1. Name________________________________Section___
The Big6™ Skills
The Big6 is a process model of how people of all ages
solve an information problem.
1. Task Definition
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed (to solve the information problem)
o What is my current task?
o What are some topics or questions I need to answer?
o What information will I need?
2. Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine all possible sources (brainstorm)
2.2 Select the best sources
o What are all the possible sources to check?
o What are the best sources of information for this task?
3. Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
o Where can I find these sources?
o Where can I find the information in the source?
4. Use of Information
4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
o What information do I expect to find in this source?
o What information from the source is useful?
5. Synthesis
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
o How will I organize my information?
o How should I present my information?
6. Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)
o Did I do what was required?
o Did I complete each of the Big6 Stages efficiently?

2. The "Big6™" is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information,
visit: www.big6
Name______________________________________Section _______
GETTING STARTED IN THE SEARCH PROCESS
Directions: Complete the sentence starters below. Give specific details in additional
sentences wherever possible.
1. The topic I selected for my research project is
2. The reason I care about this topic is
3. Something I already know about this topic before I begin my research is
4. I learned this fact (above) from
5. Recall the task for your research. Brainstorm THREE questions that will help
you to find your information and to complete the task.
a. Describe the biography of your famous person.
b. What did your famous person contribute to society? (How did they help
mankind?/How did they fight the darkness of the world?)
c. How does what this famous person did, connect to the theme of Madeleine
L”Engle’s story, A Wrinkle In Time?
Use supporting evidence to form or evaluate your opinions and judgments about central
ideas that are relevant to this task. “How did this person fight the ‘Dark Thing’?”
Explain the connections between information you have learned through your research
and your understanding of the author’s purpose in telling this story.
7. My search terms are (one search term for each guiding question)
a. ____________________ ______________________

3. b. ____________________ ______________________
Name____________________________________________Date__________________________
Bibliography
Books:
Author Title of Book Date City where Publishing
Published Published Company Name
Encyclopedia:
Title of Encyclopedia Date Volume Page
Number numbers
Internet:
Author Title of Article Date that you Date article Company Website address
downloaded it was Assoc with
put on web article or
website
Article in a Periodical (newspaper or magazine)

4. Title Date Publisher
Using Note Cards
Why should I use note cards for my notes?
Using note cards gives you the opportunity to change the order of your
information by grouping and resorting your cards. It is easy to find the information
you need when you are putting your presentation together. Because you take
notes in your own words (except when you are quoting someone) your report will
be yours alone.
How do I get started?
• Have your research question or topic list with you.
• Read a reasonable amount of the resource before writing anything on your
card. You are looking for information that will help you answer your
question.
• Read the section again and select the first fact that you want to use in
your research.
• Think about how to put it in your own words.
• Write the fact on the card. Do not use complete sentences.
• Quotations must be in quotation marks and include the name of the
person you are quoting.
• Write the topic on the card in the top left corner.
• Write the resource number and card number in the top right corner.
Sample Note Card
Topic Source---Card #
One fact or a: list
list
list
of very closely related facts

5. Question: Source #
Question: Source #

6. Question: Where did yoga come from?/History Source # 1
• people in India created yoga as way to prepare for meditations
• originated 5000 years ago by man named Patanjali
• needed to strengthen their bodies before they could let meditation work on minds
• observed how birds/animals moved, stretched, and rested & copied them to come up
with a bunch of exercises
• combined these movements with breathing exercises –discovered they could sit longer
and focus their minds more easily
• techniques of body, breath, and mind, have been handed down through the ages
• some people think it began in Tibet, Russia as well as Central America
• some people think it began with the gods-one in particular : Lord Shiva
Don’t forget:
-I have a question at the top of my card
-I have a source number at the top of my card
-I have at least 8 facts about my topic
-I do not have any complete sentences and I have paraphrased
Life Skills Note Cards – What am I looking for?
As we discussed, this is how I am grading you….
Name of student__________________________________________
_______ There should be no complete sentences.
_______ At least two note cards of information for each question
_______At least enough information to construct a paragraph (5-7) sentences
_______ Does not appear to be plagiarized
_______Legible, easy to read and neat
______ Your topic is present on each of the note cards
______ source number is at the top of each card
Grade 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

