BIG6 Skills
STEP 1: Task Definition
1.1 Define the problem
1.2 Identify the information requirements of the problem
What do I have to do or find out?
When you do research you are looking for information for some reason, either for your own interest or you have a class assignment. In either case you need to be sure of what you will be doing.
Task definition means to be sure about the job you have to do. Let's assume you have an assignment from a teacher. Most teachers give an assignment paper that describes the assignment. Be sure to ask for one. Make sure that you know the following things about your assignment:
1. What kind of final product are you expected to present to the teacher?
• Is it a written report?
• An oral presentation?
• A poster?
• Or something else?
2. Does it have to be a certain length, size, or duration of time?
• Do you have any freedom of choice in how to present what you will learn?
(See: Alternative Formats for Presenting Research Projects)
3. What is the topic of the assignment?
• Does your teacher give you the specific topic (subject) of your assignment?
• Do you have any freedom to select a topic for yourself?
• Do you have to create a thesis statement (take a position, make an argument) ?
• Did the teacher give you a very general topic that you have to focus to a smaller topic?
4. What is the due date for your final product?
• Are there any parts of the assignment due before the final due date (like a rough draft, notes, outline, etc.)?Helpful Hint: Get an assignment calendar and write any due dates in it. This will help you plan your time to get the assignment done by the due date. Most teachers will take off points from your grade for late work.
What information do I need to start the task (assignment)?
Once you are clear about what your assignment is, you will want to start looking for information. Before you jump to the computer or an encyclopedia or the card catalog, take a moment to prepare for searching. 1. What are the key words or key phrases I can use to get the information I need?
- How many different ways are there to say your topic ?
- Are there any related ideas that you could look up also?
• Brainstorm a list of questions before you begin to look for information.
• Those questions will give you more key words and key phrases to use in your search.3. What kinds of information will I be searching for?
• Do you need descriptions, maps, pictures, statistics, biographical information, etc.?4. How am I required to cite the resources I will use? (give them credit)
• Do you have to make a formal bibliography or "works cited" list? If not, what information are you required to give about the resources you use?
STEP 2: Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine the range of possible sources
2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities
What sources can I use?
What are all the sources I could use to get the information I need, if I had unlimited time and money?
• Make a wish list. Let your imagination go free when you brainstorm. Good ideas you would never think of otherwise may come up.
See Tip Sheet 5 : Make a List of Possible Sources for ideas.
Which sources are the best for me to use?
What sources on my wish list are the best and most possible for me to use for this assignment?
• Check off the sources on your list that are possible for you to use, given your time and money.
STEP 3: Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources
3.2 Find information within the sources
Where do I go to find each of the sources I want to use?
How can I find what I need in these places?
Who can help me if I don't know how to use the online catalog or find what I need?
How do I find the information I need within the sources?
1. How is the information in the source organized?Helpful Hint: Every source has its own system of organization. Check out the way each one is organized when you start using it. Look for the index and table of contents. Get help if you need it. After a while, you will learn how to use a wide variety of sources.
Is it in alphabetical order like a dictionary or encyclopedia?
Or is there an index or table of contents you can use to find the pages you need?
Is it an electronic source like a cd-rom on the computer where you use a search screen?
Or are you using the Internet and have to find a search engine or know the URL (address) of the site.
2. How will I know what to look for in the sources?
Go back to your list of key words and key phrases. These are the words you will use to look up information in the sources.
STEP 4: Use of information
4.1 Engage (read, hear, view, touch) the information in the source
4.2 Extract information from a source
What information does the source give me?
1. Is the information in-depth enough for me? Or is it too superficial (simple)?
Does the information give you answers to your questions?Does the information give you new ideas, or lead you to other sources?
Is the information given in the types of formats you need (maps, dates, graphics, etc.)?
Can I understand the information?
• Is it in a language you can understand?• Is it too scientific or technical?
• Does it use too much specialized language that you don't understand?
If the language is not right for you, look for the same information in other sources. If you cannot find any, ask a librarian to help you. There is always information available for both experts and non- experts in most topics.
