1. Research Skills www.big6.com Assumption High School

2. The Big6 Skills for Research The Big6 is a problem-solving model. There are 6 steps. They involve task definition, information seeking, information location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation.

3. Step 1. Task Definition Identify the task. ▫What’s the assignment? ▫What’s my topic, task, problem? ▫What question am I trying to answer? Identify the information you need. ▫What types of information do I need? ▫What questions do I need to answer to solve this problem or complete this task?

4. Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies Brainstorm sources of information you can use. ▫What are possible sources: print, online, databases, people? ▫Which are the best to find what I need? ▫Are they on topic, accurate, authoritative, current, and objective?

5. Step 3: Location and Access Find your sources. Find information in your sources. ▫Where is each source? ▫Do you need a library card or username/password to access the source? ▫What type of search terms should you use to find information? ▫Do you need to do an advanced search? ▫Where is the information in each source?  Use table of contents, index, “related topics”, bibliographies, and hyperlinks.

6. Step 4: Use of Information Read, skim, view, or listen to your source. Take notes on relevant information. ▫How can I quickly find what I need? ▫What words should I be looking for? ▫What information from the source is useful? ▫How do you plan to keep track of this information? ▫Be sure to note where you find your information.

7. Step 5: Synthesis Organize information from multiple sources ▫What can help you do this? Notecards, a graphic organizer? Present the information ▫Have you followed the requirements on the rubric? ▫Double check to make sure you have followed every step and included all the necessary pieces to your product.

8. Step 6: Evaluation Judge the product. Judge the process. ▫Did I do everything my teacher told me to do? ▫Could I do things better? ▫Am I proud of my work?