current information, advertisements, letters; published daily, weekly, bi weekly, monthly

Big 6 Research Guide  Step 3: Location and Access Use tools to gather your sources and then find information in the sources. Use tools to gather your sources and then find information in the sources. *Check the card catalog (Athena) nonfiction: biography, natural science, history, geography * Reference books * Reference books * Search online * Search online * Ask Mrs. Howard & Mrs. Mobley for help

Big 6 Research Guide  Step 4: Use of Information How useful are your sources? How useful are your sources? Read – scan headings & chapter outlines, use index, table of contents Read – scan headings & chapter outlines, use index, table of contents Take notes on relevant information Take notes on relevant information Paraphrase Paraphrase Look for graphics Look for graphics

Big 6 Research Guide  Step 5: Synthesis What is the best format? What is the best format? Written? Visual Aid? Video? Power Point?Written? Visual Aid? Video? Power Point? Organize your information.Organize your information. Follow teacher’s instructions.  Have you included all important information? (source of info; author; title of article or book; etc.)  Write first draft.

Tips on Taking Notes  Read entire article. Pick out important facts.  Reread facts. Write in own words (paraphrase).  Do not copy word for word. (Plagiarism)  Use index cards for writing notes. Include topic, subtopic, source of info (title, author, publisher, page numbers, volume, copyright date)  Use “quotation marks” to show exact words of author.  You will need all info for bibliography page.

Big 6 Research Guide  Step 6: Evaluation Have you met all teacher’s requirements? Have you met all teacher’s requirements? What is the best part of your research? What is the best part of your research? What could you have done better? What could you have done better? Write final draft. Write final draft.

PLAGIARISM What is it?

Plagiarism  (play-ger-ism) Using part of a book, paper, photo, or web page of someone else without permission or without telling where it came from is stealing. If you turn it in as your own work, you are cheating and are guilty of plagiarism.

PLAGIARISM “When Marion Copied” is a book telling about plagiarism that your teacher may want to read to you. To prevent plagiarism, always respect copyright and give credit to all sources. The Miriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition defines plagiarize as “to steal and pass off the ideas and words of another as one’s own.” Emphasize author and title information, add dates (copyright year, date of web site, date of ) and include publishing information. Berg, Brook. When Marion Copied. Fort Atkinson: Upstart Books, 2006.

COPYRIGHT & FAIR USE  Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship”. This protection is available for both published and unpublished works.  Gary H. Becker. Copyright: A Guide to Information and Resources. Gary H. Becker, 1977.

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Becker, Gary H. Copyright: A Guide to Information and Resources. Florida: Gary H. Becker,  Berg, Brook. When Marion Copied. Wisconsin: Upstart Books  Eisenberg, Mike, and Bob Berkowitz. The Big 6 Collection. Ohio: Linworth, 2000  Howard, Amy. Research Skills. Long County Schools Media Center.  “Library/Information Literacy Tutorials.” InfoSavvyStudent. Ver.7.1. CD-ROM. Columbus, GA: The Pierce Group, 2003

Data Bases  ATHENA – Automated Library System (0n-line card catalog) Search by title, author, subject Search by title, author, subject  SIRS Discoverer – magazines, newspaper articles, biographies, country facts, pictures, and maps Britanica Elementary – Encylopedia entries, theasarus and dictionary Digital Library – Georgia history in books, letters, photos, etc.

 Click Kids Edition – database of countries / Click student – database of maps, features of month, references, etc.

Happy Halloween!   