What information can I use?
This is a good time to go back and recheck your task, your specific assignment. Then compare your assignment against the information you have found. Answer the following questions:
1. Does the information included in the source help me complete my task?
• If it does, then you will be able to start "extracting" the information. (see letter "C" next)
• If it does not, you will need to look for information in other sources.
2. Does the information in the source give me additional ideas that make me want to change my original thesis?
• If you find that there is much too much information on your topic, you may want to narrow down your topic (see appendix (?) -Focusing a Research Topic ).
• If you are not finding enough material on your topic, you will want to go through the same process to broaden your topic (make it larger to include more material).
How will I get the information out of the source?
There are a number of ways to extract information out of a source, depending on the type of source and the equipment available to you. Here are some ways to do it:
• Note-taking
• Photocopying
• Printing (from a computer source)
• Videotaping
• Tape recording
• Interviewing (and note taking or tape-recording)
• Photographing
• Scanning (requires a scanning device)
• Drawing or sketching
Warning!! You must give credit to the source of any information you use directly or paraphrase. This is called citing your sources. If you use in your final product any data, sentences, paragraphs, sounds, or images (pictures) without citing the source, you are committing an unlawful act called plagiarism,which means pretending someone else's work is your own. There are legal consequences for doing this. That is why it is very important to give credit to any material you use that is not originally your own. The best time to do this is when you are taking notes or copying information in any way. Make Source Cards for all sources you use. Identify on your notecard the source for any information you print out or copy from a computer source, photocopy from anything, scan electronically, or directly copy into your notes.
Does the information give me any other key words or phrases that I can use to lead me to other information?
This is a good opportunity to get "leads" to more information. Look up any names, places, or any other terms that you think will help explain your subject or support your argument better.
Am I ready to start putting a draft of my project together?
1. Have you double-checked factual information in a couple of sources?
2. Have you collected all of the kinds of information you need (these may include any pictures, maps, data, etc.)?
3. Have you recorded the bibliographic information for any sources you used?
4. Do you have enough information to begin organizing it?
• At this point it is best to make an outline to create a structure for your project.
• Now you can see if you are missing any information, want to eliminate any information, or need to change your thesis or topic in any way.
STEP 5: Synthesis: Putting it all together
5.1 Organize information from multiple sources
5.2 Create a product or performance
How can I put all of the information together to present what I have learned?
1. What presentation format does my assignment require? (paper, poster, oral presentation, etc.)
- Go back and review your assignment sheet to be sure of what is required.
- If you have a choice of some different formats, what did you decide earlier?
- If you have complete freedom and didn't make a decision yet,
- look at Alternative Formats to Present Information.
- Bring all of your notes, images, disks, artifacts, etc., together into one place.
- Have all of the tools you need to put it together; paper and pencil, computer disk, poster board, etc.
- Work at a place where you can spread out and concentrate.
STEP 6: Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product information or performance
6.2 Judge the Information-solving process
Is this paper any good?
You should be the first person to evaluate your own work. Ideally you will have finished your project in advance enough to check it thoroughly. After that, you could ask a classmate or family member if they have time to do it. Then,when you turn it in to the teacher to evaluate and grade, you will know it is the best work that you wanted to do.
Is my task finished?
1. Did I complete the assignment given by the teacher?
• Go back and review the assignment sheet again to be sure.
• Make sure that you have completed all the parts.
• Make sure that they are in the proper order.
• Make sure that you have identified the project with you name, your teacher's name, the date and any title if it applies. See Making a Title Page
How did I do?
This evaluation depends on a lot of different criteria. Some of the criteria might be written by the teacher in the assignment. Some of them might be artistic decisions like the effectiveness of an informational poster, or the literary quality of a play or poem. Some of the criteria are common sense.
Here is a list of the common sense criteria to evaluate for yourself.
1. Correct spelling
2. Overall neatness
3. Parts in a logical and correct order, nothing missing
4. Borrowed material properly cited
5. Any thesis statements or arguments have been supported
Once you have evaluated your work, you are ready to turn it in, hopefully by the due date.