7. Name______________________________________________Date______________
Research Paper Outline Class_____________
Research Outline
1. Introductory Paragraph
Opening Sentence/hook
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Supporting ideas or details
a._____________________________________________________________
b._____________________________________________________________
c._____________________________________________________________
d._____________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
II. Subtopic #1________________________________________________________
Details:
a.(opening)________________________________________________________
b.________________________________________________________________
c.________________________________________________________________
d.________________________________________________________________
e.________________________________________________________________
f._______________________________________________________________

8. g.________________________________________________________________
h.
________________________________________________________________
Concluding sentence: ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_
III. Subtopic #2__________________________________________________________
Details:
a. opening _________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
b.
________________________________________________________________
c.________________________________________________________________
d.________________________________________________________________
e.________________________________________________________________
f.________________________________________________________________
g.________________________________________________________________
h.________________________________________________________________
Concluding sentence: _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

9. IV. Subtopic #3 _________________________________________________________
Details:
a. opening_________________________________________________________
b.________________________________________________________________
c.________________________________________________________________
d.________________________________________________________________
e.________________________________________________________________
f.________________________________________________________________
g.________________________________________________________________
h.
________________________________________________________________
Concluding sentence: ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
VII. Concluding Paragraph
Details:
a. Restate Thesis__________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
b.
_________________________________________________________________
_
c.
_________________________________________________________________

10. d. _______________________________________________________________
Outline – What Am I Looking For?
_____ Introductory paragraph has between 4-6 sentences in it (including thesis statement,
supporting ideas and concluding sentence)
______Subtopics have between 7-9 sentences for each (including opening and closing
sentences)
_____Thesis statement (or any other sentence for that matter) does not start with: “In the
following paper I will explain/discuss…)
_____ You do not need to write complete sentences for your outline as it is still written in
a note taking format. When you write your essay you will write in complete sentences.
_____Opening and concluding paragraphs have thesis statement in them.
_____In concluding paragraph- thesis statement is re-written differently.
_____Opening sentences are general –does not have specific facts in them.
_____ Conclusion has no new information in it –only facts from previous paragraphs.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

11. Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
Books
Author(s). Title of Book. Place of Publication:
Publisher, Year of Publication
Encyclopedia
Name of encyclopedia. Copyright year. Volume number, page(s).
An article in a periodical (such as a newspaper or
magazine)
Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Source Day Month
Year: pages.
A web site:
Author(s). Name of Page. Date of Posting/Revision. Name of institution/
Organization affiliated with the site. Date of access <electronic
address>.

12. Bowling Bibliography
Books:
Don Nace. Bowling for Beginners. New York:
Sterling Publishers, 2005
Encyclopedia:
World Book Encyclopedia. 2000. 2, 245-255.
Website:
Steven Smith. Bowling Fun. July 2008. National Association for Bowling Members.
September 26, 2008 <www.bowlingfun.org>

13. Name___________________________________________Date________________
Essay Checklist
Can you answer yes to the following?
______ Title page has student name, topic, date, and section number
______ Essay is double-spaced, 12 font and is easy to read
______Essay has five paragraphs with a minimum of 7-9 sentences in each
______ Essay has opening and closing sentences for each paragraph
______ Essay has transitional words in each paragraph (at least two)
_____ Essay has thesis statement in proper spot for both opening and closing paragraphs
_____ Essay has no mistakes in grammar, punctuation or spelling
_____ Essay begins with a hook sentence
_____ Essay has bibliography set up in correct MLA format and has at least 2 sources
_____ Essay title page and bibliography are on separate page from essay